Early History of Brown County, South Dakota

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Copyright 1970 by Brown County Territorial Pioneers, Aberdeen, S.D.

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[Pxxx].



[P1]

               EARLY HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
                A LITERATURE OF THE PEOPLE
         BY TERRITORIAL PIONEERS AND DESCENDANTS

[P2]

     Brown County Territorial Pioneer Committee
Mrs. J. E. Kelly			President
Mrs. W. W. Bassett			Vice President
Miss Matilda Gage			Secretary
Mr. Walter Hickenbotham			Assistant Secretary
Mr. Chas. W. Jones			Treasurer
Mrs. Hazelle Black			Chairman
Miss Helen Bergh			Assistant Chairman

Mrs. Walter Kepke			Mrs. Lawson Clark
Mrs. A. J. Radke			Mrs. Alfred Sueltz
Mr. Reese Mathieu			Mr. Chas. Draeger
Mrs. Robert Burckhard

[P3]

You seemd a simple folk; yet in your breast
   Dwelt noble aims, that have your children's
Children blest. God-fearing homes, and schools you
   Placed, with modest churches here and there,
Upon the virgin prairie's trackless waste . . .
   That commonwealth you dreamed, and fought to build,
Has far surpassed your vision; your highest
   Hopes fulfilled. This living monument,
So true, with grateful hearts, brave Pioneers,
   We dedicate to you!
                          Charlotte Louise Bertlesen

[P4]

[TOWNSHIP MAP]

[P5]

Dedicated to . . .

Adeline Crowley Kelly

[Photo: Adeline Crowley Kelly]

In writing the History of Brown County before the turn of the century, the 
Committee found Mrs. Kelly a fund of knowledge. Her prodigious memory of 
happenings, people and events has been invaluable and all this is so necessary 
in gathering, material for an accurate history.

A few words about this remarkable woman will give all readers an idea of what 
her contribution has been not only of Aberdeen but the County as well.

She was born February 18, 1881 in Madison, Wisconsin and came to Columbia, 
Dakota Territory, June 6, 1883. She attended Public Schools until the 8th grade. 
She was graduated in 1894. She and her brother, Edward, left that fall for 
Minneapolis to enter So. High. She stayed two years and returned in 1896 and 
started to teach in the county schools. This splendid job of instructing our 
children both rural and urban she remained in until 1903 when she married Mr. 
Joe E. Kelly and came to Aberdeen to live. Being intensely interested in the 
History of Brown County she kept in touch even at that early date with the 
Pioneers of the County.

Mrs. Kelly has always been civic minded--when the Aberdeen local Y.W.C.A. was 
founded she was on the first Board. In 1908 Aberdeen needed an organization to 
look after unfortunate girls so three of our Pioneer women, Mrs. Kelly, Mrs. P. 
M. Ringrose and Mrs. H. C. Jewett, Sr., offered their services to the city and a 
committee was formed with these women as the nucleus. They assisted the girls in 
finding work, placed their babies for adoption and many of these girls are now 
fine women in their own homes in the County. Mrs. Kelly has been a member of 
Sacred Heart Church for over sixty years and from 1920 until the present year 
she has superintended all the work at Sacred Heart Cemetery and improved every 
spot in this prairie burying place, herself.

In 1940 a movement was started by a few interested Pioneers, encouraged by Mrs. 
Kelly, to form an organization of all Pioneers who had lived in Brown County 
before November 2, 1889, the year the territory became a state. The response was 
tremendous and cards and letters poured in from every state in the union 
requesting membership. The enthusiasm has grown with the years and while death 
has taken many of our original Pioneers, Mrs. Kelly has spent hers writing to 
their families.  The appreciation of those left was most apparent by the large 
number who attended the Statehood Luncheon this centennial year December 2, 1963 
at the Alonzo Ward Hotel. There were 150 people to be exact.

Mrs. Kelly has given unselfish devotion to the editings of this history, going 
over all the data collected and attending all the weekly meetings of the 
committee.

We each and every one owe her a debt of gratitude--May her memory be bright in 
our hearts for many, many years to come.

Mrs. Angela Jewett Bassett
Miss Matilda Gage
Mr. Charles W. Jones
Miss Helen Bergh
Mrs. Hazel Black
Mrs. Clara Strohmeier Clark
Mrs. Carol Willson Burckhard
Mr. Walter Hickenbotham
Mrs. Jessie Kepke

[P6]

Preface

The Brown County Territorial Association was organized under the leadership of 
Mrs. J. E. Kelly on June 30, 1949. This was the culmination of several years of 
effort. The purpose was to found a permanent society to preserve the early 
history of the county, collect relics which are fast disappearing, and record 
memories of events before they are lost forever. Another objective of the 
association has been largely accomplished, namely, the marking of places of 
historical interest such as the sites of the first crossing of the James River, 
the first post office, first school house, where the first white child was born, 
where Sam Brown began his ride, and where the Indian trading posts were located.

Brown County is a land of beautiful sunrises and twilight sunsets. It was 
settled by a greater representation of old world backgrounds and heritages than 
most counties. The early residents also included people from all parts of the 
United States and every walk of life. They brought their culture with them.

The preparation of this book has several purposes. We hope to preserve 
historical facts for descendants and friends of the pioneers for future 
generations. We hope to foster an appreciation of the contributions the pioneers 
made in developing an almost treeless, wild prairie into the plentiful and 
beautiful land we have today. We want the present and future generations to know 
of the privations and hardships the early settlers endured in their struggles, 
to learn of their courageous faith in better times to come and to appreciate the 
desire of these people to ensure better lives for their children.

The book committee wishes to thank all of the many people who have given so 
generously of their time and assisted so greatly in assembling material for this 
history of our county.

If, by chance, anyone has been overlooked, it is because information has not 
been obtainable.

Helen J. Bergh
Mrs. Clara Strohmeier Clark

[P7]

HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY
by Geo. B. Daly, as printed in the Brown County Atlas

THE FIRST SETTLEMENT

In mid-August of 1877, the broad expanse of what is now Brown County could have 
been seen lying under the hot sun, in the full glory of midsummer, but without 
the home of a human being anywhere on its face. The bison was gone: the grass 
grew in the trails that converged to their old watering places: their bones were 
everywhere, bleaching in the abandoned pastures that awaited the herds of 
another era just at hand.

Journeying northeast along the old government trail that led from Ft. Pierre to 
Ft. Sisseton came a little party of homeseekers, the first to enter Brown 
County. They had left the Missouri River August the seventh, 1877 and traveling 
slowly, one wagon being drawn by oxen and one by mules, they were about two 
weeks on the road. The party consisted of Clarence D. Johnson, William Young and 
his sister, Hattie, who later became Mrs. Gruenwald, and a man named Reynolds. 
They had been on the Missouri River some years in the wood business, and were 
well-seasoned frontiersmen. Clare Johnson had served a term in the regular army 
at western outposts from '66 to '69.

This old military road, the only kind of thoroughfares yet in the valley, 
approached the Jim below the county line, then ran north until the fording 
place, where is now the York bridge, was reached. Here the party left the trail, 
keeping on the west side until they reached the point where the 6th standard 
parallel crosses the river. Here they drove their claim stakes, established 
their homes and the new era was begun.

Before their rights grew cold they had completed three comfortable log cabins on 
the high bank. Clare Johnson went back to the Missouri, where he spent the 
winter freighting, and the rest remained. The winter was an open one and passed 
without incident to the first residents of the county. In the spring, April 
being half gone, they were surprised one morning to see two men approach the 
east bank of the river. On going down and talking with them they found that they 
hailed from Blue Earth Minnesota, and were Ole and John Everson. They had left 
Ben Everson and William Hawes down the river about a day's journey and were 
trying to find Sand Lake upon which they understood there was a large body of 
timber. They 'Went on north but returned toward night reporting only little 
brush on an island they could not reach. They concluded to go back and bring the 
rest of the party up and locate claims on the east side somewhat farther down. 
They came up accordingly, driving their covered wagon, in which, among other 
necessary articles, they carried a plow and two fiddles. They drove two yoke of 
oxen. After looking about some they took the claims which the Eversons still 
occupy (1905). Nathan H. Johnson next came over from Ft. Bennett, where he had 
been employed the previous year, and took the claim on the east side which he 
still occupies.

