Springfield, Bon Homme Co., SD Centennial Book Part 2 This file contains the full text of pages 46 - 68 of the book, "Springfield South Dakota Centennial July 1970". Scanning and OCR by Joy Fisher, sdgenweb@yahoo.com Permission to post the full text of this book granted by the editor of the Springfield Times. =============================page 46================================= Family Histories OF SPRINGFIELD AND COMMUNITY These family biographies represent all the information that our staff could search out in connection with the family histories and vital statistics of pioneer families and their descendants. All sources available were used. In many instances. relatives helped us materially. In some instances, facts were difficult to come by. Biographies contain so many names and dates that errors are almost unavoidable. Every effort was made to secure some information on all families who should be included here. There will no doubt be omissions. for which we are sorry.... It was possible to obtain more information about some families than others. The length of the biography is not necessarily an indication of the importance of the persons involved.... Sometimes we were able to secure stories of pioneer life that we felt were interesting enough to include.... Descriptions of hardships and trials of pioneer life are not emphasized here. as everyone knows that every pioneer family experienced such hardships.... We have avoided. as much as possible, eulogies or undue praise, letting the facts speak for themselves. - THE EDITORS. ALFRED W. ALDRIDGE Alfred W. Aldridge was born in Wisconsin in 1850. He came to Bon Homme County in 1876 and worked on farms and rented in the Perkins area. After his first wife died he married Mrs. Kate Crosley. They moved to Springfield where Mr. Aldridge continued with his gardening and trucking. WILLIAM ALLEN Died on Sunday, Feb. 22, 1874, at his residence on Emanuel Creek, William Allen, aged 70 years. Mr. Allen came to this county about 12 years earlier and was one of the first settlers. Burial was in Marsh cemetery. Elder Judd conducted the service. MR. AND MRS. A. ANDERSON Andrew Anderson and Julia Fitch were married here March 30, 1903. To this union were born four children, Levi, Anna Moravec, Mae Pier and Lester, who died in infancy. Julia was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Fitch and was born near Springfield in 1874 and died here in 1950. BREDE ARNESON Brede Arneson was born in Valdero, in the diocese of Hamar, Norway, April 19, 1831. At the age of eight he left his native community and went to Helgaland, the northern part of Norway, where he made his home until he came to America in 1887. In 1858 he was united in marriage to Olwa Erickson of Vefsten, Helgaland. To this union were born eight children, five sons and three daughters. The first two years in America he lived with his family in Montevideo, Minn., and in 1890 he came to Bon Homme County and settled on his premption west of Running Water, where he lived until his death on September 18, 1914. LINA AUSTIN Lina Austin came to South Dakota in the early 1890s, working first in Charles Mix County and coming later to Springfield, where he was recognized as the best steam engineer in this section. For a time he worked in the Henry Davison hardware store and served as street commissioner and was in charge of the generating plant at the Normal. He died in 1947. WESLEY BABB Wesley Babb was born to Soloman and Cecilia Babb November 28, 1880, at Pearl City, Ill. When he was two years old his family moved to Wakonda, and about 1900 the family moved to a farm on the Jim Stevens place six miles northwest of Springfield. Soloman and Cecilia had seven children Ada, Wesley, Raymond, Anna, Harry, Virgie and Ives. Wesley was 19 when they came here and worked for ten years for his father. He was married to Mary Alice McKenna on January 21, 1906, and rented the Bridgeman place one mile east of Perkins. They next lived on the Emory Webb farm. Due to rent being ============================page 47=========================== [photo - WEDDING PICTURE of Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Babb, taken in 1906. Standing are Raymond Babb and Loretta McKenna and seated are Wesley and Mary Alice Babb.] so high for farm land, they moved to Springfield where Wesley and his team went to work for Ed DeMelt for $4.00 a day. In 1910 they moved to a homestead near Newell and Wesley's parents followed them there in 1911. Wesley and Alice were the parents of three children: Evelyn, Alice and Alvin. Wesley is at the present time residing in a rest home at Belle Fourche. MR. AND MRS. J. E. BABCOCK Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Babcock were married June 14, 1893, at Carthage, Mo. They came to Springfield in the fall of 1906. Two children came to bless their home, Maurice, and Helen who died at the age of six. Mrs. Babcock, who died in 1913, was a member of the W.C.T.U., Eastern Star and a member of the Board of Education, the first woman to serve in that capacity in this city. MR. AND MRS. M. P. BABCOCK Maurice Putnam Babcock was born on June 13, 1894, at Nebraska City, Nebr., a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Edward Babcock. The family lived for a time at Nebraska City and Cartridge, Mo., before moving to South Dakota where Maurice attended school in Springfield and also in Wagner. When he was only a young boy, Maurice's mother died and Maurice continued on the farm with his father until entering college at Gaysberg, Ill., and after his graduation there he returned to farming with his father. On July 31, 1917, Maurice and Blanche Almeda DeMelt were married in Springfield and they established their home a mile west of Springfield. After serving in the U. S. Army during World War I, Maurice returned to Springfield and he and his wife moved to a farm 10 miles south of Dante and this was their home until retirement in 1943 when they moved to Springfield. Blanche DeMelt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ed DeMelt, was born near Perkins on September 25, 1896. She attended the public school in Springfield and also graduated from the State Normal School and was always active in civic affairs and in church, club and social activities of the community. After his retirement, Maurice devoted his time to his hobbies, inventions and poetry writing. He invented the E-Z Reach mail box, a pick-up attachment for mower and harvester blades and safety attachment for the rotary lawn mower blade. He was also a writer of poetry and verse which was published in book form, "Missouri Valley Verse," under the pen-name of "Empy Bea" derived from his initials. Their family consisted of four sons, Walter, who died in World War II, Eugene, Edward and Don, and one daughter Vera, Mrs. James Tucker. MR. AND MRS. THYS BAKKER There are many people of Dutch descent living in and around Springfield. They came here with the feeling that this was a land of opportunity and their industrious spirit has been a fine asset to this community. Mr. and Mrs. Thys Bakker are an example of a couple who gave generously of their talents to their church and country. Thys Bakker was born in Friesland, Holland, in 1860, and died at the age of 89 in 1950. He received his musical education in the Netherlands, specializing on the pipe organ, and served several churches there as organist. He served in the same capacity in the Emmanuel Reformed Church when it was located one mile west and south of Perkins and also the church west of Springfield on Highway 37. Mrs. Bakker was born in Engelum, Holland, in 1865, and died in 1955, also at the age of 89. Her favorite hobby was knitting. Soon after World War I broke out she started knitting sweaters, helmets, socks and mittens for the Red Cross. Her record in Bon Homme County, at that time, was so fine that a news article was printed in the National Red Cross Courier, written by Mrs. J. W. Turner, who was Red Cross Chairman at that time. Mrs. Bakker was awarded a special pin from the Washington, D. C., headquarters for her unusual contribution to the program. At the age of 75 she again knitted many articles for the soldiers who fought in World War IL Between 1917 and 1941 she knitted more garments than any other Person in Bon Homme County. MR. AND MRS. EMIL BALVIN Emil Balvin, third son in a family of seven children of Frank and Anna Balvin, was born at Moville, Ia., on August 15, 1893, and when a boy of eight years came to Bon Homme County with his parents and family. He grew up on the farm in the Pleasant Ridge school district where he attended school. He was an active sports fan, especially baseball, and was a member of the Pleasant Ridge ball team. Emil served as a mechanic in the aviation corps in World War I, and was aboard the ill - fated transport, Tuscania, which was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of Ireland by a German submarine on February 5, 1918. He was among those who were rescued and landed ========================page 48================================= safely in Ireland. After his discharge from the Army on March 4, 1919, Emil returned to Springfield where he met and later married (September 22, 1920) Miss Faye Payne of Lake Andes and they established their home on a farm four miles north of Springfield. Here they farmed for 41 years and raised their family of three children, one son Donald, and two daughters, Joyce, Mrs. Lloyd Halsey, and Dorothy, Mrs. Gene Ferwerda. Mrs. Balvin, one of 12 children of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Payne, was born at Ida Grove, Ia., on February 15, 1900, and when only a small child the family moved to Moville, Ia. Later in 1908, when Faye was eight years of age, the Payne family moved to Lake Andes, where she grew up and received her education in the public schools. As a young woman she was employed in the Buche store in Lake Andes until in 1918 Buches bought the Turner store in Springfield, where she was then employed. JOHN BALVIN John Balvin, prominent farmer and resident of this community for 35 years, was born in Bohemia on June 15, 1856. He was a son of Frank and Mary Balvin. He grew to young manhood in his native country and at the age of 18 years came to America and for a short time was employed in Cleveland, Ohio. From there he came west to Iowa, where in November 1882, he was married to Anna Skala and after about nine years they came to Bon Homme County and purchased a farm six miles northeast of Springfield which was their home for 24 years before they retired. Mr. and Mrs. Balvin reared a family of seven children, four sons, Frank, Joseph, Emil and Edward, and three daughters, Rose, Mrs. A. E. Wordehoff, ErmmaIine, Mrs. Fred Weiser, and Christine, Mrs. Ira Gripp. WELLS CLARK BARDWELL Wells Clark Bardwell was born in Montaque, Man., on May 12, 1849, and came to Dakota first in 1873, coming by train to Yankton and then by stage to old Bon Homme. He stayed with his brother, William, who had preceded him here, for a little while and then returned to the east until 1876. Wells then went to Colorado to work in the mines, with Peter Byrnes and Benton Fraley for a year after which he made his home in the Bon Homme community. For some years he was associated with Mr. Byrnes and his brother in the running of a saw mill on the river bottom and on Bon Homme island. He then engaged in farming for some years and then moved to old Bon Homme in 1898 where he followed the carpentry trade. They bought the Fred Wells place in Bon Homme which had some strange stories. It was said that a man had murdered his wife in this house and there were supposed to be blood stains on the floor which would not wash off. But it made a comfortable home for the Bardwells. In 1879 he married Mary Walker in the Methodist parsonage in Bon Homme. Five children were born to them, Arthur, deceased, Harry, deceased, Mrs. Nellie DeFries, Jessie Kramar, deceased, and Walter. Mr. Bardwell was a member of the Masonic Lodge for 50 years. He was made a Master Mason in Mt. Zion Lodge No. 6 here in 1884. He served at one time as depute sheriff and was one of the organizers of the Bon Homme Cemetery Association and served as president of the Bon Homme Pioneer Association. His wife Mary was born in Bedford County, Pa., to Mr. and Mrs. Abner Walker. The family came west and the mother died in Iowa. Mary then a girl of ten came on with the father and three boys to Dakota in 1870 and located on a homestead south of Tabor. When her brothers were old enough she went into Bon Homme to go to school and worked for different people. It was here that she met Wells. Their daughter, Nellie, was married to Albert DeFries. After living on farms in the area They retired in 1961 and moved into Springfield where they still reside. Their son Keith also makes his home on a farm in this area. Their daughter, Alva Wesson, lives in Ohio. Their son Walter is married to Carrie Kreber and they also live near Springfield. Their son, Loy, also resides on a farm near by. Wells' brother William, who came here first, was married to Josephine Fraley, a daughter of Hugh Fraley and sister of Bent who built the Fraley Hotel in 1861. They took an active part in the building of Bon Homme and later moved to Scotland where he ran a drug store and jewelry shop. MR. AND MRS. OSCAR BARNES Oscar and Lydia Barnes were married on August 28, 1919, and moved to a farm near Perkins and moved to Springfield in 1927 where they spent five years. Later they moved to a farm up on the river bottom south of old Bon Homme, where they resided until 1937 when they moved to a farm three miles west of Springfield. In December, 1941, they moved to a farm at Gayville. They were the parents of one daughter, Martha, who died in 1931. PETER BARTH Peter Barth was born at Milwaukee, Wis., September 6, 1858. On November 4, 1885, Mr. Barth was united in marriage to Emma Frances Snow of Beloit, Wis., and immediately following this marriage moved to Springfield. Here the family made their home until 1906 when they moved to a farm south of Mitchell. Mr. and Mrs. Barth were the parents of the following children: Grace, Clifford and Willard. WILLIAM BENEDICT William W. Benedict was born in Pennsylvania on February 6, 1831. Both parents were natives of Otsego County, New York, and when William was two years old they moved back to their home county. Here he lived till he was 17, when he started out for himself making teaching a profession for several years. On the 14th of September, 1850, he was married to Miss Adeline Thorn. Mr. Benedict came west to "spy out the land" in the early spring of 1858. He went first to Minnesota, ==================================page 49========================= then to Iowa, where he formed one of a party of five men, one of them his brother, Washington, who came to Sioux City intending to take up land in Dakota Territory. But finding they could not enter till the next year they crossed into Nebraska. He and his brother then returned east to get their families. Mr. Benedict and his family settled at North Bend in the fall of 1855. They remained there until March, 1860, when they crossed the river and took up a claim near Vermillion. In 1862 Mr. Benedict enlisted in the first Regiment, Dakota Cavalry, in Company A and served three years in the volunteer frontiersmen. In 1865 the family moved to Yankton where he was engaged in supplying beef for the troops stationed at Ft. Randall. They then moved to a claim on the James river. He served for two years in the Territorial legislature and served in Bon Homme county as a county