SOUTHERN BROWN COUNTY OCCUPIED

The next invasion of the county was from the south, on the 6th day of May, 1878, 
when James Humphrey, from Plainview, Minnesota, with a few men from Marshall 
came up as far as Chedi Lake. The men from Marshall were prospecting for water 
power along the Jim, but must have become discouraged, as they took the home 
trail the next morning. Humphrey went back with them, not caring to stay alone. 
At Marshall on his return, he met Henry H. Slack. Jim Humphrey told them of the 
winding river and groves in the Jim Valley that waited the first comer to claim 
them for his own. This soon resulted in the party being underway making all 
possible speed for the promised land, reaching the place where they located May 
25. They were not permitted to remain in undisturbed possession of their new 
homes, for before two weeks had passed, before a log house could be erected to 
shelter the family, a band of the followers of Drifting Goose came and gave 
emphatic notice that they owned the land and would not permit them to remain. 
The family went to Waubay lake where Foster and Love had a trading post and 
remained there until the following spring. That fall the Indians were ordered 
back to the reservation.

WINTER OF '78 and '79

James E. Humphrey and Benoni Slack who had spent the summer and fall back in 
Minnesota, grew anxious, fearing someone might jump their claims, and concluded 
not to wait until spring. They came over from Waubay and arrived on the Jim the 
31st of December. They lived ten days in a tent until they constructed a dugout 
in the bank on the Slack farm. They, the Johnsons and William Young, were the 
only people in the county that winter. The Eversons and W. B. York, who had come 
out in the fall had gone back to bring their families.

SPRING AND SUMMER OF '79
 
Wm. B. York and family were the first arrivals in the spring of '79, Ed Harnoise 
and Lester Blackman coming with them. They got in soon after the 15th of April 
coming by Kampeska. Not many days elapsed before Ole and Ben Everson and their 
families also arrived. The fact should be noted here that Ole Everson, early 
that year built the first frame house in the county. John Everson did not arrive 
until June when he came bringing a bride and a herd of 120 cattle. Wm. Hawes 
arrived still later bringing with him a bride and infant daughter, now Mrs. 
Chas. Dickerson of Riverside.

STOCK RANCHES UP THE ELM

During the early summer of '79 settlement was made up on the Elm river. The 
father of Mrs. Jas. Allison, a resident of Minnesota, was an old trapper who had 
spent some time on the Elm, and his account of the beautiful little stream 
flowing thru

[P8]

groves of fine grazing land so enthused his son-in-law that the latter 
determined to go there and engage in the stock business. Finally a wealthy 
friend named Cobb, furnished him stock on shares. Sometime in May Allison 
arrived at York ford with 400 cattle and a like number of sheep. In due time Jim 
Allison was at home on the upper Elm with his herds grazing contentedly on the 
hills of the region that bears his name. In July he had neighbors, another ranch 
being established not far from him by Hilger and Dole, who brought in 120 
cattle. They were young men of wealthy families in the east, the senior member 
of the firm was said to be a German count. They were high livers, made frequent 
trips to Ft. Sisseton to get drafts cashed and have a time, not seeming to take 
cattle raising very seriously.

COLUMBIA STARTED

On the 15th day of June there arrived at the spot where Columbia now stands, a 
number of wagons loaded with lumber and supplies. The party was under the 
leadership of Byron M. Smith of Minneapolis. He had brought two carloads of 
material overland from Breckenridge with oxen. Here at the junction of the Elm 
and the Jim he had scripped one of the most beautiful townsites in the valley. 
He and his halfbreed Sioux partner, named Bottineau, whose name is borne by a 
North Dakota county, had ransacked the whole territory for valuable sites upon 
which to file Sioux scrip, which they dealt in extensively, in anticipation of 
the rush of settlers soon to set in. They had figured on a water power here 
below the mouth of the Elm, and Smith was very much chagrined to find some men 
from Spencer, Iowa already on the ground, having preempted the right and begun 
construction of a dam. While Smith's men put up the store building, he parleyed 
with the Iowa men, finally buying them off for $1,700. This first town in the 
county was named Richmond, but when later application was made for a postoffice 
the name had to be given up and Columbia substituted. John R. James and Don 
McKenzie, two young men from Minneapolis came along to take charge of the store.

THE SURVEY

During the summer of '79 the survey of the southern part of the county, 
including town 125 was completed by Thos. F. Marshall, now a congressman from 
North Dakota. When the Johnsons and the Eversons came in there was nothing to go 
by but the correction lines or standard parallels which had been run.

THE FIRST BORN

Sometime in the latter part of June, 1879 two families settled on the river just 
east of Columbia. They came with oxen and some dozen cows each. One was Andrew 
Anderson and a numerous family and the other was John Linboe and his young wife 
to whom he had been married the previous winter. They had ridden behind oxen all 
the way from Renville County, Minnesota. Here in their dugout by the river, the 
following November, their first child was born. This child was James C. Lindboe, 
now of Aberdeen. At the home of W. B. York, the following spring the first girl 
was born in the county.

THE FIRST PUBLIC MEETING

It was on July 4, 1879, at Johnson's grove that the first gathering of settlers 
occurred. All the settlers in the county except the stock men up the Elm came. 
There was no reading of the declaration or speech-making, but it was said there 
was plenty to eat and drink. There were baseball games throughout the afternoon, 
and the sound of violins with feet keeping time to them floated out over the Jim 
all night long. John Everson and Lester Blackman were the pioneer fiddlers.

POSTOFFICES ESTABLISHED

Watertown had been the nearest post office until the fall of '79 when the 
starline from Firesteel to Jamestown was established, and Columbia and Yorkville 
were made post offices. But few trips were made before winter compelled a 
discontinuance of the service until early spring of '80. James E. Humphrey, 
having opened a little store on his claim, made application for the post office, 
but his commission did not arrive until April, 1880, when the office was 
established under the name Rondell.

COUNTY ORGANIZED

Early in the summer of 1880 a move was made for the organization of the county 
by the settlers at Columbia. A petition was sent to George H. Hand, secretary of 
the territory, acting governor, praying for the appointment of John D. Lavin, 
Hardy W. Campbell and Clarence D. Johnson. This petition was not granted owing 
to the fact that two mentioned for commissioners had not been in the territory 
nine months. The names of Don R. McKenzie and John R. James were then 
substituted, and they were accordingly appointed. It was on Tuesday, the 14th of 
September that these appointees met and organized the county, appointing the 
following officers:

County Clerk			John D. Lavin
Sheriff				A. G. Warren
Assessor			Henry H. Slack
Judge of Probate		Geo. B. Daly
County Treasurer		Marion Douglas
Surveyor			John R. James
Coroner				Dr. S. O. Bassett
Supt. of Schools		A. J. Allen
Justices of the Peace		Marion Pierce,
				John Campbell, A. H. Dayton,
				and James T. Tollman
Constables			Henry C. Howland,
				Nathan H. Johnson, Wm. Wilkenson
				and Benoni Slack

Columbia was made the county seat.