commissioner. In 1874 they came to Springfield and settled upon Emmanuel Creek and farmed in the area till 1897 when they moved into Springfield. Besides farming, he interested himself in raising high grade shorthorn cattle and heavy horses. In 1904 he again filed upon a quarter section in Stanley County and proved upon it in October, 1907, at the age of 76. In 1858 when Mr. Benedict looked across the Missouri from Nebraska, there was not a white man in Dakota except those employed in government service. Their son, Eugene Washington Benedict, was nine years old when they came to the territory directly across the river from Vermillion. On July 12, 1870, Eugene was married to Emily Wood and shortly afterwards he came to Springfield and took up a homestead upon Emanuel Creek, about five miles northwest of town. Soon he returned to Yankton and did not come back here till 1874. He joined one of the Black Hills gold companies and spent several months in that region. In 1902, he moved into town and formed a partnership with George W. Henderson and was engaged in the clothing business for 14 years. In the fall of 1916, he sold his interest to J. W. Turner and retired from business. His brief details show that he was one of the earliest comers into Dakota to know the dangers of pioneer days. He was with his parents in l862, when they were in Sioux Falls and a hurried flight had to be made for safety in the stockade at Yankton, in fear after the massacres in Minnesota. On that journey an infant sister sickened and died and was buried, later the body was brought into Yankton by an escort of soldiers who had been sent out to recover it. MR. AND MRS. FRANK BLAIR Frank and Georgia Anna Blair were married May 30, 1880, at Rochester, Ohio. They continued to five there for five years and then in February, 1885, came to South Dakota and settled on Chateau Creek, where they spent the rest of their lives farming. They were the parents of one son, John. For many years Mrs. Blair taught music to many of the whites and Indians. She died in 1941. GlLBERT O. BLEGEN Gilbert O. Blegen was born at Coon Valley, Wisc., on October 15, 1874, his mother dying at his birth. When he was but six months old, his father moved to Hills, Minn., homesteading in that vicinity, and where the family for many years resided. They traveled to that section in a covered wagon, in the vanguard of pioneer families who made that part of Minnesota one of the banner farming sections of the state. In 1903 Mr. Blegen was united in marriage to Miss Ida Swenson of near Springfield, and to them one son, Clifford, was born. Most of the time thereafter the family lived in the Springfield community. He was a capable business man, specializing in the grain business. BOKKE BOERSMA Bokke Boersma was born in Ferwerd, Netherlands, on May 28, 1885, and immigrated to America in 1909. In 1912 he went back to the Netherlands where he was married to Miss T. Westra. They returned to America and sewed in Springfield. He was an active member of the Tyndall Reformed Church and the Emmanuel Reformed Church all the years that he resided here, many of which he served as an elder. Children of the Boersmas are Cornelius, Rensa, Mrs. Gertrude Tjeerdsma and Mrs. Jessie Heusinkveld, who make their homes here. ABRAHAM BOESE Abraham Boese was born in Russia on March 24, 1850. In 1875 he homesteaded eleven miles northwest of Springfield, remaining there until his death on January 16, 1939. He was married to Helena Buller on March 28, 1882. Eleven children were born to this union. H. E. BONESTEEL Hon. H. E. Bonesteel came to South Dakota in 1869, locating first at Yankton. ID 1872 he came to Springfield and became a senior member of Bonesteel and Turner Mercantile firm. In 1880 he moved to Nebraska, taking charge of the firm's interest in Nebraska. He served in the senate of Nebraska. In 1896 the firm of Bonesteel - Turner was dissolved after 25 years because of continued ill health of Mr. Bonesteel. He was never married. He died in 1897. He was buried at Milwaukee. MR. AND MRS. PETER BOSCHKER Mr. and Mrs. Peter Boschker were born in the Netherlands, as also were their family of three sons and three daughters. With the exception of the eldest daughter who still lives in Holland, the family migrated to the United States on May 12, 1912, and came directly to Bon Homme County and for nine years lived near Tyndall. In 1925, some years after the death of his wife, Mr. Boschker returned to the Netherlands and the family remained here, Sam to farm near Tyndall; Imke and two sisters, Jennie, Mrs. Ralph Pluim, and Josie, moved to California and John married Martha Mesman in December, 1931. They farmed near Tyndall for several years until in 1943 they bought a ==================================page 50=========================== farm west of Springfield where they farmed for 20 years before retiring and moving to Springfield. Their son, Arnold, resides on the farm. Although John was educated in Holland plus two years in trade school for carpentry, he learned the English language in one of the rural schools here. Mrs. Boschker received her education in the Lincoln school near Springfield. Their children Arnold and Marjory attended the Hitt rural school and the Springfield high school. GEORGE A. BOSCHMA George A. Boschma, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Boschma, was born near Perkins on February 1, 1888. He was educated in the rural schools in the community, also at the Southern State Normal and the University of South Dakota, where he received his Masters degree in 1929. Mr. Boschma homesteaded in Fall River county and later taught in Wishek, N. D., end also was county superintendent of schools at Ashley, N. D. He also taught at White River and Witten and after farming for several years near Springfield was elected county treasurer of Bon Homme County. On June 30, 1914, he was married to Pearl Anderson of Ardmore, who died after six years of marriage, leaving two small children. He later married Norma Gulliford of Ashley, N. D., and they became the parents of three children. Mr. Boschma was active in community and civic affairs as well as politics, having served as county treasurer for two consecutive terms, was a member of United Church of Christ, Mt. Zion Masonic lodge, and Rachel Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. He had been in failing health for several months prior to his death on September 2, 1964. HILBRAND BOSCHMA Hilbrand Boschma, a native of Friesland, Holland, where he was born in 1869, came to the United States in 1885, and came immediately to Bon Homme County. Mrs. Hilbrand Boschma (Minnie Bouma) was born on a farm west of Springfield on December 27, 1881, a daughter of Richard and Seina Bouma. She spent most of her life in the community where she was born, with the exception of a few years on a homestead. She attended rural school and was a member of the Reformed church. On January 24, 1918, she was married to Hildbrand Boschma and they made their home on the farm west of Springfield. With the exception of a short time spent on a homestead in Wyoming and a few of her last years, she continued to reside near Springfield. She died at the age of 79 on April 2, 1960. Hilbrand died in 1940. Mr. and Mrs. Boschma were the parents of three children Joe, Bessie (Mrs. Fred C. Hornstra) and Richard. JOUKE H. BOSCHMA Jouke H. Boschma was born on a farm near Folsgare, Friesland, Netherlands, in 1847. His early years were spent on a farm in the Netherlands. In 1867 he was married to Bessie Groenveld. To this union three children were born, namely Rink, Hilbrand and Gertie. During the year of 1875 the mother died. He was married again in 1877 to Cornelia Dykstra. They lived in the Netherlands for eight years and then migrated to America. While in the old country four children were born, Herman, Samuel, Richard, who was killed by a horse in 1911, and Tillie. In 1885 the family came to America and settled west of Springfield. After renting for a while he bought the farm where they resided for nearly 30 years. Five children were born here, namely George, Richard, Clarence, Leonard and Paul. While on the farm Mr. Boschma was engaged in the mercantile business for several years and at the same time he was postmaster of the Wanari post office. In 1916 they decided to retire and moved to town, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Their son Leonard is the only one of their children who is still making his home in Springfield. He served in World War I and received the award at the Purple Heart medal. On October 20, 1918, he was severely wounded and was confined to the hospital until January 4, 1919. Leonard is married to Ella Woudsma and they have lived in Springfield since retiring from the farm in 1953. RINK BOSCHMA Rink Boschma was born in Osstham, Holland, in 1867, and came here with his parents in 1885. He married Johanna Van Dyke in 1892. Mrs. Boschma was born in Friesland county, The Netherlands, in 1873 and came to America with her mother and two sisters in 1884. They arrived at Le Mars, Ia., and came to Springfield soon afterward. To this union seven children were born, Bessie, Grace, Joe (who died in 1969), William (who died in 1914) and Gertrude, also two children who died in infancy. The Boschmas farmed until 1919 and then moved to Springfield. MR. AND MRS. BOOKER E. C. Booker and Nancy Tull were married in Illinois in 1889 and farmed there for 18 years before coming to South Dakota in 1909, farming first north of Tyndall before coming to the Kingsburg and Springfield communities. For many years Mr. Booker was employed on the Ralph Cooley ranch. In 1941 they moved into Springfield where they spent the rest of their lives. They were the parents of Ella Keefe, Evelyn Owen and Leota Galer. Mrs. Booker died in 1961. JOHN WILLIAM BORDEWYK John William Bordewyk was born at Holland, Micn., December 31, 1870, and came with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Bordewyk, to South Dakota and settled west of Corsica where he grew up. He was married to Hannah Anderson. He began newspaper work in 1908, when he established the Douglas County News in Corsica. This he sold in 1914 and purchased the Springfield Times and moved here with his family. He was active in com- ==================================page 51=========================== munity affairs and was mayor of the city for two years. He built a residence on the hill in the southwest part of town, which was later wrecked and moved to Rapid City after the family moved there, where he became a partner in the firm of Johnston and Bordewyk, a printing house. They were the parents of Leila Hennies, Jeannette and Viola. FLETCHER CLARK BOYD Fletcher Clark Boyd was born on June 9, 1847, at Moline, Ill. In 1850, he moved with his parents to Davenport, la., where they lived until 1855, leaving there to take up a homestead in Clinton County. In 1864, he enlisted in the service under Grant and served in Alabama until the close of the war. On November 12, 1873, he was married to Eleanor E. Boman at DeWitt, la., and they became the parents of Charles and Ladie Thomas. They made their home in Iowa until 1904, when they moved to Gregory County S. D., and lived there until 1919 when they came to Springfield where they continued to make their home. Mr. Boyd died in 1927 S. M. BRANN Samuel M. Brann was born near Clinton, Ia., February 7, 1863. His parents had migrated to Iowa from New York and his father died when he was four years old so the family returned to New York. He graduated from Princeton University in 1883 and immediately went into the cattle business in Montana. He handled large contracts for cattle for the army posts and Indian service. He came to Springfield in 1895 and married Jane Groot in November, 1895. He carried on large farming operations here and did a considerable business in real estate. He was always interested in community affairs, but was never personally conspicuous. He was always interested in the Missouri River and its possibilities and foresaw the developments which are now enjoyed from Fort Randall and Gavins Point. He died September 9, 1944. His wife, Jane, died at Sacred Heart Hospital May 15, 1954, at the age of 90. She was born in New York in 1864 and came to Springfield in 1894 and had lived in Springfield continuously until her death. After the death of Mr. Brann, she made her home with Mrs. Isabella Duguid, but spent the last two years at the A. C. Alver home. The people of Springfield remember her for her kindness a nd her generosity toward the underprivileged. The Alvers honored her memory by Using her name when they established the MaritJane Rest Home. ALVAH T. BRIDGEMAN Alvah T. Bridgeman was born at Tioga, N. Y., July 25, 1836, and was married to Sue Hackett at Beloit, Wisc., December 14, 1862, and they became the parents of H. Allen, Nannie, Jean, Max, Ben, John and Hannah. Alvah served in the Civil War and came here in the '70s with his family and was a resident here until his death in 1913. He served as postmaster here for ten years. [photo - HOSEA BRIDGEMAN] HOSEA BRIDGEMAN Hosea Bridgeman was born in Illinois in 1841. He came to South Dakota in 1873. He married Hannah Van Curen in 1868. They had three children, Arthur, Edith Graham, and Mrs. Nettie J. Truesdell of Springfield. DAVE BROWN Dave Brown was born at Ackley, la., in 1877. He came here with his family in his early childhood. The father had a draying business here for a time. Later he established what came to be known as the Brown Ranch, northwest of Springfield, and expanded it until it contained some 1,100 acres, on which he did large stock feeding operations. After his father's death, Dave took over the ranch for a time, then went to Sioux City to enter the commission business. JAMES BROWN FAMILY James Brown in the 1800 period brought his wife and children to Running Water, where he bought a farm and where the family remained for many years. His daughter, Noda, who was born in Achley, la., on February 27, 1881, recalled that she was about two years old when the family came here. They lived three miles from Running Water until 1900, when they sold the farm and moved to Springfield. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown. Five of them were John, Joseph, Anna, Noda (who ============================page 52========================= became Mrs. Otto C. Schultz), and Rosalia (who became Mrs. Statz of Parkston, where her son resides, and moved to Minneapolis to be near her daughter.) A daughter and son of the James Browns died in infancy and are buried in the Springfield cemetery, where so many members of the Brawn family are at rest. James Brown had two sisters, Catherine (Kate Brown) Malone, wife of Lawrence Malone, Running Water resident since 1880, and Mary McNulthy of Seattle, Wash. Five of their brothers came to South Dakota, John (father of Mamie Quinn of Sioux City), William, Michael, David and Timothy. David died when a young man. Timothy never married and lived most of his life with James and his family. Another brother, Michael, lived in Canada all his life on the old farm in a log house, where he married and resided until his death. On a trip to Canada a few years ago Otto and Noda Schultz and their daughter, Mary Margaret, saw the old log cabin where the Brown brothers and sisters were born, and enjoyed visiting distant relatives they never knew they had. Noda Brown Schultz recalls that the Malone sisters, Hannah, Mary, Anna and Kitty, were their teachers until the sixth grade. Anna and Noda Brown attended Springfield Normal, from which both were graduated in 1901. Their parents then sold the farm and their father purchased a hotel in Woonsocket. After graduation from college, Noda Brown moved to Woonsocket with her parents and taught school for a time. In 1906 she moved to Murdo in Jones county where her cousins, seven of the Malone sisters and brothers were homesteading. She opened a millinery and dress shop in Murdo and was in business there until 1909, when she moved to Meade county and homesteaded. In Murdo at the same time and until 1909 was Otto C. Schultz, employed in the Milwaukee freight and passenger depot, who many years later became her husband. After proving up on her claim in Meade county, Noda Brown returned to teaching school and later began working in a drugstore in Parkston owned by the husband of her sister, Rosalia. It was during this time in 1920 that she was married to Otto Schultz, then employed by a large department store in St. Louis. Later he worked for Stix, Baer and Fuller for 32 years and retired as controller in 1949. In early years he had worked on construction during building of the railroad. The couple settled in St. Louis, moved to Whittier, Calif., after Otto's retirement and when their daughter and family moved there, and then 11 years ago moved to Houston, Tex., where Noda Brown Schultz died on November 3, 1969. JOHN BROWN John Brown was born in St. Sylvester, Province of Quebec, Canada, November 15, 1844. He spent the early part of his life as a lumberman on the St. Lawrence River and in the New England states. In 1861, he located in Wisconsin where he spent some time in farming and was engaged in rafting in the winters of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers. In 1869, he came to Ackley, Ia., and was married to Hanna Kenefick on April 18. 1887. They were the parents of Mrs. J. L. Quinn, W. J. Brown, D. R. Brown and Mrs. G. W. McLaughlin. In 1878, they came to South Dakota where John was engaged in freighting from Yankton to Ft. Randall and Pierre. He was at one time marshal of Springfield and later served as mayor for two terms. MARY J. BROWN Mary J. Brown was born in Pennsylvania, July 19, 1854, and was married to Albert J. Lee at age 19. He died in 1912. She married W. M. Brown in 1920 and they made their home in Springfield. MRS. W. M. BROWN Miss Olive Brooks was born in Minnesota in 1856. She was married to George McLaughlin. They had one child, George McLaughlin, Jr. After Mr. McLaughlin's death she married W. M. Brown. They moved to Springfield in 1908. Five children were born. One girl lost her life in the fire at the Dawes home. WILLIAM JOHN BROWN William John Brown was the eldest son of John and Hannah Brown. They were Dakota pioneers who came to Springfield in 1878. W. J. Brown was born in 1872. He attended Springfield high school and Mt. Marty at Yankton, which was conducted as a school for boys. In 1891 Mr. Brown married Ida Mae Henderson. Mr. Brown and his brother Dave managed and operated the Brown ranch until 1930. There were six children--Mrs. Erma Martin, Mrs. George Blanchard, Mrs. Peter Eberle, Edward, Harold and Ward. MRS. THOMAS BUSSEY Jane Ellen Slater was born in Albion, Wisc., May 23, 1859. Her mother died in 1866, and the following spring her father migrated with his four children to Dakota Territory. There were three families that came together, the Charles and Frank Harrison families and William Slater. They made the journey in wagons, and because of the spring having been wet, they encountered many difficulties with swamps and swollen streams that must be forded, for there were no bridges. They arrived at old Bon Homme on the fifth of July, 1867. There Jane grew to womanhood, and on the 6th of March, 1879, she was united in marriage to Thomas Bussey, and the couple moved at once to his homestead, southwest of Tyndall. Mr. and Mrs. Bussey were the parents of three children: Arthur, Mabel and Maud. ANNA BYERLY Anna Byerly, oldest daughter of James and Mary Byerly, was born in Cheyenne County, Kans., December 30, 1888, and when she was seven years old she moved with her family to Cherokee County, Ia., and three years later came to South Dakota and made their home on a farm in western Bon Homme County, south of the Trumbo school. Other children in the Byerly family were Jennue Dahlenburg, Bertha Reichert, Bessie Wolbach, Fred, George and Andrew. Anna's =========================page 53=============================== parents later moved back to Kansas. On November 7, 1907, Anna was married to Fred Dahlenburg and they made their home on a farm about four miles southwest of Perkins. Anna died in 1942. EDWARD A. BYERLY Edward A. Byerly was born on a farm near Anamosa, Ia. After coming to South Dakota he found employment upon farms in the Perkins neighborhood. He then bought a small place of his own upon Choteau Creek where he resided for some time. Later he made his home with the Henry Dahlenbergs and in his last years with the Fred Dahlenberg family. He died at the Fred Dahlenberg home in July, 1936. RICHARD L. CAMPBELL Richard L. Campbell was born in Canada, June 14, 1848. When he was a child of nine his parents moved to near Forreston, Ill., and here he grew to manhood on the farm of his parents. On January 2, 1870, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Katherine Myers, and moved with his bride to Iowa where he farmed for 30 years. In the spring of 1900 he came to South Dakota, locating upon a farm six miles southeast of Avon. Five years later he retired from the farm, moving into Springfield to give his children the educational advantages of the Normal School. Mrs. Campbell died in the year 1909. In 1911 he and his youngest daughter moved to Montana where he continued to make his home. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were the parents of eight children Andrew, Grace, Charles, Sadie, Edith D., Arthur, Linda, and one child died in infancy. C. F. CLANCY C. F. Clancy was born in Rockford, Ill., in 1864 and lived for a time in Iowa before coming to Springfield where he operated a drug store for 20 years. In 1919, the family moved to Sioux Falls. Mr. Clancy owned the brick business block now occupied by the Kibble store until about 1945. He was married to the former Helen Brown. JAMES P. COOLEY James P. Cooley came to Bon Homme County in March, 1870, taking up a claim d 160 acres and built a log cabin 12 x 16 feet. In 1873 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. McCollum. Born to this union were twelve children Jesse, Charlotte, Emma, Mary, Lucile, Addie, Clinton, George, Charles, Maurice, John Corbin and William Ralph. In 1872 Mr. Cooley was elected to a seat in the Council of the Territorial Legislature. He served as County Commissioner 1885-1891, as State Senator 1903-1915, and was president of the Tyndall Security Bank from 1911-1915. Senator Cooley's last official act was to help defeat an attempt to close Southern State College. John Corbin Cooley, after graduating from Wyoming State College, returned to a site near the home place and engaged in agriculture, where he still resides as a contented bachelor. W. R. Cooley attended the University of South Dakota and the South Dakota State University where he graduated in 1908. He attended the University of Illinois for two years of graduate work. In the spring of 1912 he went to the River Ranch near Springfield. Three years later he married Alta Morgan, a native of Illinois and a graduate of the University of Illinois. To this union two children were born Mary Lois and Carvel Robert. W. R. Cooley served as a County Commissioner for a number of years and as a State Representative. MR. AND MRS. JOHN CRANE John Crane was born on a farm near Freedom, Ind., in March, 1859. He grew to young manhood at his birthplace, farming with his father. At the age of 19 years, in the spring of 1878, the father and mother and daughter, Mollie, and son, John, came to Dakota Territory. John homesteaded a quarter section of land near Running Water. In 1896 he moved to a farm northeast of Springfield where he farmed for 19 years and then returned to the old homestead to spend the remaining years of his life. In March, 1898, John was married to Hermina Zelenka. Hermina, eldest daughter of Joseph and Mary Zelenka, was born near Table Rock, Nebr., in June, 1877. When a child of six years she came with her parents in 1883 to Bon Homme County and to a farm in the Pleasant Ridge school district near Springfield where she attended school and was also employed as a domestic in the area. After their marriage the Cranes maintained their home on the farm four miles northeast of Springfield, where their daughter and son were born, before moving to their homestead southwest of Springfield. Their children are: Mercy, Mrs. Ray Lancrain of Armour, and Ray, Springfield. CURL FAMILY John Watson Curl, sometimes known as Watson Curl, and Emma McNeill were married at Fort Madison, la., on June 4, 1870. They rived et Denmark, la., a couple of years and in 1872 decided to come to Dakota Territory to settle on a homestead. Mr. Curl's mother and brothers, Birteel and Wallace, decided to come along as did the John and Oliver McNeill families. The trip was made in a covered wagon that was pulled by an ox and a horse. The first winter they camped along the Missouri river below the little settlement of Bon Homme. Times were hard and Mr. Curl cut wood and sold it. When the land was opened for settlement Mr. Curl filed on section 8 in township 94 and the others in the party settled on the adjoining quarters. The homestead was proved upon December 18, 1882, and was witnessed by Joseph Armstrong and Addison Adams. Like most early settlers plenty of hardships and discomforts were suffered. The Indians freely traveled the territory and the story was often told about the squaw that stopped to nurse Charlie, who was the baby, one day while he was in the cabin being tended =========================page 54============================= by his older brother. The Curls raised a family of six boys: Clarence, Charles, Bert, Walter, Arthur and Norris. They also raised Tena Knol, who is now Mrs. T. M. Riddle of Canton, Ohio. In 1909 Mr. Curl sold his farm and they bought the Jess McPherson place on south main street in Tyndall and moved to town. In 1914 Mr. Curl went to Kansas and bought a merry-go-round which he later sold to his son Arthur, who eventually started the Curl Amusement Co. Mr. Curl kept a threshing machine and threshed for himself and other farmers in the Tyndall area. They were members of the Christian Church that stood on the south side of Tyndall just south of the railroad. The family was musical and Mr. Curl and boys often made up a fife and drum corps, playing at 4th of July celebrations and at G.A.R. reunions. During the storm on January 12, 1888, the Curls kept their boys home from school. Three persons were found frozen to death in Bon Homme County. Wood at that time sold for $4.50 a rick. During their second year here the grasshoppers ate up the crops and Mr. Curl went to work on the railroad that ran from here to Tyndall and Scotland to earn money. Items from Mr. Curl's diary of interest were: "In the fall of 1888 they built a new home out on the farm. Mr. Curl also served on the school board that year. On January 1, 1889, they all went over to Oliver McNeill's to a turkey dinner. There was a large crowd of about 35. They had two turkeys, one-half or two-thirds of a wash boiler full of oysters and the youngsters went to the creek skating after dinner, and the old ladies washed the dishes and the men smoked pipes and looked through the glass at the eclipse of the sun." Mr. Curl died in 1930 and Mrs. Curl in 1931. One of their children is still living, Bert who lives in Gettysurg. Two of their grandchildren are still living in the Springfield area, Mrs. Frank Mann and Warren Curl. Others in the county are Mrs. William Blacknik, Tyndall; Mra. Howard Gunn, Scotland; and Stuart Curl, Avon. BERNARD CURRY Bernard Curry was born in New York City in 1869 and came with his family as a baby to Fort Randall, where 0a father was a soldier with the U. S. Army. The family went through trying times at the Fort and after the father wee transferred from there, the mother and six children took up a homestead west of Running Water. After proving up there, Bernard and 0a brother, Patrick, with their mother bought a home in Springfield about 1900. Patrick died in 1914 and the mother in 1923. The father, after being stationed at many different places, failed in health and died at Hot Springs in 1912. Bernard later took up a claim in the Philip vicinity and after proving up there, returned to Springfield and lived in the area till 0a death in 1949. MR. AND MRS. F. DAHLENBERG Fred and Mathilda Dahlenberg were married in Germany in 1869 and came to America soon after. After a brief stay in Wisconsin, they came to Bon Homme County where they spent the rest of their lives. To this union were born Mrs. Carl Orth, William, Henry, Fred and Robert. Mr. Dahlenberg died in 1925 and his wife died in 1926. HENRY M. DAVISON Henry M. Davison, pioneer businessman of Springfield and member of the Bon Homme County board of commissioners, was born at the old town of Bon Homme on January 5, 1870. He was the first boy and the third white child born in Bon Homme County. His parents were Henry and Alberta Mead, pioneer merchants in old Bon Homme. The family moved to Springfield in 1874, when Henry wee four years of age. Here he grew up and received 0a education. He was in various lines of business, a clerk in the bank, later operating a bicycle shop and later a hardware store and for many years a car and garage business. During his long residence in Springfield, Mr. Davison served in various public offices, such as several terms as cite mayor, on the board of education and board of the county commissioners. He was also an active Republican, a member of the Episcopal Church and a Mason. Mr. Davison wee married to Eva G. Stephens, who was born near Lewis, la., on November 10,1874, and came to Springfield with her parents and family when still a young girl. Upon completion of her formal education here, she began teaching the first grade at the public school. She was active in the Episcopal church and Order of the Eastern Star, for which latter organization she served as Worthy Grand Matron of South Dakota. Following the death of her husband in 1941, she spent some time in California and later moved to Niobrara where she was married to B. W. Kimball in 1949. FRED E. DAWES Fred E. Dawes, life-long resident of the Springfield community, was born October 2, 1888, on the Mead farm west of Springfield. He was a son of George and Hattie Dawes. When a small boy, the family moved to a farm near Kingsburg and Fred began his education at the Quinn school and in 1905 graduated from the State Normal school and then began teaching in the Niles school. When a rural mail route was established at Springfield he became a rural carrier shortly after January first and carried the mail first with horses and buggy and later with a Model "T" Ford. He served in the military service during World War I in the 88th Infantry. After 0a discharge in 1919 he wee employed as a mail clerk on the railroad but soon gave that up to begin his own private business of trucking and draying service, also general delivery, in and out of Springfield. He also made regular trucking trips to Sioux City with livestock. Mr. Dawes was very active in civic affairs of the community, being a long time member of the city council, Rotary, Commercial Club