THE RUSH OF 1880

Early in the spring of 1880 settlers began in earnest and Columbia was the 
objective point. The first party to arrive was late in March, coming with Wm. 
Townsend, a member of the Columbia Townsite Company, from Lapeer County, 
Michigan. They took land southwest of town, south of the Elm, with exception of 
John Helmka, who finally located near Bath where he still lives (1905) and H. D. 
McGregor,

[P9]

who located north of town. Chas. E. Baldwin, veteran newspaper man of the 
county, joined this party at Chicago and came with them. The next party came 
from Flint, Michigan, arriving in the county April 1st. With this party was John 
D. Lavin, another stockholder in the townsite, also John C. Daly, and the 
writer, who brought into the county the first copy of the laws of the territory 
seen here. This party all located east of town. The next party got to Columbia 
April 12th, coming by way of Jamestown. They were R. W. Jones, later school 
superintendent of the county, Thomas J. Owens, Ed Perry and Morris Jones. In a 
short time Morgan E. Jones, Robert Owen and others followed. They were the 
advance arrivals of the numerous body of Welsh, who came from Wisconsin, 
settling up one of the best townships in the county, giving it the ancient name 
of the land of their forefathers. (Cambria Township)

On the 18th of April came by far the most numerous contingent, hailing from 
Greenville, Montcalm County, Michigan, which county and the neighboring one of 
Ionia, certainly contributed their full share to the settlement of the east part 
of the county. In this party were N. M. Cole, Frank Elliott, Archie McKinnon, F. 
D. Adams, Charles E. Henry, the Fargoes, the Quiggles, the Ashleys, Tollmans and 
others. It was on June 26th that Father Robt. W. Haire arrived from Flint, 
Michigan. A few days later Thomas Murphy, Amos and Elias Haire also arrived, all 
locating east of Columbia. Later came Thos. O'Sullivan and John Flynn all of 
Flint. That summer the sod church was built on Fr. Haire's claim.

EARLY ABERDEEN

In the spring and early summer of 1880 there was much speculation among people 
coming into the county as to where the proposed lines of the Milwaukee Railroad, 
one up the valley and the other across it, would intersect. Some were of the 
opinion that the road from the east would cross the river as far down as 
Slack's, while others believed the company wanted to cross at Columbia but the 
townsite company had imposed unreasonable conditions. However all agreed that 
the future metropolis of the valley would likely be where these lines could make 
a junction. The townsite man of the Milwaukee finally disclosed the location of 
the future city, on the 4th of June when he scripped the south west quarter of 
13-123-64. The Northwestern line had been surveyed and the townsites of Ordway 
and Rudolph had been scripped. It looked as if Mr. Prior, locating his town 
about midway between the above places calculated on letting the rival road also 
contribute to the greatness of the future town. Before that day only two filings 
had been made anywhere in that vicinity. They were John Zimmerman's filing on 
tree claim now in Hagerty & Lloyd's addition and that of Gustav Merton on the 
quarter in which the Wolverton addition is located, made on May 28th. On the day 
Prior located the town Andrew Melgaard filed on two quarters, on one of which 
Northern State College now is; and John Zimmerman and Christ Sidow each filed on 
a quarter. On the following day, the fifth, Fred C. Merten and Frank Webb filed 
on their land.

THE FIRST MERCHANTS

On the 20th of June Thomas A. Boyden arrived with a small stock of merchandise 
from Watertown and the firm of Rice Bros. & Boyden opened up for trade where the 
graders were at work at the place south of town where the North-Western and the 
Milwaukee grades were to cross each other. This was the temporary point of 
activity, and it was known throughout the county as Grand Junction. Lew Bowman, 
the first lawyer and land locater had established himself here. All that summer 
and fall the scripped site of the city of the future a mile further north lay 
undisturbed: not only untennanted but nameless. Even that fall when 13 votes 
were polled for it for county seat, it had to be described section 13 and 24. 
Late that fall Rice Bros. & Boyden moved their store up to the site, locating 
where Third Avenue west crosses the railroad track. Here a little cluster of 
shacks and tents were gathered and here a few people put in a hard winter. Lew 
Bowman was there: Julius Bonneau was there through the winter in a tent with a 
barrel of whiskey on tap. A man named Peters was there with his wife who became 
a widow before spring, her husband having died when the winter was nearly ended. 
They shoveled away the deep snow on the west side of the grade and there was 
held the first funeral in Aberdeen.

THE FIRST ELECTION

In the fall of '80 on Nov. 2nd, the first general election occurred in the 
county. It was an event looked forward to with much concern for the outcome, as 
a bitter county seat fight was brewing.

The county commissioners, being all Columbia men, provided that there should be 
but one poling place in the county, and that at Howlands hotel in Columbia. The 
three judges of election, N. M. Cole, Archie McKinnon and Lew Bowman were 
appointed to represent the three commissioners districts. Two tickets with a 
full list of nominees were placed in the field. Each party had sent out to 
Watertown and had them printed. One was called "Brown County People's Ticket", 
and carried the name of Columbia for county seat. The other was headed 
"Independent Ticket" and had a blank following the words section, town and range 
so that the description of the site could be written in, as Columbia and Ordway 
were the only places voted for that had been named. Feeling was bitter on both 
sides, each charging the other with attempting to secure the county seat with 
fraud. Guns were in evidence a number of times, and that blood was not shed was 
accounted for by the fact that there was no whiskey to be had. The sentiment was 
against Columbia which town would have been defeated if the opposition could 
have united. That there was a full vote out is shown by the fact that the 
assessor the following summer found that males over 21 years in the county then 
fell 71 short of the total vote polled at this election.

VOTES CAST IN 1880

The fact that there is no existing record of the vote cast at that election is 
the writers warrant for giving the vote in detail in this sketch:

[P10]

For County Seat:
Columbia------------------------------------- 83
Section 17-123-62 (Bath) -------------------- 82
Section 13 and 24-123-64 (Aberdeen) --------- 13
Ordway -------------------------------------- 11

For County Commissioner, 1st District:
Clarence Johnson, People's ----------------- 110
Jas. T. Tollman ----------------------------- 82

For County Commissioner, 2nd District:
Hardy W. Campbell, People's ----------------- 96
Wm. B. York, Independent -------------------- 93

For County Commissioner, 3rd District:
Jas. E. Humphrey, People's ------------------ 89
Lew H. Bowman, Independent ------------------ 79

For Register of Deeds:
Don McKenzie, People's ---------------------- 98
O. B. Corpron, Independent ------------------ 57

For Sheriff:
Alex G. Warren, People's -------------------- 98
Amos Haire, Independent --------------------- 57

For Probate Judge:
Marion Douglas, People's -------------------- 86
Jas. Barnes, Jr., Independent --------------- 99

For County Treasurer:
Nathaniel M. Cole, People's ----------------- 60
Thos. A. Boyden, Independent --------------- 119

For Assessor:
Ben Everson, People's ----------------------- 88
Chas. E. Henry, Independent ---------------- 101

For Coroner:
Dr. S. O. Basset --------------- on both tickets

For County Surveyor:
John R. James ------------------ on both tickets

For Superintendent of Schools:
Ambrose J. Allen, People's ------------------ 83
John S. Regan, Independent ----------------- 100

A HARD WINTER

The people who spent the winter of '80 and '81 in Brown County had an experience 
which will never be forgotten by those who underwent its hardships. The mild and 
open weather that prevailed most of the time up to Feb. 1st, led people to 
believe that the shortening stores of provision and fuel need cause no serious 
concern, as the spring was not far off when supplies and money could be secured. 
So, when, during the first days of February, the snow began to pile up in almost 
impassible drifts all over the prairie, to remain for months, the cruel gravity 
of the situation became almost unbearable. Desperate trips to the river with 
oxen hitched to wagons that could scarcely be pulled thru the trackless snow had 
to be made for wood to prevent families from freezing to death. Food supply in 
every house ran so low that seed grain and even grain intended for the stock had 
to be ground in coffee mills to supply the only food that some could secure. 
Some had no grain but fortunately had beans raised the previous summer on sod, 
which, boiled without pork, constituted the sole food of the family for weeks. 
The deep snow that cut off outside brought within the reach of the settlers an 
unexpected source of food. The antelopes that had been so numerous on the 
prairie were driven by the storms to the river bottoms for food and shelter. 
These little creatures, so swift on the bare ground were helpless in the deep 
snow, and falling easy victims to settlers guns were soon exterminated. Some 
families secured so many of them they salted them down for summer meat.