and of Dwight Wood Post, American Legion, for which he served as adjutant of both the Legion Post and of District 7 of the Legion. GEORGE AND CHARLES DAWES George E. and Charles E. Dawes were born at Waverly, la. George was born in September, 1858, ==========================page 55============================ and came to Wakefield, Nebr., in 1880, to where a sister had moved in 1873. Both men worked on farms and on railroad construction for railroads coming into the country and in 1884 they came to the Springfield area, each with an oxen team and wagons. Charles married Etta Mosher in 1886 and farmed northwest of Running Water until 1892 when he and his family returned to Wakefield with horses and wagon. George worked for George Mead at freighting to Ft. Randall and also on the farms around the Springfield depot and northwest of Springfield. Hattie Mosher came from Illinois to Dakota in 1886 to visit her sister, Mrs. Charles Dawes, who was teaching school and caring for her family. In October, 1887, Hattie and George Dawes were married and established their home in a small house near the depot while working for Mr. Mead. In the spring of 1888 George and his wife moved to the Mead farm on Emanuel Creek, now owned by John Nagel. In the spring of 1890 George, his wife and son, Fred, moved to a farm west of Kingsburg where George served on the school board, also as road supervisor and where two sons and two daughters were born. In 1901 the George Dawes family moved to Springfield where they resided for the rest of their lives. George served on the school board, city council, Farmers Elevator committee and a Modern Woodman committee that were builders of the Cement Block on Eighth built for opera house, dancing, roller skating and other public gatherings. He also served on the Crop show committee and at the time when it seemed certain that Springfield was about to lose the State Normal School Mr. Dawes was one of the delegation making a trip to Pierre to meet with the state legislators in an effort to retain the location of the Normal. MR. AND MRS. JESSE E. DAWES Jesse E. Dawes was born on a farm northwest of Springfield on October 7, 1890. He was one of five in the family of George and Hattie Dawes. Jesse and his two brothers, Fred and Frank began their home, as did also their two sisters, who later died in a fire in their home in Springfield. In the fall of 1901, the family moved to Springfield, their eldest son Fred, at that time being ready for high school at Southern State Normal. After attending the State Normal school, Jesse returned to the farm in December, 1909, as a bachelor. Here he served for many years as a member of the school board in the Quinn district. In getting the town of Kingsburg started, Jesse helped build the office of the Fullerton Lumber Company under the supervision of Oran F. Truesdell. He also helped build the Congregational Church in Kingsburg, where he served as teacher as well as superintendent of the Sunday School. On December 29, 1920, Jesse was married to Anna S. Hinek and for 26 years they made their home on the Dawes farm until, in l946, they moved to Springfield where Jesse was a substitute carrier on the mail route and also a clerk in the Springfield post office when Mrs. Lillian Gaynor was the Postmaster. He then took a maintenance job at Southern State Teachers College for 15 years. For several years he served on the Springfield city council. Jesse's hobbies as a young man were playing baseball and breaking young horses. Anna Hinek Dawes was born January 20,1898, on a farm northeast of Tyndall. As a child of four years Anna came to Springfield to make her home with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Monfore. She attended grade school at Springfield and later moved to Tyndall to be with her mother and attend high school. After two years at State Normal school Anna taught rural school for three years before her marriage. After her family was grown Anna again taught school for seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Dawes' family of three children, Jesse H., Charles G., and Nina Mae, attended the Quinn grade school, Springfield high school and Southern State Teachers College and also taught for a time. Both Jesse H. and Charles G. served in World War II, Jesse H. in the Air Corps and Charles in the Infantry and was also a prisoner of war in Germany for five months. Now both sons reside in Sioux Falls where each is associated with a business college. Nina Mae, Mrs. Clarence Jansen, also resides in Sioux Falls where Mr. Jansen is employed in the post office. Jesse recalls when he was a small boy the Indians from Charles Mix county on their way to Santee would pass by the Dawes home in caravans of several wagons and make camp on the prairie one-fourth mile from the Dawes home. An Indian named Red Horse would come to the home to trade blankets and young pony colts for chickens, milk, salt pork, or what ever they could spare. MR. AND MRS. HENRY DE BOER Henry DeBoer and Lucretia DeBoer were married April 14, 1904, at Platte. They immediately came to Springfield where he had bought a farm ten miles west of town, now occupied by John Nagel. A few years later they bought the farm just east of it where they spent the remainder of their lives, Henry dying in 1945 and his wife in 1949. To this union was born Jacob, Martin, Louise Holleman, Joe and Henry, Jr. Henry and Lucretia were both born in the Netherlands. Henry was born in 1872 to Mr. and Mrs. Martin DeBoer and came with his parents to America in 1882, settling in Iowa and later moving to Charles Mix county, S. D. Henry came to Springfield in 1900 and farmed for four years before marrying. Lucretia was born in 1871 and came with her family to Charles Mix County at the age of 13 years and settled at the old town of Platte, where she lived until her marriage. MR. AND MRS. S. DE GROOT Stuart DeGroot and Winnie DeJong were married at Yankton on May 1, 1893. They resided at Utica and at Mission Hill before moving to Springfield in 1903 where they continued to reside. They were the parents of Tom, Joe, Stuart, John, Aggie, Peterson, Mrs. Pierre Wynia, Winnifred DeGroot, Clara McCafferty and Mrs. Virgil Nelson. MR. AND MRS. H. W. DE JONG Harry W. DeJong was born on September 20, 1869, in Hijilaared, Friesland, the Netherlands, and came to America in 1891, settling first in Iowa before ==============================page 56========================= coming to Springfield, living in various places. He was married to Winnie Busman and to this union were born Jennie Olson William, Simon Elizabeth Davis, Peter, Dora Davis Winefred, Harry John and Minnie Duckson. Harry died in 1961. WILLIAM P. DE JONG William P. DeJong was born December 17, 1834 in Friesland, Netherlands, and was married to Elizabeth Ronkema June 3, 1867. They came to America around 1891 and settled first in Iowa and then coming to Yankton County, where they resided near Utica. Their children were Harry, John, Bert, and Mrs. Stuart DeGroot. MR. AND MRS. W. DELANEY William and Katie Delaney came to Dakota in 1884, and he and his sons worked as carpenters on the railroad being built from Mitchell to Chamberlain and a year later they homesteaded land on the river bottom west of Running Water, this land later being washed away and the family then moved to Fairfax. Their daughter, Kate, was born April 21, 1866, at Lawrence, Kans., and went later with the family to Michigan before coming to South Dakota. For a time she taught school in a log school building north of Running Water and at the foot of the Norweign Hill and in Nebraska. She was married to James M. McCollum on October 19, 1892, and they became the parents of Ivan, Katherine gurney, Clifford, James, Florence, Rose, Lawrence, Elizabeth Havens. She died in 1943. [photo - EDWARD L. DE MELT (and wife?)] EDWARD L. DE MELT A long time businessman in Springfield, Edward L. DeMelt was born August 20, 1872, in Albany, N. Y., and came to South Dakota as a boy of 14 in 1886 with his parents, John DeMelt and Emma Lake DeMelt, and his sister, Sarah. The family settled on a farm west of Springfield where Ed assisted his father in farming and also at times worked in the freighting business on the Ft. Randall run. After his marriage to Rose Stanley in December, 1894, he engaged in farming west of Springfield for several years after which he moved to Springfield and purchased the bus business, which at that time operated between the city and the railroad depot. He conducted this business with horse power for many years and later with motor powered buses. He also operated the city dray business and the city ice business in conjunction with the bus business, hauling all supplies of coal, lumber, groceries and hardware to Springfield, Santee, Nebr., and the Southern State Normal and later installed the first oil business in Springfield. Later, in 1921, he disposed of these Springfield businesses and moved to Yankton where he bought and operated the general delivery business for most of the stores in that city for some years before retiring. After the death of his wife in 1937, Mr. DeMelt returned to Springfield to be near his daughter, Mrs. Maurice Babcock and family. ARTHUR DE LONG Born June 7,1875, in Lyons County, Minn., Arthur E. DeLong was the eldest of seven children born to Wallace F. and Catherine Grover DeLong. He grew to manhood in the Minnesota area and in 1898 he enlisted in the Army for service in the Spanish-American War. He was sent to Georgia for training where he contracted typhoid fever after which, due to his weakened physical condition, he was honorably discharged in November, 1898. After returning to the family home at Hector, Minn., where he took up his trade as a painter and paper hanger, he was married in April, 1901, to Sarah Louise Truesdale, also of Hector. In 1907 the family moved to Springfield, where Mr. DeLong worked at his trade until he became a rural mail carrier in 1918. Upon his retirement in 1944, he and Mrs. DeLong moved to California to spend the rest of their lives. Sarah Louise Truesdale was born in Knox County, Neb., November 13, 1879, the oldest of seven children born to Harvey E. and Caroline A. Truesdale. During her early childhood the family moved to Minnesota where she grew up and later met and married Mr. DeLong. Mr. and Mrs. DeLong had a family of seven children, two daughters and five sons. One son, a lieutenant in the U. S. Navy, lost his life in World War II. MR. AND MRS. G. DEMPSTER George and Effie Dempster were married at Arlington, Ia., on August 30, 1888, and lived on a farm near there until coming to South Dakota in 1905. They established a home near Springfield and lived there until 1942, when they moved into Springfield. They were the parents of six children: Susie Shroll, Ray, Roy, Winnie Skillman, Ann Martin and Lucille Johnson. ================================page 57===================== JOHN DEMPSTER John Dempster was of Scotch ancestry. He was born to John and Margaret Dempster in October, 1841, just six weeks after his parents and five other children arrived in America. In 1852 he moved with his family to Iowa by wagon and worked for his father there till he was 21. On December 18, 1862, he was married to Eliza Hummel and they walked life's way together for over 71 years. Eleven children were born to them, Frank, Raymond, Dora, Lewan, James, Miranda, Jessie, George, Thomas, Robert and Charlotte. They purchased a farm near Arlington, Ia., where they spent 20 years in general farming and stock buying. In 1890 he came to Bon Homme county and purchased a farm and employed a carpenter to put up a large granary. The following March he brought his family from Iowa and the family lived in the granary while the substantial home was being built. After eight years they built another home and lived there till 1918 when they moved to Tyndall where they lived until about 1931 when he suffered an injury from a fall and it was thought best for the couple to make their home with their three sons living near Springfield. ANNA R. DE ROOS Anna R. DeRoos, in company with her little sister, Maude, on May 19, 1915, went to look for a flock of young ducks that had disappeared during a big rain the previous night. Not seeing them in the yard, Anna told Maude to tarry and she would proceed along Coffee Creek. Maude, after not seeing or hearing her sister, went after help. They could track Anna to the edge of the creek and there lost the track. About 6:00 o'clock that evening her body was found about a mile down the stream. Anna was born on that farm in 1894 and was 21 years of age at her death. LENA DE ROOS Mrs. Frank (Lena Oorlog) DeRoos, daughter of George and Henrietta Oorlog, was born January 31, 1884, in Germany and came to America with her parents at the age of eight years. The family resided first near Tyndall, later at Avon before moving to Springfield. She attended rural school near Avon and was also employed as a domestic on the farm, with the meager wages paid in those days mostly going to augment the family income. At the age of 19 years she was married to Frank DeRoos and for many years they farmed in the Springfield area. Later they moved to Perkins where Mr. DeRoos operated a blacksmith shop and for some time he also operated a trucking business. Mrs. DeRoos became the mother of six daughters and seven sons. She was a member of the Reformed Church. JOHN J. DE ROOS John J. DeRoos was born in the village of Friesland on February 24, 1872. As a small child he migrated with his parents to the United States, settling at Orange City, Ia. The family lived here for eight years and then moved to Bon Homme county, living here for a year. They then moved to Charles Mix county and remained there for a time, returning later to Sioux County, la. On September 1, 1896, John married Katherine Van Der Stoop at Orange City. They lived for a time at Hull, Ia., and in Turner county. In 1902 they came to Bon Homme and remained here as farmers. They had one daughter, Mrs. James Lundeen, and three sons, Tony, John and Fred. RUDOLPH DE ROOS Rudolph DeRoos, a well known citizen of the Springfield community for 70 years, was born in Wolvega, Friesland, the Netherlands, October 15, 1868, and came to America with his uncle and aunt, Jerry and Grace Dykstra, when he was a lad of 11 years. In 1869 his parents migrated here and settled on a homestead west of Springfield where Rudolph spent his childhood as well as all his active life. After his marriage to Gertie Boschma in November, 1892, he took over the management of the homestead and continued to farm until he retired and moved to town when he was 53 years of age. He served as a member of the city council for 22 years, before his failing health and death in 1951. He was a man of public spirited character with a keen sense of humor and well liked by all who knew him. JOSEPH DIRKS Joseph Dirks, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dirks, was born in Turner County in January, 1886, and came to Bon Homme County with his parents when only a small boy. He grew up on a farm 12 miles west of Springfield near the Dahlenburg rural school, which he attended. He also attended Freeman Junior for two years. As a young man he had owned and operated a threshing machine and corn sheller in partnership with his brother, Leri Dirks. He had engaged in farming on the farm of his parents for many years and then on his own farm four miles west of Perkins until he retired and moved to Springfield where he resided alone. He had never married. DONNELLY FAMILY James Donnelly, born in 1851, and Kate Mulleague, born in 1855, were married here in 1873 and settled on a farm near Running Water, where they resided until the death of Mr. Donnelly in 1918. Mrs. Donnelly died in 1933. They were the parents of ten children. Mrs. Donnelly was born in Castleraigh, Ireland, the third eldest of a family of ten children, all of whom preceded her in death except Mrs. Winnifred Jones of Platte. At the age of 15, Kate Mulleague came to the United States and with members of her family settled at Bon Homme County. After her husband's death she moved to Omaha. The two sons and eight daughters in the Donnelly family were Francis A., James E., Winnifred Malone, Anna Dace, Lillie Gaynor, Mae Martin, Margaret Jones, KateDonnelly, Zoa Donnelly and Laura Maxwell. Two of the daughters are living, Zoa Donnelly in ================================page 58===================== Omaha, Nebr., and Laura Maxwell in San Francisco, Calif. Mr. Donnelly came from Fairbault, Minn., with his parents in a covered wagon and settled on the bottom of the Missouri River. E. B. DWIGHT Edward B. Dwight, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Dwight of Sioux Falls, was born on the 24th day of November, 1897, at the family home in Bridgewater. In the summer of 1901 the family moved to Sioux Falls where Ed went to grade and high school. In 1916 he started further education at the University in Vermillion. This education was interrupted by his serving in the army field artillery for the duration. Arriving home he completed his studies at the University and graduated in 1921. Upon graduation he obtained a position in the Bank at Alpena. It was there that he met his bride, La Rue Manwaring Dwight. They were married August 16, 1922. In June of 1924 Ed received a letter from his father, who was then President of the Board of Regents, that the City of Springfield was without a bank and hustle down there and see what could be done about organizing a new bank. This was done and on September 24, 1924, a new bank was started, Ed having been elected cashier. La Rue had been hired as Home Economics teacher for the same year. April 21, 1925, was born the first son, Edward M., or Ned as he was called. Ned is now principal of the public school at Baudette, Minn. Don, the second son, was born February 21, 1927, and is now manager of the Springfield State Bank. In 1930 the Dwights built a new home near the campus of the college. This year was the beginning of the drought and difficult times were ahead. He was elected president of the bank in 1938 and has been in this position since that date. He retired January 1, 1964, and has been a fisherman and hunter in his retirement. DR. AND MRS. JOHN DUGUID Dr. John Owen Duguid was born on a farm in southern Michigan near the village of Ray, Ind., on March 19, 1864. His parents died when he was real young and he made his home with his grandmother. As soon as he was old enough he worked upon the farm of uncles living in the vicinity. His early schooling was in the village and he attended high school at Fremont, Ind. He entered Hillsdale College but his studies were interrupted by the need of earning money and he taught school for a year. Returning to college, he graduated in 1889 and found a position in a private school in Duluth, Minn. In 1890 he came to Scotland and taught four years in the Academy. He then entered Rush Medical College in Chicago, from which he graduated in 1897 and came at once to Springfield to practice medicine. While teaching at Scotland he made the acquaintance of Miss Isabella Mead of Springfield and they were married there in 1895. She then accompanied him to Chicago for the last half of his medical course. The doctor was active in the affairs of the community. He was on the school board for 16 years. They purchased the Mead home when the Mead family moved to Seattle in 1903 and this was their home until Dr. Duguid's death in 1932. This house was razed by fire in 1936 and Isabella then purchased a place on Chestnut street where she lived for 20 years. Mrs. Duguid, born in October, 1872, was one of 10 children of George and Serepta Louisa Band Mead of Niles, Mich., who came to Bon Homme in 1870 and then to Springfield in 1872 where they built their home on the northwest corner of Eighth and Cedar Street. It was in this home that Isabella was born. She attended the public school and for one year attended the Academy at South Dakota University and in 1891 was one of the class of eight to graduate from Springfield Normal School. For four years she served in the local postoffice where her father was postmaster. She gave piano lessons and for one winter term she taught a rural school near Scotland. Mrs. Duguid shared with her husband in the typical experiences of a country doctor in this community. She was a talented pianist and served as organist for the Ascension Episcopal Church of which she was a member. She was also a member of Rachel Chapter, O.E.S., a Charter member of the Monday Club founded in 1905 and also a member of the Springfield school board. The last three months of her life she spent in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Arnie Alver where she died in July, 1958. Three of their children grew up here, Marion O. Cleworth, Eleanor Groot Larson and Robert. FRED DYKMAN Fred Dykman came to America in 1916 from the Netherlands. In the spring of 1920 he bought the pool hall from Oran Truesdell. At that time it was located in the basement of the present theatre building and was later moved to the present Tom O'Donnell pool hall. In 1920 he sold this to Carl DeMelt and bought it back in 1923 and sold it again in 1924 to Barney Aman. In 1921 he bought the cafe located where Renner's barbershop and Fran's Beauty Shop are now located and later moved it into the Masonic building next to the bank. In 1924 he started the first movie theatre in Springfield in the present building, showing silent movies. It was named the Speedway Theatre. In 1927 he sold his cafe and theatre and moved to Kingsburg where he had bought a store from L. H. Rovaart. In 1926 Fred was united in marriage to Sue Wagner, a native of Springfield, and after living at Kingsburg till 1962, the Dykmans moved back to Springfield where Fred spent six years as night policeman before retiring. MR. AND MRS. DIRK DYKSTRA A long time well driller, threshing machine and corn sheller operator in the community, Dirk J. Dykstra was born in July, 1883, in Dakota Territory. He was one of 13 children born to Jurgen and Grace DeRoos Dykstra, who came from Wolvega, Netherlands, to America in 1880 and homesteaded on the plains near Springfield. Before their house was finished the father died, leaving the mother with 10 small children, Dirk at that time being ten years of age. Later Dirk ==============================page 59============================ [photo - MR. AND MRS. DIRK J. DYKSTRA] purchased 80 acres of this homestead. In May, 1900, at the age of 17, Dirk began his work as a well driller, being employed by Oscar Tjeerdsma, Sr., drilling the first well on what was then the John Dykstra place. In July the same year Dirk bought the well drilling equipment from Mr. Tjeerdsma and proceeded in the work with George Peterson as his assistant. Later he engaged in the threshing and corn shelling business, all this equipment being operated with horse power. His retirement was in 1940. In August, 1906, he was married in Tyndall to Martha Fitch and for almost 60 years of married life they made their home in the Springfield community. Martha, daughter of Edward and Martha Maybe Fitch, was born in March, 1890. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dykstra received their education in the Dahlenburg rural school, as did their family of three sons and two daughters, reared by them. Martha's "career" consisted of being a good mother, housekeeper, and a willing helper in time of sickness and need among neighbors and friends. JOHN L. DYKSTRA John L. Dykstra was born in Frieseland, the Netherlands, on October 1, 1853. He attended grade and high school there. On May 18, 1870, he was united in marriage to Anna De Jong. In 1887 they and four of their children came to the United States and settled at Le Mars, Ia., where they lived until 1902 when they came to the Springfield community. They were the parents of nine children, Garret, Peter, David, Gailman, Tillie, Gertrude and three others who preceded their parents in death. HENRY DIRK DYKSTRA Henry Dirk Dykstra was born at Wolvega, Friesland, in the Netherlands, August 26, 1847. Growing to manhood there, he not only learned the essentials of farming but was closely associated with an experienced bee culturist and from him received the instruction and inspiration that made him a skilled agriculturist, so that when he came to this country he raised honey that was known and sought after throughout a wide area. In the spring of 1872, he migrated to America On the same vessel came members of the Bouma family from the same place in Friesland. They all came to Wisconsin and in the spring of 1873, Mr. Dykstra and Rachael Bouma were married. That fall they went west to Sioux County, Ia., and in the spring of 1874, with Fred and Cornelious Hornstra and their brides, came to Bon Homme County, making the journey in a covered wagon drawn by oxen. They reached here in May and pitched their tent near Coffee Creek, that being the only place they could find water, on what is now the Kellogg place, later moving to the Fitch place, where they pitched the tent beside a little dug-out, this being the place where Nellie Dykstra Holleman was born May, 1874. When they filed their homesteads, they filed on adjacent homesteads. The Dykstras from that time on to the time of his death made this their home. The group put up a shanty on the Fred Hornstra place, which they occupied together for the first winter and in the spring of 1875, they put in together their first wheat crop. There were a few scattered families already in the region but these three couples were the vanguard of the Dutch families that soon were to occupy that entire section of the county. Their children were Nellie Holleman, Addie, Hattie Hornstra, Dirk H., Susie, Sophie Thompson and Stella Thompson. Mrs. Dykstra died in 1925 and Mr. Dykstra in 1936. DR. AND MRS. JOHN G. EBELING Dr. John G. Ebeling was born in 1875 in Germany and, after acquiring his education, came to America as a young man of about 18 years. He came with his mother and brothers and sisters, settling first at Sibley, la., and from there moving to Marion, S. D. In 1910, he and Catherine Feenstra were married at Marion and that same year moved to a vacant house west of Springfield on the William Tolsma farm and the Doctor continued his practice in veterinary medicine and surgery which he had previously started in Marion and also had taken calls from Springfield, making the long drives with a horse and buggy. Dr. Ebeling followed his profession for almost 50 years. Mrs. Ebeling was born in 1876, in Holland and when a child of three years came with the family to America to locate at Platte. After several years at Platte the family moved to a farm near Parker in turner County. She attended schools in South Dakota. In 1916, Dr. and Mrs. Ebeling moved to their home and acreage near the Springfield depot which was their home for the rest of their lives and the Doctor continued his practice as a veterinarian. Having a great love for horses, he was usually successful in the treatment of their diseases. ERNEST E. ECHELBERGER Ernest E. Echelberger was born on a farm near Lehigh, Webster county, la., on October 2, 1882. He was the oldest of a family of five children. In 1886 the family moved in a covered wagon to a farm in southwestern Nebraska. His mother died when he was 12. For three years after that he and ==========================page 60=========================== his brother, Will, kept house for their father. When Ernest was only 15, he started out to look for work. Working here and there as opportunity offered, he came to Springfield in August of 1900. The following January he went to work in O'Brien's barber shop, learning the trade and for some years worked for Mr. O'Brien. He then bought a shop for himself and continued in business as a barber in Springfield until his death in 1934. He was a member of the Odd Fellows for 25 years, a Mason, Eastern Star and was their Worthy Patron in 1928, a volunteer fireman, golfer (winning the tournament championship in 1927), a member of Modern Woodmen and a member of the Episcopal Church. He was united in marriage in June, 1906, to Mary Gardner. They were the parents of Wayne, Ellen, Ivan and Roscoe. EINAR EINREM Einar Mathias Einrem was born July 25, 1886, near Mooscheen, Norway. Being an orphan, his foster parents were John Anton and Bertha Martha Nelsdatt. As a young man of 19 years he came to America in 1885, coming first to Wisconsin where he was engaged in gardening, nursery and fruit marketing. Later that same year he came to Niobrara, Nebr., where he met and on September 25, 1888, married Johanna Erickson. Johanna, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Erickson, was born February 9, 1870, in Norway and came to America with her parents while an infant. Johanna's parents were both born in Norway, the father in 1845, and the mother, Dorothea Johnson, in 1832. Mr. Erickson was a cabinet and casket maker by trade. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Einer Einrem settled on a farm near Running Water on the bottom lands until April, 1899, when they moved to the Peter Erickson homestead and this was their home until retiring. After returning from service in World War I, their sons Joe and David continued to farm the homestead. The site of the old log house on the homestead was always a sentimental landmark to Mrs. Einrem and she always kept it beautiful with flowers and shrubbery. ARTHUR J. ELENBAAS Arthur J. Elenbaas was born in Zeeland, Mich., September 5, 1885, and came to Springfield when a young man where he was a contractor and a farmer. He was married to Kate DeRoos on March 13, 1913 To this union were born three daughters, Henrietta Hoekstra, Thelma Palsma and Frances. The family moved in 1930 to Orange City, Ia. Arthur died in 1952. W. H. EMMONS W. H. Emmons died at his home east of Bon Homme on January 16, 1895. He was one of the oldest settlers, having kept the old International Hotel in Springfield in the early '70's. He was an old soldier and member of the G.A.R. post of Springfield. He was born in 1841 in Ohio and at 19 enlisted for three years in the Gallant 75, Ohio. At the battle of Gettysburg, he was shot through the breast with the bullet passing through and coming out under the shoulder blade. From these effects he suffered until his death. He came to Dakota in 1870 and took a claim southwest of Springfield and built a house but in the fall of the same year he moved to town and opened the International Hotel. JACOB OLAI ERICKSON Jacob Olai Erickson was born in Versen Parish, Norway, October 4, 1855. He immigrated with his parents in 1868 to America and settled in Wisconsin where they lived for two years. In 1870, they moved to Sioux Rapids, Ia., where they lived until 1874 when they came to South Dakota where his father homesteaded. Later Jacob took over his father's homestead and lived there until his death in 1929. On December 7, he was married to Marit J. Evenson to which union 13 children were born, two of whom died in infancy. The other children were John, Mrs. E. N. Erickson, Alfred, Arthur, Carl, Zararias, Ole, Gena Larkins, Esther Johanson, Josie Alver and Louis. PETER ERICKSON Peter Erickson was born February 7, 1845, in Fiplingdal, Versen, Norway. In June, 1868, he was married to Dorthea Johnson. To this union were born three children, two dying in infancy, leaving Mrs. Einer Einrem the only child surviving. In 1870 they emigrated to America, coming to Stoughten, Wisc. In 1875, they moved to Sioux Rapids, Ia. Then in 1878, they came to Springfield where they some time later took up a homestead. Here they lived for 24 years. They also lived for some time in Nebraska. In 1920, after the death of his wife, he returned to his old homestead making his home with his daughter. He was a charter member of the Bethlehem Lutheran congregation, which was organized February 1, 1879. [photo - MR. AND MRS. PETER ERICKSON] ==============================page 61============================= MR. AND MRS. ULBE ERINGA BY JESSIE ERINGA ISAAK My parents, Ulbe and Meike Eringa, came from the Netherlands in the early 1890's. Although they were not pioneers, they no doubt would be classified as early settlers in the community. The six children in our family were divided into an older group--Grace, Dora and Jessie--and a younger group--Pierre, Thyrza and Alys. My mother's brother, Hedger Rypstra, lived with us until he moved h the Pacific Northwest in 1912. Grace married John Van der Wey, and they established their home in the cattle country of Todd County, South Dakota. They were the parents of six children, one of whom died in infancy. Dora spent thirteen years as a missionary in Japan, and was very happy with her work there. Then she became ill, returned home, and died four months later. She lived a short life, but a valiant one. Pierre followed in his father's footsteps as a farmer, and was also much interested in his church and community. He married Lillian Walkling, who was a wonderful helpmate in all their mutual endeavors. They bought the old home place from my father and made it a most welcome and hospitable place for the Eringa clan to come home to throughout the years. In 1960, Pierre and Lillian retired and moved to Springfield, South Dakota. Shortly thereafter, Pierre died from heart trouble, from which he had suffered for a number of years. Pierre and Lillian were the parents of two children. Urwin, their son, is working with the Youth Program in a church in Denver, Colorado. Anita, their daughter, and her husband, Robert Tjeerdsma, now live on the farm, and are capably carrying on what was started before them. Thyrza, who was a teacher for three years, married Herman Harmelink, a minister. They worked in different parishes for over thirty-five years until their retirement two years ago. They are the parents of five children. Alys, after teaching a few years, married William Beltman, a farmer from Orange City, Iowa. She has been a librarian at Northwestern College in Orange City. Alys and Bill, who have recently retired, are the parents of three sons. As for myself, it was the shining example of Miss Munn who inspired me at an early age to become a teacher. For nearly forty years I taught in the elementary grades. I have been fortunate, because my husband has always encouraged me in the work I love. I am married to Edwin Isaak, who has been a grain dealer and farmer. We are the parents of two daughters. Both of us are now retired. We live in southern Washington, across the Columbia river from Portland. And when the sunsets over our beautiful western hills, I feel a kinship again with the beautiful hills of Dakota and Nebraska. JOHN FALCONER John Falconer was born near Glascow, Scotland, and emigrated to this country about the year 1878. He came to Running Water in May, 1880, and for seven years was in the employ of the C. M. & S. T. P. Railroad. In the fall of 1887, he left Running Water and entered the employ of the Minneapolis and Pacific Railway; and was stationed at Kansington, Minn. In the latter part of December, 1888, he returned again to Running Water to look after and attend to some personal matters, and on Friday, Dec. 21, at 12:15 p.m., while in the office of the Western House at Running Water, he died suddenly of heart disease. MR. AND MRS. W. A. FENDER William A. Fender and Laura A. Halsey were married at Sparta, N. C., on September 18, 1894, and to this union was born Bruce, Paul, Fred, Ben, William and Mrs. Ed (Reba) Lukkes. In 1896 they moved to Hamburg, Ia., and farmed there until 1917, when they moved to Bassett, Nebr. They farmed there till 1927 when they came to Springfield and resided on a farm William died in 1950 and Laura lived in their home here for a short time, after which she made her home with her daughter here until her death in 1964. FRED J. FERWERDA Fred J. Ferwerda was born in the Netherlands in 1856. In 1874 he came to America. In 1875 he and his sister and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Rein Talsma, came to Bon Homme county. He filed on a claim adjoining the Talsma's. This claim was some eight miles south of Springfield. Later he bought a farm west of Springfield. Mr. Ferwerda married Miss Isabella Dykstra in 1878. They had nine children, seven living-namely John, Peter, Bertha (Mrs. John Wynia), Bert, Grace (Mrs. Neil Conboy), Fred and Martin of Springfield. MR. AND MRS. JERRY FERWERDA Jerry Ferwerda and Winnie Ypma were married in May, 1884. Winnie was born in the Netherlands in 1862 and came to America in 1882 and died in the Netherlands in 1862 and came to America in 1882 and died in 1911. They were the parents of Peter, John, Bertha. Annie, Grace and Mrs. Herman DeBoer. MRS. WILLIAM FETT Mrs. William Fett, formerly Mrs. Jacob Hoff, was the mother of Mrs. Mark Ewald. She was a native of South Dakota and lived for a number of years in Bon Homme County. At one time the family ran a moving picture theater here and were also engaged in the automobile business. There were six children, Benjamin, Jacob, Reginold, Mrs William Hill, Mrs. Fay Webber and Mrs. Mark Ewald. MR. AND MRS. PETER FISHER Peter Fisher, the eldest of 10 children of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Fisher, was born on February 24,1879, in the Netherlands. In the school he attended there was an enrollment of 140 pupils. In that country children were permitted to start to school at the age of five years, but his father thought it best not to send him at that age, so the elder Fisher taught Peter at home that year. At the age of six, Peter started to school as a second grader and continued through the eighth grade. He also attended the Dahlenburg rural school for three winters after the family migrated to Bon Homme county in 1893. Landing here with very little money both Peter and =================================page 62========================== his father went to work for a farmer, hoeing cockle burrs in the field. They ate dinner with the family, who spoke in the English language, but they talked so fast that Peter could not understand them even though he had had six months of English in school. As Peter worked for farmers in the area his wages went from $10 to $22 a month, with plenty of work but good board. Later he worked on a threshing machine and became a steam engineer for a few years. In 1906 he went west and filed on a claim in Jackson County, where Kadoka is now. He had a team of horses and did freighting and helped to build up Kadoka. While there he became ill with typhoid fever and had to return to Springfield. Later he sold his claim and came back to live in the Springfield area. In October, 1908, Peter Fisher and Annie Ludens were married and they established their home on a farm and reared a family of two sons and one daughter. In 1949 they moved to Springfield. Both were members of the Reformed Church. Mr. Fisher taught a Sunday school class of teen age girls for 20 years, then later a Bible class of men of 20 to 25 years for 20 years. He was city assessor for several years and also in the rural areas of Hancock, Running Water and Springfield and was employed in the Swenson Sash Factory and the Dawes Feed and Service for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher had 56 years of married life together and Mr. Fisher stated that “she was a good Christian woman. We had our opinions, but they never got out of hand." MR. AND MRS. EDWARD FITCH Edward Fitch, son of Dr. Lucins and Julia Ann Bowen Fitch, was born at Sunbury, Pa., on November 16, 1840. When about a year old his parents migrated to Ohio where they resided for six years, then migrated to Iowa, down the Ohio and up the Mississippi river to Burlington and then inland to Mt. Pleasant, where the mother died. Dr. Fitch then moved with his family to Benton County, Ia., then to Dubuque and, several years later, farther west to Webster County. Here while living at Homer, occurred the Indian outbreak and Massacre at New Ulm and in response to the call from the Governor for volunteers Edward Fitch enlisted in Company B, Iowa Northern Border Brigade, on September 24, 1862, being mustered out August 26, 1863. In October, 1872, Dr. Fitch and family moved to South Dakota, the journey being made by covered wagon and they arrived in Bon Homme County in early November, 1872. In the spring of 1873 Edward filed on a homestead three and one- half miles southwest of Perkins and on the 5th of May, 1875, established his residence there and this was to be his home for over 50 years. Lorretta was their first post office. On March 30, 1873, he was married to Miss Martha Ann Mabie and for more than 51 years the couple shared all the experiences of pioneer life - on the prairies until parted by the death of Mrs. Fitch on May 19, 1924. They both were charter members of the Leydon-Perkins Church. Mr. Fitch had been in failing health for about six years and following the death of his wife his weakness increased rapidly and he died in 1925. Mr. and Mrs. Fitch were the parents of 13 children. Two died in infancy and the remaining 11 were all able to be with their father when he passed away. FITZLER FAMILY John W. (Jack) Fitzler came to Springfield from Perkins in 1905. He was engaged as a clerk in a general merchandise store owned and operated by McNaughton and Slasor. Jack was born in Henry, Ill., May 24, 1878. His father died when he was nine years old and the family moved to Creighton, Nebr. There Jack received his education and worked for the railroad. He later clerked in stores in Creighton, Niobrara and Perkins, as well as Springfield. In 1907 he purchased the grocery and bakery owned and operated by Foster Stanley. Due to the inability of the bakers to refrain from using beverages stronger than water it became necessary for Jack to close the bakery and to operate only a grocery and crockery store. He purchased the building located at the corner of 8th and Chestnut which was later torn down and the site is now occupied by Norm's Bar. When this site became too small, Jack purchased the building now occupied by the Cue and operated his grocery there until 1933. He was a "friendly and neighborly man and always ready to help others in time of trouble end sickness." This quotation was taken from the Springfield Times. For many years he was a member of Mt. Zion Lodge No. 6 and was Master of the Lodge in 1917. He died on September 27, 1941, at Creighton, Nebr., where he was visiting relatives. Jack married Blanche M. Hutchinson January 24, 1907. She was the youngest child of Herbert J. and Julia Ette Hutchinson. She was born June 3, 1884, in Warren, Ill., and came with the family to Springfield in 1901. To this union were born three sons and two daughters. The two daughters died in infancy. Blanche died on December 8. 1969. TIMOTHY F. FLAVIN Timothy F. Flavin was born in Illinois in 1874. He grew up there and was married in 1871 to Mary J. Hughes. They came to Springfield in 1876 and farmed for 20 years. Mary died in 1877. In 1889 he was married to Margaret Gratton. After retiring from the farm he engaged in the insurance business here and for a time was in the implement business. He died in 1932 and Margaret died in 1927. In 1911 his son Stephen became associated with his father in the insurance business, and took over the business till his death in 1944 after which his wife Mabel ran the agency until 1958. Stephen and Mabel were the parents of one son, Arthur. MRS. EALEAZER FOSTER Maira Ireland was born in Montreal, Canada, November 20, 1832. She moved to Vermont in early childhood and was married to Ealeazer Foster in 1850. They moved to Dakota in 1876 and lived in Springfield for a good many years after leaving the farm. Born to this union were: George, Mrs. Dora Robbins, Mrs. Anna Collins, Mrs. Gertrude Cameron, Mrs. Jessie Wheeler and Mrs. Winifred Lambertson. ================================page 63========================= FRANK FRYDA Frank Fryda was born in Sokolec, Bohemia, in October, 1891, and came to this country with his parents when just a baby. The family lived at Springfield for many years, coming here from Humboldt, Nebr. Frank enlisted in the U. S. Army in May, 1918, and served in Roster Co. C. 24th Machine Gun Battalion during World War I. After returning he was employed here in the Swenson Sash factory and when that company moved its headquarters to Yankton he was employed there for eight years and then returned to Springfield. MR. AND MRS. FRANK FRYDA Mr. Frank Fryda was born in Cerhenice, in Kolin, Bohemia, July 4, 1852. He was married in 1881 to Miss Anna Nohacek, and they made their home in Sokalec, coming from there 11 years later to the United States. They landed in New York City October 8, 1892, and then came to Humboldt, Nebr., where they resided for about six years. In 1898 they came to Springfield, where they lived ever since. When first moving to Springfield they lived on the Sam McCurdy farm below the bluff which is now the Roy Coleman farm. The family then moved to the Springfield depot where Mr. Fryda worked on the railroad. After working here for five or six years the family moved to Duluth, Minn., in a covered wagon. After some time they returned by train to Springfield. They lived near the depot where Mr. Fryda worked again on the railroad. A short time later they moved to Springfield and built a home. While living in town Mr. Fryda worked at the Fullerton Lumber Yard for a number of years before working at the Normal School, serving in that capacity under three of its presidents, Wenzlaff, Lawrence and Harmon. Mr. and Mrs. Fryda had seven children Joseph of Tyndall, Charlie, Mrs. Anna Frye and James of Springfield, Bertha Pringle of Bridgewater, Mary and Frank, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Fryda had been married almost 60 years when death came to Mr. Fryda on December 31, 1940. He had reached the advanced age of 88 years, 5 months, and 27 days. FOLEY FAMILY The Hugh Foley family were some of the pioneer residents of this community. Hugh Foley came to this country from County Letrim, Ireland. He worked a few years in Hudson, Mass., before coming to Springfield. In April, 1884, he was united in marriage to Mary Margaret Haley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Haley of Springfield. They took up farming on a farm nine miles west Of Springfield and lived on the same farm for over 50 Years. They were the parents of eight children, Frank, Ella, Charles, James, Bernard, Alice, Agnes and Earl. Their son James was married to Julietta Hahn in June, 1927, while he was working in Columbus, Mont. Shortly after their marriage they returned to Springfield where James took over the Foley farm after his brother Bernard's death in 1926. They lived