DEATH IN THE SNOW

Settlers who came to Dakota all came with a rather excessive fear of the 
blizzard, and were as a rule, inclined to be over cautious in exposing 
themselves. The death of a mail carrier in a storm near Ft. Sisseton early in 
the winter, doubtless deterred many from venturesome trips that winter. Never 
the less, the winter secured one victim before its ice and snow and cruel winds 
yielded to the advance of spring, never welcomed more gladly than that spring. 
John S. Regan, who had spent the winter on his claim east of Bath, started on 
the Keith of February, on foot to make his way to Watertown, and thence to the 
home of his folks in Iowa. Weeks after, his body was found in a sitting posture 
just south of the claim of A. J. Allen, now the Ashford place in Rondell.

HIGH WATER

The spring of '81 was late, the snow staying on until May, and when it left 
sloughs and streams were almost impassable by reason of high water. The big 
slough, which the previous year was dry as the upland prairie, became a vast 
lake. Mud Creek and the Jim became serious barriers to keep back the hundreds of 
settlers anxious to reoccupy claims, or get in early to secure choice locations. 
The townsites at the junction of the Milwaukee grades, where the much vaunted 
city was to rise into being that very summer, presented a very disheartening 
aspect to those who reached it that spring. The friends of the rival towns were 
in great glee over the town in the frog pond.

ABERDEEN'S LOTS FOR SALE

S. H. Jumper who came May 24th brought the plat of the new city and, as the 
agent of H. C. Prior, put the lots of the Original Plat on sale. This plat had 
been seen in Watertown during the winter and several lots sold there. R. S. 
Ellis through a friend of his had bought the first lot sold on the plat, the one 
on the corner where the Commercial Club now stands, where he built his sod 
hotel. The Rice boys and Tom Boydon bought the other lots on the corner of First 
avenue and Second (now Lincoln) street. An incident occurred at this time that 
has historic interest. Main street at this time was most uninviting by reason of 
the surface water that would

[P11]

not drain off. The slough that lies west of the Milwaukee depot had a branch 
that cut across Main Street near Second Avenue reaching south east as far as 
where the Gottschalk theatre now stands. The lots on Main Street, 25 ft. front, 
were offered for $150 for corner lots and $125 for inside ones. The lots on 
Second (Lincoln) Street were 50 ft. wide somewhat drier, and sold for $80. A 
concerted movement was started to get all looking for business sites to buy over 
on second, each one agreeing to build back 12 feet and thus make it a business 
street and wider than Main. This arrangement was working nicely, the Fishbeins, 
R. A. Mills, Stowell and Schuler and others buying over there, when the scheme 
was suddenly nipped by Mr. Jumper, who got a team and drove east until he got to 
the wires and telegraphed Prior to withdraw lots on second street from the 
market. Then the lot owners on second had to, hustle over and get locations on 
Main Street.

THE FIRST ASSESSMENT

The first listing of taxable property in this county was made by W. N. Jackson, 
county assessor, and returned July 6, 1881. He found three stocks of merchandise 
which had been in the county the previous May. The stock of John D. Lavin of 
Columbia was listed at $1000; that of Rice Bros. and Boyden, Aberdeen at $450; 
and Jas. E. Humphreys at Rondell at $30. There were 181 head of horses and mules 
in the county and 379 head of cattle, mostly oxen. Fortunately the assessor 
enumerated the population. His returns showed males over 21 years, 126; females 
over 21 years, 72; males under 21 years, 31; females under 21 years, 58; the 
total population being reported as 347. The most numerous family was that of Wm. 
Cassells, Aberdeen, 4 boys and 5 girls under 21 years. The next was Frank 
Elliott's, Columbia, five boys and three girls.

THE FIRST SCHOOL

The first school taught in the county was taught in one of the good school 
houses of the county which still does duty as a school house in the village of 
Putney (1905). When Miss Rachel Smith in early September of 1881, called the 
first school in Brown County to order in it, it stood a half mile west of where 
Putney now is. The names she wrote in her register were Will and Lill Hosley, 
Fred Fellows, Alva and Clara Cummins, Will and Marie Campbell, Bessie and Maggie 
McKinnon.

WHERE FILINGS WERE MADE

The first settlers in the county were obliged to make their entries on land in 
the Fargo land office, but early in '80 the Watertown land district including 
Brown County was opened. 'A bill was passed in March '82 creating the Aberdeen 
land district, and the land office was opened in August that year, with B. E. 
Hutchins, receiver, and S. W. Duncomb, register. The latter, dying during his 
term of office, was succeeded by Chas. T. McCoy. L. A. Burk and N. H. Hassis 
democrats, succeeded them. On the election of Harrison, J. Q. A. Braden and C. 
J. C. McLeod were appointed. When Cleveland came in again Major C. Boyd Barret 
and F. N. Hopkins came in. J. S. Vetter and Frank Brown were appointed by 
McKinley and Mr. Vetter was reappointed to serve the late M. H. Kelley whose 
death opened the way to John E. Adams, recently appointed.

THE HARD TIMES PERIOD

The disaster of frequent crop failures during the latter eighties left many 
farmers in the county, especially in the north and west parts, in very 
straightened financial circumstances. Dry seasons came with frequency, and some 
years, after ample rain fell had made crops most promising, suddenly the hot 
winds came to blight them. Mortgages came due and people were unable to pay even 
the interest. Debt upon debt. accumulated and hundreds gave up the fight and 
fled the country. People who remained and fought it out endured many hardships. 
Many went to the pasture for fuel, furtively at first, until the common custom 
of burning "cow chips" was openly adopted in a spirit of grim humor. The winters 
following these lean years were especially dreaded. Flour and clothing were 
donated by people outside the state in response to appeals made for help to the 
most needy. Much coal was contributed by the county commissioners. The railroads 
carried corn in free that it might be sold at a low price to farmers who had 
raised no horse feed. In the springs of '90 and '91 the county commissioners 
furnished many farmers with seed wheat. In the newspapers foreclosure notices 
were nearly as numerous as final proof notices had been in the early years of 
settlement. Some years when fair crops were raised wheat sold for as low as 37 
cents. Taxes could not be paid and the county had to borrow money. The 
population of the county fell off seriously. No sadder story could be told than 
the history of those days. But the tide has turned. Dairying and stock raising 
have made many hard-up old timers prosperous. The all wheat period has happily 
been passed.

STRIFE FOR COUNTY SEAT

From the earliest settlement of the county until 1890 the desire to retain or 
secure the county seat was the fruitful source of untold plotting in Brown 
County. To remove the county seat required a twothirds vote, and the plotters at 
Aberdeen exercised much ingenuity in getting around that provision. No 
territorial legislature met after this county was organized but that they were 
on hand with a new scheme. The first bill providing a possible way to get a 
county seat at Aberdeen was considered a sure thing as it gave Groton and 
Frederick also a chance to have a courthouse, and it was thought these towns 
making a common cause with Aberdeen could win over Columbia, but they recovered 
without the former. The proposition was to make a tier of towns on the west and 
on the east into the territory which they prepared to divide into four counties, 
the northeast to be Brown County with Columbia the county seat. Each proposed 
county would have been square with sixteen townships. When submitted to a vote 
the farmers all over the county and the Columbia people buried it ignominiously. 
The next proposition was to divide the county equally, Brown to be the north 
half and Aberdeen the county seat of the south half; this proposition was 
defeated also. Finally in 1887 a bill was passed providing that a majority vote 
in the case of Brown County

[P12]

would be sufficient to remove the county seat. With all haste the question was 
put to a vote and on July 27, 1887, the county commissioners, canvassing the 
vote and finding Aberdeen had received 2,744 votes and Columbia 1,661, 
straightway declared Aberdeen the county seat. Columbia contested the validity 
of the election and won in the supreme court. During the course of litigation 
two years and three months elapsed the time during which Aberdeen held the 
county seat before it was ordered back to Columbia, November 13, 1889. The next 
time the matter was cinched by a clause in the constitution of the new state 
providing that where a county seat had been located by less than a majority 
vote, a majority vote could move it. Under this provision the question was again 
submitted at the general election in 1890 and the vote was overwhelmingly in 
favor of Aberdeen, thus settling the vexing question.