on the same farm for a few years and later moved to a place two miles away where they continued to live until James' death in January, 1969. Julietta then moved into Springfield where she is still making her home. They were the parents of five sons, Kenneth, Robert, Maurice, Donald and Ronald. MR. AND MRS. FRED GALER Fred Galer and Clara Parsons were married on February 2, 1893, In Iowa and farmed there until 1905, when they came to South Dakota and lived near Avon until 1914, when they moved to Springfield. They made their home here until 1934 when they moved to Verdel, Nebr., to live with their son, Emmett. In 1937 they moved to Yankton. Clara died in 1950 and Fred in 1951. They were the parents of Emmett, Ralph, Gladys Luke, Jane Wolverton and Mary Luke. MR. AND MRS. MILTON GARDNER Milton D. Gardner and Ophelia Brewer were married on May 1, 1861. In 1873 they moved from Dubuque, Ia., to Yankton where they lived for 10 Years before the family moved to Bon Homme County where they farmed for several years. Ophelia was born in Rome, N. Y., on May 2, 1849, and died in 1906. They were the parents of Asa, Clarence and Mrs. Silverwood. JAMES GAYNOR James Gaynor came to Springfield from Dubuque, Ia., when he was a young man. For a while he drove a bus for the local delivery stable and was employed in the J. L. Turner and Son general store for several years. In 1914, he was appointed postmaster here and served in that capacity for 29 years. He retired in 1943. He died May 28, 1947, after an illness of six months. He had been active in the community affairs of Springfield for 50 years and was a great lover of sports, especially baseball. When Mr. Gaynor retired his wife became postmaster. Mary Lillian Moore grew up in the Running Water and Springfield communities and taught school for eight years in rural schools in Bon Homme County. In 1903, she married Mr. Gaynor. They had two sons, Marion and William. She retired after serving as postmaster for seven years and died in 1966. MR. AND MRS. V. C. GILLILAND Victor Clarence Gilliland was born in Adams Township. Butler County. Pa.. on January 11, 1880, the eldest of 10 children of Samuel and Mary Gilliland. He attended the Eagle and McChestnut rural schools in Butler County. At the age of 18 years he came to Bon Homme County in February, 1898. For several years he was employed as a farm hand in the rural area of Tyndall until 1903 he came to Bon Homme to work. Here he met Cora Bruno and on February 22, 1905, they were married in Springfield and established their home on what was then the Fred Wells farm and with the exception of two years spent on a homestead in Butte County they continued to farm =================================page 64============================ one mile north of Springfield. In 1953, they purchased a small acreage near the Springfield depot and continued to farm and also Victor was employed at the grain elevator. Cora Mabel Bruno was born in Minneapolis, Minn., on November 14, 1885. At the age of eight and one half years she came from the Owatonna, Minn., State Public School to Bon Homme County and grew up in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Glynn near Bon Homme. She attended school in the rural Independent District No. 2. Her career in newspaper work began in 1927 as a local correspondent in the Bon Homme community and after coming to Springfield she was employed for many years in the local printing office. She has always taken an active interest in church, club, and social affairs in both the Bon Homme and Springfield communities. [photo - MR. AND MRS. HOMER H. GEETING] MR. AND MRS. C. A. GEETING Charles A. Geeting was born in Hagerstown, Md., on March 26, 1838. He was a cigar and candy maker by trade and served two enlistments in the Union Army during the Civil War. He was married at Forreston, Ill., on December 4, 1872, to Catherine E. Knipper, who was born at Willisburg, Pa., on July 25, 1848. Their grandparents came from Germany. Their son Homer and daughter Annie were born at Forreston, Annie dying at the age of two. They came to Dakota Territory by covered wagon in 1878 and took up a homestead four miles north and six miles west of Springfield, where their daughter Grace was born. Mr. Geeting was one of the workers who put up the chalkrock building at Hope School that was opened for the Indian children in 1884. The Geetings lost everything but the clothes they had on in an April prairie fire. He died in September, 1898, and was buried at Wagner and his wife died in 1929 and was buried at Tyndall. Their son Homer was married to Fannie Allen of Yankton October 31, 1897. They lived on the old homestead for a time and then moved to Kennebec, later returning to Running Water before moving to Tyndall. They were the parents of eight children, Ruth McIntosh, Rachel Thompson, Irene Bonrud, Charles L., Grace Nelson, Kenneth G. Two children Dorothy M. and John died in infancy. Fannie died in July, 1914. Homer then married Martha Dungan and they became the parents of one son, Ronald, who died when he was two years old. Homer died in November, 1965. Homer's sister Grace was married in 1901 to Herb Huntley of Avon. They had one daughter, Margaret. Descendants of the Geetings who still make their homes in this area are Charles L. Geeting of Springfield and Rachel (Getting) Thompson of Sioux Falls. H. H. GOODENOUGH Herbert Harold Goodenough, second son of Herbert Delos and Caroline Leonard Goodenough, was born at Andover, Mass., in May, 1881. When he was three months old his parents went to South Africa, where the father was superintendent of the famous Adams Mission School. At the age of 14 years, Herbert Goodenough came to America where he attended Worcester, Mass., high school, graduating in 1901. He then attended Massachusetts Oberlin College and received his B. A. Degree in 1905 and his Masters Degree in 1912. He later attended the University of Colorado at Boulder for advanced study. In 1907 Mr. Goodenough joined the teaching staff of Southern State College as head of the Social Science Department. In 1908 he was married to Florence Pearl, also a student at Oberlin. During his years in Springfield, Mr. Goodenough was active in many community affairs. He was a Charter member of the Athenian Debating Society, also a member of Rotary International, Masonic Lodge, Eastern Star, Shrine Club and South Dakota Social Science Society. He was a member of the Congregational Church and for many years was baritone soloist and also a trustee of the church. Mr. and Mrs. Goodenough were the parents of three daughters. Mrs. Goodenough presently resides in St. Petersburg, Fla. EPHRAIM GRETSCHMANN FAMILY Ephraim and Katharine Gretschmann came to United States from Russia with their five sons and two daughters. They arrived in Scotland on June 14th, 1889, and went right to Springfield. They settled on a farm three miles northwest of Springfield. Ephraim built the house and some of the buildings which still are on the place. Ephraim became ill while working on the well and died December 15, 1892, at the age of 41 years. This left his wife to raise the family by herself. The boys did the farming till they got married. After those who got married left and settled she moved to Tyndall about 1909. She died at 85 in 1938. Wilhelm W. married Magdalena Hieb from Tyndall. They had one son, Oscar. Wilhelm went into business for himself. Alexander F. married Pauline Koth from North Dakota. They had two children, Mamie and Vernon. He farmed near Springfield for awhile then moved to Tyndall where he was in the livestock marketing business. Then he went to Gregory and farmed and later to Flandreau. John married Barbara Ann Haas from North Dakota. He farmed near Springfield, then moved to Tyndall where he had a feed store and draying business. He returned to the farm. John and Barbara had six ==============================page 65========================== children, Ernest E., Arthur A. (twins), Adena A., Ruben W., Marian M., and John R. They all attended the Niles School and when finished went to the Southern Normal and high school in Springfield. Jacob E. married Freda Hieb of Tyndall. They had one son who died in infancy. He farmed for several years and went into the livestock marketing business. Later he operated a carpenter shop, doing cabinetwork. Gustave J., Alice M., and Emma never married. Gustave and Alice went into business together. They had a store in gently, North Dakota, then a store in Nolan and later they operated the Perkins Store from 1923-1938. Later they moved into Springfield. Emma lives in the home in Tyndall. Alice is in the Good Samaritan Center in Tyndall. The brothers have passed away, Wilhelm W., 78 years (1954); Alexander F., 93 years (1970); John, 68 years (1947); Jacob E., 71 years (1952); Gustave J., 81 years (1965). Ephraim's brother, Wilhelm G. Gretschmann (1854 1918) and his wife Katharine (1870-1924) and family lived on a farm next to Ephraim on the west. They had one son, Carl, and four daughters, Anna, Esther, Ruth and Helena. Another brother, Michael, settled near Gregory. He and his wife were the parents of three children, Louisa, John and Fredricka. JOHN GRETSCHMANN FAMILY John Gretschmann and Barbara Ann Haas of North Dakota were married on February 5, 1903. John had been born on June 14, 1879, and Barbara on July 4, 1881. They farmed several years near Springfield after they were married. They then moved to Tyndall where he operated a feed store and draying business for awhile. They later moved back to the farm three miles west of Springfield, where he had been raised. He died in 1947 and Barbara remained on the farm several years and then moved into Springfield. She became ill in 1956 and went to Oregon, 111., where she died in 1962. John and Barbara had six children. They all attended the Niles school and then finished their education at high school in Springfield and Southern Normal. Ernest E., Whitewater, Wisc., has four sons, Duane, Robert, Edwin and Earl. Arthur A. died in 1966. His children are Arlingh E., Willits J., Dean Arthur, Barbara Ann and Terry Lee. Adena A. (Mrs. Lyle Blohm), Portland, Ore., has a son, Leslie G. Ruben W., Oregon, Ill., has two sons, Kenneth and Randy. Marian M. (Mrs. Charles Fletcher), Oregon, Ill. John R., Yankton, a son, Robert. MR. AND MRS. W. GRETSCHMANN Katharine Kruse was born at Akron, Ia., April 24, 1870. When she was a girl about ten her parents moved to a farm near Niobrara, Neb. As a young woman she came to Springfield to work, and here she met William G. Gretschmann and was married in Springfield, Oct. 1, 1888, Mr. Gretschmann being then employed at the Springfield Artesian Mill. In the fall of 1889 the couple moved to the farm northwest of Springfield and continued to spend their life there. They were the parents of six children: Karl, Anna, Ruth, Esther, and Paul, who died at birth, and Eva Hellena. REUBEN GROOT Reuben Groot was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., in 1826. He was the next to youngest of ten children. Both his parents died before he was six years of age, and the younger children were cared for by an older sister. He received his education in the common schools, and in an Academy at Utica, New York. He then became associated with his older brothers in the mercantile business. In 1852, he went to California by way of the Isthumas of Panama and spent three years in the golddiggings in California. Upon his return he went to Michigan and went into business with Adam Mead, his brother-in-law. In 1860. he married Sarah E. Knights who died in 1866, leaving one daughter, Jane Brann. From 1860 till 1883, he resided upon a farm at Glenville. In 1870, he was married a second time to Phoebe A. Potter who died here in 1894. In the spring of 1883, Mr. Groot came here to visit relatives, which was then a small place, only thirteen years old. He at once became interested in the business possibilities of the new town and community, and formed a partnership with George Snow, the husband of his niece, organizing the first bank, the Bank of Springfield, which opened for business in June of that year. His partnership with Mr. Snow in banking and real estate business continued until about 1897, when he retired from active business. During these years he crossed the continent in the dangerous and pioneer days of the gold excitement upon the Pacific Coast. At the time he came here he was 57 years of age; it was not an age for new ventures and fresh undertakings, one might well think, but for 15 years he associated himself with all his business gifts to this community. He served as a mayor of the city and took pride in the school life in this place and in the Normal School. GUPTILL FAMILY Seymour Amos Guptill was born in Shirland, Winnebago County, Ill., January 7, 1859. His family was said to have come from Scotland, his father settling in Maine and an uncle going on west. They made their livings farming and doing ocean fishing. In 1880 "S. A." was married to Ina Elmetta Hoyt (known as "Nettle"). They lived on a farm near Shirland, Ill., for two years, then moved to Lincoln County, S. D., in 1883, Seymour coming on an emigrant car and Nettie remaining with her mother and sister in Wisconsin until their son, Clyde, was five weeks old, then came on the train with him. All their other children were born in Lincoln County. They are: Walter Scott, born in 1890, died in 1962; Roland, born August 19, 1891, died at 18 months; Lorna Emily (Mrs. Platt Halsey of Springfield) and Sidney Earl, living at Blythe, Calif. Clyde married Cora Spurrell and they had one daughter, Eva, Mrs. Dale Andersen, Hetland. Cora died in 1947 and Clyde on May 25, 1960. Walter Scott married Gertrude Halsey in 1916. Their children are Walter Ralph; Neva (Mrs. Clark ===============================page 66============================ Thomas); and Doris (Mrs. Neil Thomas). Scott died on June 11, 1962. Lorna married Platt Halsey in 1922. Their children are Walter and Ronald of Springfield; Faye (Mrs. Calvin Finck, Tyndall); Hazel (Mrs. Merlin Boese, Avon); and Kenneth of Greeley, Colo. Sidney married Dorothy DeRoos, who died in 1967. Sidney lives at Blythe, Calif. In a family history written at the request of her granddaughter, Eva Andersen, Nettie said "We could scarcely be called pioneers in Dakota, since the railroad was already built and the towns quite well established when we arrived". In the spring of 1901 they moved to a farm near Springfield, where they lived until 1922. At that time they moved to Palo Verde Valley, Riverside County, California, where Mr. Guptill died in December, 1932. In April, 1933, Mrs. Guptill returned to Springfield where she made her home with her daughter, Lorna, until her death in 1946. MR. AND MRS. FRANK HALEY Frank Haley was born in County Sligo, Ireland, on January 6, 1829, and was married to Bridget Madermott in County Lectrim, Ireland, in 1862. To this union were born two children, Michael and Mrs. Hugh Foley. In May 1869, he and his family came to New York City, where they lived seven years and then came west to Springfield where he took up a homestead nine miles west of Springfield. [photo - THE ALEX A. HALSEY FAMILY] HALSEY FAMILY The Alex A. Halsey family came to Springfield from Hamburg, la., in February, 1908, and farmed the Ephram Gretschman farm for two years, then for three years farmed the Andrew Noble farm that was just purchased by Adel Chapin of Sioux City. He then bought the Sam Brann farm one-half mile north of the State Normal School. In 1913 he bought a farm near the Wagner church, northwest of