BROWN COUNTY IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR

Mention can very properly be made of Brown County's response to the call of the 
president for trained soldiers during the Spanish-American War. One company of 
the regiment furnished by South Dakota was recruited in Aberdeen and vicinity. 
On May second, Company F left home under the command of Chas. A. Howard. The 
lieutenants were C. L. Breckway and Palmer D. Sheldon. Fred G. Huntington was 
first sergeant, but on promotion of Captain Howard, became second lieutenant. 
The company made a splendid record in the Philippines and furnished some 
officers for other companies in the regiment. Privates H. A. Pratt, J. Royden 
Kelley and Fred H. Barks became lieutenants. The company returned in October, 
1899 and passed in review with the regiment before President McKinley who met 
them in Aberdeen.

[Photo: First Courth House in Brown County, located at Columbia. Later this 
building was used as a school.]

[P13]

THE LAY OF THE LAND

by Mrs. Walter W. Kepke

"As far as the eye can see, the land we are surveying is flat as a barn floor 
and tall grass covers a black soil that is 8 to 12 inches thick. There are no 
trees except along the James River. What a land for breaking plows!"

So wrote a man in the 1870's who was surveying land in Dakota Territory for the 
government. Word of this level fertile land was spreading eastward, about the 
time the government opened up this area for homesteading. Also, at this time 
land values in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and nearby states were 
rising. Farm land was bringing $15 to $20 per acre. An almost prohibitive price 
in 1875 to 1885. And men who love the soil, and wished to own a spot of their 
own, turn to where the land is more easily obtainable. Dakota Territory of which 
Brown County is a part contained some of this land secured without too much 
money or effort.

There were three ways to secure land in Dakota Territory. "A quarter", or 160 
acres of land, could be gotten by a person if he filed on it at the nearest land 
office. (Watertown was the nearest place in Brown County.) Then the man, or 
woman, was required to build a house, suitable for human habitation, dig a well, 
and break up ten acres of land on which to plant grain. When he had lived on the 
land for five years, he could get a "patent" or deed to it. This homestead, as 
it was called, was the easiest way to obtain land since no money was required by 
the government. A second way to get 160 acres was to establish a ten acre grove 
of trees. The trees would be planted and cultivated, and when they were growing 
well, a patent for the land could be had. This land was called a "tree claim".

A third way a settler could get land in Dakota Territory was to file on the land 
at Watertown; live on it for six months, and then pay the government $1.25 per 
acre for it. A patent was issued for this land and this transaction was known as 
a "pre-emption". Most of the early settlers tried to get three quarters of land-
-480 acres--first, by homesteading, then by getting a patent for a tree claim, 
and lastly, by filing on land as a pre-emption.

Settling of the West began about fifteen years after the Civil War, and the 
government showed its appreciation to the soldiers who fought in the war by 
giving them special privileges in getting land in Dakota Territory.

Not all of the original homesteaders became permanent settlers, though the 
majority stayed by their land. Those who stayed built homes for themselves, and 
also a community like the one they left in the East. A few of the homesteaders 
lived on their land only long enough to "prove up". When they got their deed, 
they obtained a loan on the land, with no idea of paying up. But these were few.

Let us review briefly the history of Brown County of South Dakota. This land was 
part of the Louisiana Purchase that extended from the Mississippi River to the 
Rocky Mountains. It now belonged to France, but Spain earlier had possessed the 
land because of their early explorers. When the French began to build fur 
trading posts in Canada and in "Louisiana," this large tract of land west of 
colonial United States, the government became aware of the possibility of France 
settling the country. Thomas Jefferson, then the United States president sent 
James Madison, his minister to France, to talk to Napoleon about the land. Their 
meeting resulted in our country buying the whole tract for $15,000,000; which 
amounted to 4 1/2 cents per acre. The government need fear the French no longer, 
and the land we live on in Brown County became a part of our great country.

The government sent two men, Lewis and Clark, to explore this land in 1803-4. 
Since these men and their party stayed close to the Missouri River, it is 
doubtful if Lewis and Clark, or any of their scouts, set foot on any part of 
Brown County. Early day fur traders and travelers, whoever they were, must have 
followed the James River into the area. The Colin Campbell Trading Post was 
established on the Elm River near Frederick in 1828. Another trading post was 
opened up a little later farther south on the James River. At these posts a few 
staple articles were traded for furs. Even the Indians to the East knew of these 
posts and brought furs, beaver skins, particularly, and occasionally a buffalo 
hide, and traded them for the white man's goods.

The earliest settlers did not come until 1878. That year the Slack family 
settled near Rondell, the Clair Johnson and Everson group near what is now 
Columbia, and George F. Schornack and Gustave Lietz, northwest of the city of 
Groton. William York who is mention in several of the township histories, 
settled on the James River in the fall of 1878. His shack, a little bigger than 
most of the early houses, served not only as his home, but as a store, 
postoffice and hotel. Mrs. York was a practical nurse and midwife. The first 
white child Stella Everson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Everson, born in Brown 
County was born at the York home. The home became known as Yorkville.

The government surveyors did not begin their labors in Dakota Territory until 
the late 1870's. It was in 1879 that the territorial legislature divided the 
area into counties and named this county Brown. According to records at Pierre, 
and to Doane Robinson, state historian, the name came from a legislator named 
Brown, from Bon Homme County. Some history books credit the name to Sam Brown, a 
celebrated scout and Indian fighter in Dakota Territory, who later became an 
Indian agent in the district of Ft. Sisseton. Many unusual and brave stories are 
told about him.

At the time the first settlers came here the only Indians most of the 
homesteaders saw were those who lived in small groups along the James River, and 
those who came to the river crossings, one crossing was at Yorkville and another 
at Rondell. Yet the white men were deathly afraid of the In-

[P14]

dians. Stories of the uprising and Indian Massacre in Minnesota in 1862, when 
800 whites were killed, were fresh in their minds. Following the Massacre, 
though, the Sioux Indians were undefeated, they were more peaceful. The Sisseton 
and Wahpeton tribes did not join in the hostilities of the Sioux. However, an 
outpost, to be known as Fort Sisseton was established on Kettle's Lake in 1864 
by the Wisconsin Volunteers. It was built to control the Indians, but for years 
to come any report or rumor of an Indian outbreak terrified the settlers. In 
1884 there was a persistent rumor of an uprising. Some of the settlers even sent 
their wives and children back to Minnesota or Wisconsin until the scare was 
over.

These early homesteaders coming in 1878-79-80 landed at Watertown. It was not 
until March, 1881 that the railroad reached Bristol, and three months later, 
Aberdeen. The next spring, from early May until late summer, every train had 
from one to six immigrant cars. Loaded in a car was the homesteader himself, a 
team of horses, a yoke of oxen, a cow or two, a breaking plow, a few hand tools 
such as spades, hoes, forks, hammers, wrenches, etc., and household goods. Women 
and children, if they came along at this time, rode in the passenger coach of 
the mixed train.

Also a part of the immigrant car was a lumber wagon, a self-explanatory name. 
When loaded, a canvas top was put over the contents, and it became a covered 
wagon. The new settlers set out over the trails, in this fashion, to find their 
land. Guiding them were only surveyor's corner stones, or posts, bearing 
inscriptions of township, range, and section, and with the horses or oxen picked 
their way along until they found their land.

Naturally, the earliest newcomers to the county took up land near the James 
River. Here were trees to be cut in logs for their homes, and here also was 
precious water. Some of the settlers away from the river hauled their lumber 
from Watertown until towns were built, and lumber yards, as they were called, 
were established.

Until machinery, to dig artesian wells, was available, a few years later, 
surface wells were dug for water on the homesteads away from the river. Some 
were dug by hand with spades, some with post hole diggers. The circle or square 
well had to be curbed with boards to keep the well from caving in. Water was 
drawn up in buckets. Windlass arrangements were built to make the job easier. 
Pioneers were not concerned with the purity of the water, as we are today.

For fuel for cooking and heating, many things were used, until coal was sold in 
the towns, and the settlers had grain to sell for money to buy the coal. Wood 
was used where obtainable, grass and hay were tied in bunches and burned, and 
many settlers gathered and used buffalo and cow chips for fuel. The struggle to 
get fuel in these early years seems terrible to us with our ease in cooking and 
heating. But when everyone was going through the same experience, the pioneers 
did not complain. Instead they looked forward to the day when the land would be 
theirs and there would be better times.

As the white man pushed the Indian westward, so the Indians drove the buffalo 
still farther west. Early homesteaders saw few buffaloes, or bison, as they 
should be called, when they came to Brown County. But there were evidences of 
the animals being here. The above mentioned buffalo "chips" were often found, 
and the bones of the buffalo were in many places. The bones, used in the 
refining of sugar, were a source of extra income for the settlers. There are 
also buffalo "wallows" still to be found in the county. Wallows are low places 
in the land with some water in them, where the buffalo could stand in to get 
relief from stinging insects. There were antelope, prairie chickens, quail and 
rabbits, besides fish in the James River that the settlers could use for fresh 
meat.

There is little resemblance today (1963) with the looks of Brown County as it 
was in the early eighties. Prosperous farms are everywhere; not only the groves 
of trees begun on the "tree claims" are in evidence, but the shelterbelts, and 
privately planted trees flourish. Most of the grass grown in the county now is 
not the tall prairie grass found by the pioneers, but tame grass, and there are 
not too many acres of that.

The early settlers brought hope, vision and hard work, and applied them 
generously to develop a new area. We salute them!

[P15]

THE ACQUISITION OF LAND

by Mrs. Clara Strobmier Clark

(The material for this was taken from Doan Robinson's Encyclopedia of South 
Dakota, 1st Edition--1925, Will A. Beach Publishing Company, Sioux Falls, South 
Dakota.)

Under the laws of South Dakota a homestead may consist of land inside of town 
plats of not more than one acre with one dwelling house and appurtenant 
buildings. Outside of a platted town it may be 160 acres in one tract or several 
contiguous tracts. It is liable only for the purchase price and the taxes, 
unless voluntarily encumbered by the owners. A conveyance requires the execution 
of both husband and wife. The proceeds of the sale of a homestead are exempt 
from execution while restrained as such and may be invested in another homestead 
(Code 449-69). Settlers sometimes sold their rights to their land before they 
finished proving up. This could be done only at the land office after the 
improvements were made, and was known as relinquishment.

The U. S. Homestead Act became law at midnight on the morning of Jan. 1, 1863. 
The first homestead entry in the U. S. was made by Mahlon Gore at the U. S. Land 
Office at Vermillion, at the striking of the clock of the hour when the laws 
became effective.

There were three general methods by which settlers could obtain title to 
government lands in territorial day: by pre-emption, by which the purchaser was 
entitled to purchase land after six months settlement upon it, the price being 
$1.25 per acre; by homestead, through which he obtained patent to his quarter 
section of land at the end of five years during which time he had to build a 
house, dig a well, break ten acres, fence a specified amount, and actual 
residence upon it; and by timber culture entry which required him to plant and 
successfully cultivate ten acres of timber upon his quarter section.

In the days of the great boom of the late eighties, many undertook and succeeded 
in availing themselves of all these rights, going into an area of public domain, 
the claimant would file a pre-emption and settle upon it, at the same time 
filing a timber entry upon an adjacent quarter section. At the end of six months 
he paid for his pre-emption and at once filed a homestead claim upon another 
quarter. Frequently he was able to secure all three quarters contiguously. 
Chiefly, the government's title to all of South Dakota was eliminated through 
these processes. Another means of acquiring land was through Squatters' Rights. 
Settlers could go to the land office and get a permit, to graze stock on 
government land. They had to put up a length of fence and some kind of a 
shelter. After using the land for a time they could claim it. Others settled on 
land before the government survey and claimed it through squatters' rights. This 
was a crooked way some people acquired title to large tracts of land.

Indians were issued certificates known as Sioux Script which were exchangeable 
for government land or commodities at the government agency store. Unscrupulous 
people cheated the Indians out of their script, in some cases for as little as a 
drink of liquor, and used it to obtain more land.

For the convenience of settlers, the first land office where filings and final 
proof could be made was at Vermillion. Subsequently it was moved to Yankton. 
Soon after a land office was opened at Sioux Falls and a little later one at 
Springfield. For the Brown County area the first office was at Fargo, then at 
Watertown, and finally one was opened at Aberdeen. The Aberdeen office was 
located where the Municipal Building now stands. Offices were set up at Huron, 
Pierre, Chamberlain, Rapid City, Lemmon, Timber Lake, and Belle Fourche. The 
Sioux Falls office was moved to Mitchell and ultimately to Gregory where the 
Chamberlain office was consolidated with it. As the titles to the lands were 
perfected, all of the offices east of the Missouri, together with the Gregory 
and Timber Lake offices were consolidated with the Pierre office. At this date 
(1925) there remains only the Pierre office in which the business and records of 
all the other offices are concentrated.

(This material was taken from "The Sod House Frontier," 1954-1890, by Everett 
Dick, 1954, Johnson Publishing Company, Lincoln, Nebraska.)

When the northwest came into its own with the election of Abraham Lincoln in 
1860, free land was assured. The Homestead Bill became a law May 20, 1862. It 
provided that any person who was the head of a family, or who had arrived at the 
age of twentyone years, and was a citizen of the U.S.A., or who had never "borne 
arms against the government or given aid or comfort to its enemies" was entitled 
to 160 acres of land in certain areas, or eighty acres if taken in more 
favorable locations. For example, only eighty acres would be taken within a 
railroad grant. A fee of $18.00 was charged for each 160 acres; $14.00 was paid 
on making application and the balance when final proof was made. From the date 
of the first application, usually called filing, six month was allowed to make 
improvements. On or before the expiration of that time, the homesteader had to 
be on the land and begin improvements. He was further required to make it his 
permanent residence for five years from the date of his first papers. Any time 
after that date the homesteader could take out his final papers, provided, 
however, that he did it within seven and one-half years after filing. This final 
process consisted of giving evidence that the conditions had been fulfilled. If 
the evidence was satisfactory, a patent was granted on the testimony of two 
witnesses. This last formality was called "proving up".

Later legislation made certain exceptions in the case of soldiers, but only 
minor changes in the policy. One such change allowed war veterans to apply their 
service time in the army to the residence time required for proving up on a 
homestead. Another amendment allowed an ex-soldier of the Civil War who had 
served nine months to take 160 acres of land within the limits of a railroad 
grant whereas all others could take only eighty acres. The first homestead in 
the U. S. under the Homestead Law was taken by Daniel Freeman on Jan. 1, 1863 
near Beatrice, Nebraska. Freeman, a Civil War soldier, was on furlough and had 
to rejoin his regiment, consequently, the other claimants allowed him to file 
first.

[P16]

JUDICIAL HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY

by Van Buren Perry

The Judicial History of the land now embraced within Brown County is 
interesting.

Originally it was subject only to whatever justice might result from the force 
of arms or from the tribal councils of the Indians. Then came the claims of 
white men to this area, and with each such claim there went the technical 
assertion of a judicial forum and a legal system.

This area was claimed by France in April, 1682. It was ceded to Spain by the 
Pact of Paris in 1763, and was ceded by Spain back to France in 1800. Presumably 
courts sitting in Paris and Madrid at one time would have claimed jurisdiction 
of any disputes arising in this country between white men, had there been white 
men invoking such jurisdiction. Since the French were the first to colonize the 
Northwest Territory, it is possible that under their sovereignty there may have 
existed some military or civil court at New Orleans or Saint Louis which once 
had technical jurisdiction over this area.