Kingsburg. In 1915 he bought the Sam Richmond farm and lived there until his health failed. He tried retiring a year in town and preferred to return to the farm. He and his wife, the former Sue Fender, had six children, Mrs. Gertrude Guptill, Clarence, deceased, Platt, Mrs. Nadine Wynia, Armand. deceased, and Doris. The four living children are still making their homes here at this time. MR. AND MRS. ASMUS C. HANSEN Asmus Christian Hansen was born at Flensburg, Schesvig-Holstein, in 1843, and grew to manhood there. On March 28, 1890, he was married to Christina Birkenwald and they became the parents of William, Anna, Paul, Otto, Marie and Alvera. In 1897 they came to America and settled on a farm near Remsen, Ia., and in 1908 they came to Bon Homme and purchased a farm. Mr. Hansen died in 1917. SARAH JANE HARTLEY Sarah Jane Hartley was born March 27, 1835, in Pennsylvania. In 1854, she was married to Loren Barnes and they became the parents of five children. In 1861, they migrated to Colorado where Loren died shortly after their arrival. She returned to Iowa and in l864 she was married to William Allen. To this union were born six children. In 1869, they came to Bon Homme County and homesteaded two miles west of where the city of Springfield now stands. During the summer of 1869, while Mr. Allen and the older boys were away putting up hay near the river, a number of Indians appeared and threatened Mrs. Allen by shaking the tomahawk about her head. She offered them something to eat end about that time, Nathan McDaniels appeared on the scene and they left. Mrs. Allen died in 1912. MR. AND MRS. W. HARRISON Walter Harrison and Nellie Fenenga were married March 1, 1906, and made their home on a farm a mile east of the Bon Homme Church before moving to Colorado after which they resided on a farm at Bonesteel. To this union was born Mabel, Francis, Lola, Ma and Lloyd. Nellie was born in Holland, Europe and came to this country with her family and they settled in western Douglas County. MRS. WALTER HARRISON One of Springfield's first native daughters, Mrs. Walter Harrison (nee Nettie Bridgman) was born at Springfield in January, 1878, the third child of Hosea and Hannah Van Curen Bridgman. She attended school here and was a member of the first class to graduate from the Southern State Normal in 1898. She taught rural schools in the Perkins and Springfield communities and later engaged in business. She married Orin Truesdell in 1901 and reared a foster son. Mr. Truesdell died in 1941 and 12 years later she married Walter Harrison of Gregory, a friend of her girlhood days. On her last visit to Springfield Mrs. Harrison recalled many memories of her early life in the school and social life here, when Springfield was one of the "outpost" towns and favored stopover on one of the main land routes westward and also for steamers and the heavy influx of homesteaders who came into the county. There was also considerable social life in the ================================page 67======================== community, most popular being the dances or "hops," most of which were in larger homes, or in the popular International House for an all- community "hop". Another popular past time of the 1890s was golf. Springfield had a course, though it was considerably smaller than the courses of this day, and the game was equally popular with the ladies as well as the men. CHRISTIAN HARTMAN On November 12, 1840, Christian Hartman was born in Oadalum, province of Hanover, Germany, to Conrad and Lena (Langkap) Hartman. His father was a wagon maker by vocation. Christian received his education in Germany. During 1869, he arrived in New York, then went on to St. Louis, Mo., where he stayed ten days. Then, traveling by steamboat on the Missouri River, he continued looking for a location to settle. He decided to stop at what is now Niobrara, Nebr. He took up a squatter's claim of 160 acres in what is now Knox County, Nebr. The nearest neighbors were 25 miles away. Many Indians and a lot of wild game were here. Two years after he had taken his claim it reverted back to government for military reservations. He took up an Indian pre-emption claim in Township 92, Bon Homme County, S. D., in 1873, and later secured a homestead claim adjoining this property. This was the nucleus of the ranch. For several years Mr. Hartman was employed by the government as an engineer of a saw mill. In 1877, he went to Indian Territory where he continued working for the government service. In 1881, he was married to Lizzie Knight (whose parents were pioneers of Illinois.) They moved to the ranch in 1882. They raised livestock and during their lifetime they built this 1,280 acres of land into a ranch called the Hartman Ranch. They also acquired a similar one on the Nebraska side of the Missouri River in Knox County. They were of the Protestant faith. Eight children were born to them: Leona (Mrs. James Stephens, Niobrara, Nebr.), William (died in 1969), Ella (Mrs. J. Fitch, Niobrara), Maude (Mrs. Chas. Taff, Niobrara), Carl (Dr. C. E. Hartman, Denver, Colo.), Albert (died as an infant), Lassara (Mrs. J. Long, Laurel, Mont.), and Grace (Mrs. J. Otey, Denver, Colo.). All of this generation enjoyed a reunion in June, 1967, in Niobrara for a week. The Christian Hartmans spent most of their life on the Ranch until retiring to the city of Springfield. William Hartman followed his father on the ranch. He was married to Helga Sletvold in 1910 end two children were born to them, Eunice (Mrs. Harold Preszler) and William Jr. (drowned in 1936). Besides ranching, William was active in civic activities. In 1946, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Preszler moved to the ranch (third generation), first as a partnership, then buying it and continuing the Angus cattle, quality sheep, besides farming many acres of row crops and hay land. Four daughters were born to the Preszlers: Darleen (Mrs. Robert Ekland, Denver, Colo.), Sandra (Mrs. Laton Gall, Brandon), Maxine (Mrs. Dennis Namminga, Springfield), and Susan (Mrs. Dwight Tjeerdsma, Beresford). To date the fourth generation is on the ranch. Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Namminga moved here in 1968 on the partnership basis. They have one son, Mark Christian Namminga. All of the Hartman descendants have attended Southern and Helga worked as librarian there before she married. MRS. W. D. HARWOOD Dessie Simon was born in Indiana on September 12, 1877, and in 1898 was married to H. P. Whitesell. Shortly afterwards they moved to Paris, Ill. Here their daughter, Margaret Poelstra, was born, and a little later the husband and father died. Dessie and Margaret then moved to Chicago where they lived with her parents for some years. In 1906, the family moved to Mitchell and took homesteads in Mead county. Here Dessie became acquainted with Willis D. Harwood and on November 25, 1910, they were married at Rapid City. They lived for a time at Mitchell and Sioux City and in 1919 they came to Bon Homme and farmed in the Kingsburg area, later moving to Springfield. Mrs. Harwood died in 1940. CHRISTOPHER HEINS Christopher Heins was born in Hamburg, Germany, January 11, 1835. In 1855, he enlisted on the island of Heligoland (then under the British flag) in the British-German Legion in the 5th Company 2nd Regiment of Infantry and was discharged in England in 1856. Upon his discharge he migrated to America, landing at Halifax, Nova Scotia, in January, 1857, end worked in the iron mines until September, when he came to the United States, landing at Boston and worked for a time in the iron mines in Pennsylvania before going to California and working in the mines and sheep business for several years. In 1863, he enlisted in the service, serving mostly in Northern California suppressing Indian outbreaks. After his discharge in 1865, he returned to Pennsylvania and worked in the mines and enlisted again in 1866, and was discharged again in July, 1869, at Ft. Sully. He re-enlisted again in September in Company D, 22nd U. S. Infantry at Fort Randall, and on February 1, was promoted to sergeant and was discharged as a first sergeant in 1874 at Ft. Wayne, Mich., after 12 years of service. He became a charter member of the General Steadman Post No. 38, G.A.R. in October, 1883. Upon his discharge he came to Bon Homme County and settled on a farm north of Running Water where he resided for 42 years. On November 1, 1881, he was married to Mrs. S. T. Terpstra, the widow of John Terpstra. She died in 1911. She had four children and Mr. and Mrs. Heins were the parents of Mrs. N. E. Crosley, Mrs. Lewis Fisher and Mrs. Frank Kinzie. In 1904, he was elected county assessor, and served for four successive terms. He died in October, 1916. CLIO E. (MIKE) HENDERSON Clio E. (Mike) Henderson was born in Springfield on July 22, 1903, a son of George and Mamie Smith Henderson. He attended the Springfield public school, the State Normal and also Nettleton's Business college In Sioux Falls. As a young man he bought an interest in the jewelry and clothing store with his father and after the death of his father he continued in the clothing business until his retirement in July, 1965. Also in 1927 and '28 he operated a theatre in Springfield ==============================page 68========================== while working in the clothing store. From 1929 to 1941 he worked in the post exchange at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., then came back to Springfield and devoted himself to the clothing business. Mike was married to Ardys M. Pachman on September 6, 1929, at Sioux Falls. He has held a number of offices in Springfield, being fire chief for 19 years, mayor of the city, president of the Rotary, president of the Chamber of Commerce, Master of the Masonic lodge and Civil Defense Director. His hobbies are fishing and hunting. SAMUEL J. HENDERSON Samuel J. Henderson, a son of George and Mamie Smith Henderson, was born in 1899 in Springfield in the apartment over the Times office. He attended grade school in Springfield and also was a student for four years at the State Normal school. In 1928 he was married to Harriet Jean Sowl and they are the parents of three sons, Samuel Charles, Las Cruces, N. Mex., David George, Aberdeen, and Kenneth Neil, Los Angeles, Calif. With the exception of 15 months spent in the Army, Sam has lived his entire life in South Dakota and most of it in Springfield, except a few months spent in homesteading in Butte county in 1920. He operated a produce business in Springfield for 14 years, was a Star Route mail carrier for eight years and a rural mail carrier for 21 years. In addition, he has been clerk and co-ordinator in the State Selective Service for five years and chairman of the County Selective board for 15 years; an active member of the American Legion Post for 50 years, also served as commander of the local Legion Post, the county Legion and the District. He was a past Master of the Masonic lodge, a member of the schoo1 board for 15 years, cite treasurer for 11 years and an active member of the cite Fire Department for 27 years. GRANDFATHER SAM HENDERSON The name Henderson, along with John L. Turner and George W. Snow, is listed as one of the firsts in the history of Springfield. Grandfather Sam Henderson was born in Bath, Stub en county, N. Y., in l832. His father, also named Sam, had come to America from Scotland before the Revolutionary war and had fought in the Colonial Army. As a teenager, the Sam who came to Springfield migrated to Wisconsin to try to make his fortune. There he met and married Hannah Pine. They moved first to Missouri, then to Nebraska, where he was in Government service. At the outbreak of the Civil War they returned to Wisconsin, where Sam enlisted and during the war a severe illness brought on by exposure practically destroyed his left lung. In spite of this handicap, in 1870 Sam was ready to strike out with George W. Snow and Jack Thomas for Dakota Territory and Springfield, where he first operated a saw mill with George Snow and then ran a grist mill with Mr. Benedict on Emanuel Creek and later bought a steam boat with a man from Elk Point. He also filed on a claim north of Springfield and tried farming, but soon came back to town to run a jewelry store. By 1896 Sam expanded kits jewelry business by adding a clothing department. He erected a building (now the Springfield Times office), with living quarters upstairs and took in his son George as a partner. In 1902 he sold an interest in the store to J. Benedict and the store was named Henderson and Benedict. The next year Benedict sold his interest to J. W. Turner and the firm became Henderson and Turner. After Mr. Turner's death his interest was sold to Clio E. Henderson and the firm became Henderson and Son again. After George's death in 1946, Clio "Mike" became the sole owner until 1965 when he sold it to Mr. and Mrs. Owen Schmoll, who are still the owners. Mr. Henderson always took a keen interest in his family and home as well as in the town of Springfield. Following the death of his wife in 1909 his daughter, Elizabeth, cared for her father until his death. MR. AND MRS. AUGUST HENNIES August Hennies, son of Conrad and Christine Hennies, was born in Karna, Germany, on August 26, 1869, where he grew to young manhood. At the age of 18 years he came to the United States with his parents, coming directly to Springfield where he was employed on the Keegan farm. On November 18, 1891, he was married to Nellie Hornstra in the Springfield Congregational Church by the Rev. Seccombe. Together they homesteaded on the farm some miles south west of Springfield which was their home for 54 years of their married life before they retired and moved to California. Nellie Hornstra Hennies was born August 8, 1872, in Sheboygan, Wisc. She was a daughter of John Hornstra and Winifred Gertrude Weinstra Hornstra, both of whom were born in Holland. The family moved to Springfield in a covered wagon in 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Hennies celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on the homestead and ten years later came back to the homestead from California to celebrate their 60th anniversary and in 1961, due to the frailities of age, they celebrated their 70th anniversary in the home of their son in Inglewood, Calif. Their family of six children were all born and reared on the old homestead near Springfield: Albert and Arthur of Inglewood, Calif.; Mrs. Winifred Boyliss, Cypress, Calif.; Mrs. Pearl Balfany, Yankton; William, Springfield, and Helen, who died at the age of two. DICK HEUSINKVELD Dick Gerrit Heusinkveld was born June 4, 1888, at Harrison and has lived in Springfield since 1897. His parents were Gerrit John Heusinkveld, born February 12, 1852, and wife, Grada Luymus, born June 26, 1862. Dick's parents came from the Netherlands in 1885, and bought as a relinquishment 160 acres for $400, seven miles southwest of Harrison. A sod house was their home for five years and in the house Dick Gerrit and twin brother (who died seven weeks later) and sister Minnie were born. Dick remembers his father farming with three oxen using bits to guide them. Later on they had horses. After having only two good crops in 12 years they rented a farm five miles east of Springfield. They moved with wagon and team all their goods, some chickens and one cow, led behind the wagon. The mother and children came by train from Armour to Scotland and then on to Springfield by buggy. Springfield became home as they were thrilled living near the river, with fruit, trees of all kinds. water