In 1803 this territory was ceded to the United States by the Louisiana Purchase. 
Dakota Territory was organized by the Act of Congress of March 2, 1861. Prior to 
that time the need for judicial machinery was largely if not entirely 
theoretical, for the federal government to acquire peaceable possession by 
treaty from the Indian tribes. What may roughly be described as the western half 
of this county was ceded to the government by the Indians by the Treaty of 
Laramie, negotiated in 1868 and 1869; and the eastern half was ceded in 1873.

From the date of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, it seems that the land within 
what is now Brown County was part of Missouri, although Volume 1 of the 
Historial Society Reports indicates that we were attached to Indiana shortly 
after the Louisiana Purchase. It also appears that this area was detached from 
Indiana and was attached to the State of Michigan, where it remained until 1836, 
when Michigan assumed its present boundaries and was admitted to statehood. This 
area then became a part of Wisconsin for two years, but in 1838 we were 
transferred by Act of Congress and attached to the State of Iowa and remained 
under its jurisdiction until 1849, when we were again transferred and attached 
to the State of Minnesota. The west river country was attached to Nebraska. 
Evidently Minnesota did not relish the responsibility, for she relinquished the 
western area and in 1858, when Minnesota was admitted to statehood, its western 
boundary was established where it now is and this area was pushed out into the 
cold. For about three years thereafter we were an orphan, attached to no state 
or territory and under no jurisdiction whatever. During this time we were known 
only as "The Land of the Dakota."

By the Act of Congress approved March 2, 1861, providing a temporary government 
for the Territory of Dakota, comprising all of North Dakota, South Dakota, 
Montana, and 5 parts of Wyoming and Idaho. We lost Montana, Wyoming and Idaho in 
1863. In 1864 Wyoming was given back to us. It was provided that the judicial 
power of the Territory should be vested in a Supreme Court, District Courts, 
Probate Courts and Justices of the Peace; the Supreme Court to consist of a 
Chief Justice and two associates. The Territory was divided into three judicial 
districts, and it was provided that one of the Justices of the Supreme Court 
should hold a term of District Court in each district at such time and place as 
might be provided by law. As occasion might require, the three justices, sitting 
together, were to meet and act as a Supreme Court and pass upon appeals taken 
from judgments within the several districts. The Supreme Court judges were to be 
appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, and to hold office for 
four years. The Governor was empowered to define the judicial districts and 
assign the judges thereto when appointed, and the judges were required to 
maintain their places of residence within their respective districts. The 
Governor was empowered to appoint the times and places for holding of court in 
the districts, but the legislature, when convened, was authorized to alter the 
jurisdiction, assign the judges and designate the times and places of holding 
court.

The first Chief Justice appointed was Philemon Bliss, and the Associate Justices 
were George P. Williston and Joseph L. Williams.

Brown County was created by Section 15, Chapter 12 of the Session Laws of 1879. 
The same legislature provided that it should be within the Second Judicial 
District, and that the District Court, when exercising the powers appertaining 
to the District and Circuit Courts of the United States, should sit at Yankton 
on the first Tuesdays of April and November. The Second District embraced most 
of the eastern half of what is now South Dakota, lying east of the Missouri. In 
1881 the legislature authorized the judge of the District Court to create 
subdivisions of the District.

In 1882 Alonzo J. Edgerton became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and trial 
judge of the Second District. The first entry that appears in the minutes of the 
court of this county occurs on February 8, 1883, when Judge Edgerton made an 
order that the counties of Brown, Edmunds and McPherson be a subdivision of the 
Second Judicial District, and that the District Court for said subdivision 
should be held at the county seat of Brown County at such time as the court may 
appoint.

The first term of court in this county was held at Columbia March 14, 1883, 
Judge Edgerton presiding. It appears that the only business transacted was the 
naturalization and admission to citizenship of one Alfred Wilson, and admission 
of one Clarence E. Grimm as a practicing lawyer.

The next session of court was held pursuant to order of Judge Edgerton, issued 
at Yankton on January 24, 1884 and the term, designated an "additional special 
term" was held on January 25, 1884. At this hearing the following persons were 
admitted to practice among others: E. T. Taubman, J. H. Perry and John E. Adams.

[P17]

The first general term was held at Columbia commencing October 20, 1884. This 
was the first general term there being both a grand and petit jury. Judge Seward 
Smith presided. The order for the term was dated from his then residence at "Old 
Ashton", Spink County.

At the opening of the term Albert W. Campbell was admitted to practice, and 
later in the term S. H. Cranmer. The term adjourned on November 26, 1884, having 
lasted more than a month. After the preliminary call of the calendar 
approximately 50 demurrers and motions testing pleadings were argued, occupying 
the first four days. Five and Ten Dollar terms were usually imposed upon the 
unsuccessful party. Great technicality was evidently required. After many cases 
had been eliminated by calendar motions, there remained 43 civil jury cases, 15 
court cases and a large number of criminal cases. Nearly all cases were tried 
and evidently hotly contested. There were also a number of naturalizations and 
default divorces, foreclosures and the like.

The first jury case tried was a suit to replevin a yoke of oxen valued at 
$152.00.

Among the first of the indictments returned by the grand jury were presentments 
against one Molly whose true name was unknown, and also against one Blanche 
whose true name was likewise unknown. I assume that the first names of these 
defendants were not unknown to sundry buckaroos of the day as the defendants 
were charged with the promiscuous and unlicensed sale of intoxicating liquors. 
Although Molly entered a plea of guilty the court nevertheless ordered the case 
dismissed, and an equally generous jury found Blanche not guilty.

It is interesting to note that a number of the civil suits involved the James 
River Navigation Company which then furnished regular steamboat freight and 
passenger service from the Port of Columbia to the Ports of Oakes, LaMoure and 
Jamestown.

The grand jury severely condemned the then existing jail, finding that nearly 
all persons who have been held or attempted to be held therein had escaped 
therefrom. The recommended the construction of a new jail, but no jail building 
was ever constructed in the county until the present building was constructed 
more than 35 years ago at a total cost of $7450.00.

The next general term of court was held in July, 1885, Judge Seward Smith 
presiding, at which 60 jury cases appear to have been set for trial.

The next jury term was held January 20, 1886, Judge L. K. Church presiding. It 
will be remembered that Judge Church later became Territorial Governor. Again 
there was a heavy calendar with a large number of demurrers and motions testing 
the pleadings.

The grand jury, after returning many indictments, addressed a resolution to the 
Board of County Commissioners declaring that a great proportion of the 
disbursements of county funds in court expenses could be traced to the liquor 
traffic and recommended that such traffic be suppressed, and requested the 
Commissioners to issue no more licenses "and thus save to the citizens of this 
county a large amount of taxes, misery and crime." The jury returned indictments 
in about a dozen cases of violation of the liquor and gambling laws and a number 
of aggravated assaults.

At this term or before, C. N. Harris was admitted to practice, but I do not find 
the date in [t]he minutes.
 
During 1886 and 1887 Judge Church and Judge Spencer held a number of regular and 
special terms of court at which much business was dispatched.

By the Act of March 3, 1885, Congress had increased the number of Justices of 
the Supreme Court from 3 to 6, and 6 trial districts had been created, this 
county being placed in the 5th.

On October 17, 1888, Louis W. Crofoot was appointed an Associate Justice of the 
Supreme Court and was assigned as trial judge of the 7th District. Judge Crofoot 
held a term lasting from October 26, 1888 until March 18, 1889, nearly five 
months.

The following year the Territory was divided and admitted to statehood and in 
the first election, A. W. Campbell was elected Judge. This marked the separation 
of the trial and Supreme Court judgeships. The Court of 1889 froze the salaries 
of Judges.

There have been many able and distinguished jurists upon the Bench of this 
Circuit.

Judge Campbell served from 1889 to 1901 and was succeeded by Judge J. H. McCoy 
who served from 1902 until 1908. Judge Frank McNulty served from 1909 to 1913. 
Judge Thomas L. Bouck served from 1914 until he was stricken on the Bench 
conducting a term of Court at Aberdeen. He died March 1, 1919 and Judge Frank 
Anderson was appointed to succeed him, serving from 1919 to 1921 when he was 
appointed to fill a vacancy in the Supreme Court. The vacancy left by Judge 
Anderson was filled by the appointment of Judge B. A. Walton. The following 
election returned Judge Walton, to the Bench, and upon his retirement to private 
practice in February, 1923, Judge Robert D. Gardner was appointed and served 
until December, 1930.

As a result of the increasing amount of Judicial work an additional judgeship 
was authorized in 1926. Judge J. J. Batterton was appointed as the additional 
Judge, serving from 1926 to 1928. Judge Howard Babcock succeeded Judge Batterton 
in 1926, and Judge Van Buren Perry succeeded Judge Gardner in 1931. judge Harold 
King succeeded Judge Babcock.

Judge James D. Elliott, who served with great distinction upon the United States 
District Bench for many years, was one of the prominent and active lawyers in 
this county. The Bar of this county has included many eminent lawyers who never 
sought judicial position, but who have neverthless rendered great service in 
legal lines. James M. Brown served as a member of the Commission which made the 
recodification of 1903, and the late G. N. Williamson served upon the Commission 
which produced the Code of 1919.

This county always has been and is today well supplied with a competent and 
reliable Bar.

[P18]

THE NETTIE BALDWIN

(This account compiled from the History of Ludden--written by Mrs. F. M. 
Folsom.) (Loaned by Groves Baldwin, Ludden, North Dakota, to his friend--R. E. 
Huffman of Aberdeen, South Dakota.)

The Steamboat, the Nettie Baldwin, went up the James river from Columbia to 
LaMoure, North Dakota on Thursday, April 17, 1884 and navigation was opened for 
the second season.

The Steamer left Columbia at 9 a.m. and arrived at Port Emma (later Ludden, 
Dakota Territory) at 3 p.m. for its regular schedule.

The freight rates were: Lumber $3.00 per M.; Coal $3.00 per ton; Mdse. 15¢ to 
25¢ per 100 pounds; Passengers $1.50, round trip $2.50.

On June 5, 1884, the Nettie Baldwin left Port Emma, at 10 o'clock in the 
morning, with an excursion party on board, bound for an outing at Columbia, the 
far famed city situated in the banner county of Dakota and the seat of 
government for Brown County.

The party consisted of Mrs. B. A. Raleigh, Mrs, T. T. Crandall, Mrs. Charles 
Walker, Mrs. W. S. Booth. The Misses Squire, Jennie Williams, Anna Coukrite, 
Jennie Graham, Cora Divendorf, William E. Ellis, T. T. Crandall, J. M. Horning, 
Franklin Squires, W. C. Calhoun, Thomas S. Smith, Charles F. McDonald, E. J. 
Scott, J. F. Couch, Dr. Bassett, Robert Walker, Warren Jeu Devine, Mr. Mallory 
from Port Emma, and Mrs. Burrington, Miss Lily Groves and Fred Sinclair from 
Eaton.

These comprised the party of excursionists who sailed upon the bosom of the deep 
river, the James, for two days of unalloyed pleasure.

The scenery along the banks of the river was not very interesting, except for 
the many fine farms and houses, until they reached Sand Lake, a lovely sheet of 
water, four miles long and two miles wide, skirted by trees of various sizes 
from the undergrowth of willows to trees twenty feet in height.

Sand Lake is one of the loveliest spots in Dakota and will probably become a 
famous summer resort. Upon the west bank the town of Pectoria is already platted 
for town lots.

On the trip down the river, ice cream, cake and sandwiches were served for the 
sum of 25 cents.

After a steamboat ride of sixty miles upon the winding Jim, the party embarked 
at Columbia, where they were courteously received by a committee of citizens 
headed by George M. Lyon, on hand to meet his many Pioneer friends from Port 
Emma.

The party was taken to the Grand Hotel where Captain Pontine of the Nettie 
Baldwin had made arrangements with the Columbia committee for many special 
courtesies for the visitors.

A dancing party was given in the Jackson and Savage fine new hall.

The efforts of the Columbia people to entertain the visitors were much 
appreciated and many pleasant friendships were formed.

Lemonade and cake were served on the return trip. Thanks were extended to 
Captain Pontine for a most enjoyable and very unique outing.

[P19]

THE PRAIRIE

(From the diary of Adene Williams (1883))
Reviewed by Mrs. Clara Strohmeier Clark

Left home on Tuesday evening for what so far has proved a unique experience. To 
begin with at 3 o'clock a.m. there was a fearful jar which awakened every one in 
the sleeper, and on peeping out of the curtain, it was not at all re-assuring to 
see a vivid light which seemed almost a blaze at the end of the car. But, as it 
proved, there had been nothing worse than a broken down engine which had no 
worse effect than delaying us five hours in reaching Chicago, which however, 
made us lose just thirty six hours time before we reached Columbia.

I, however, took advantage of the delay to go to the office of the Chicago and 
Northwestern to get my ticket extended, not knowing how things might terminate. 
Then I went around to the stores and bought some thermometers, heedless of the 
fact that "they'll be lower by and by." Then I had my dinner and a very good 
one, too, with strawberries and cream for dessert. Then I walked over to 
Lakeview Park--so called--wandered around there aimlessly for a few minutes when 
I heard a voice cry, "All Aboard" and saw a little excursion steamer just ready 
to start for the long wooden pier a little way out in the lake. So with my duck 
like fondness for water, I got on. Found it exceedingly pleasant and interviewed 
a fisherman or two, promenaded the length of the "crib" and back and then took 
the next boat for land as by this time it was getting quite late. I took my way 
depot wards, being pretty exhausted, I stretched out on a lounge in the ladies 
room, and, in spite of the flies, was soon asleep.

The train left at 8:45. In the morning I made acquaintance of a bright young 
lady who, with her sister, had spent nine months in Europe, part of the time 
they had traveled alone. We had breakfast together and came back through the 
immigrant car--such a crowd! At Winona, Minnesota my friend left and the 
sleeping car was taken off the train there too. We went as far as Huron, Dakota, 
where we had another eight hour wait. By this time I had become well acquainted 
with a Mrs. S. who was also bound for Columbia. Mrs. S. had many troubles both 
domestic as well as personal, a bright jolly little person with a fifteen month 
old baby, a darling baby. We finally reached Columbia on Friday evening, having 
been three whole days on the way, just a third again as long as we should have 
been. I was not at all tired, having been more so previously on a 100 mile 
journey.

We had supper at once, and were pleasantly surprised by Mrs. Caldwell coming to 
the dining room and visiting with us while we were eating. Columbia is the 
terminus of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. Columbia is not a year old 
and has 250 buildings several of which have stores in which one can shop quite 
nicely if necessary, two large hotels and even a restaurant. All of the houses 
for strangers are continually filled, so much so, that one wonders where so many 
people come from and thinks with Mrs. Carlysle, "Strange, upon my honor!"

The first question one person asks another is where are you from? Wandering into 
a store, I was greeted by the proprietor with the usual question. Upon receiving 
my reply, he said, "Why I am from Ohio, too. We like to see Ohio people get out 
here." We then shook hands and were sworn brothers. Everyone here talks 
business, the ladies equal with the gentlemen and there is a sort of hail good 
fellowship existing between them which is rather pleasant than otherwise, 
particularly as the men do not lose their gallantry in hailing one as a man and 
brother from a business standpoint.

It was somewhat amusing to see the ladies who having come to meet their 
husbands, stranded at the hotel, with said husbands out on the prairie perhaps 
20 miles away and no way to reach them or even send word to them. One poor lady 
from Maine, evidently unused to travel and the ways of the wicked world, waited 
a week which must have seemed an eternity to her as she seemed to be provided 
with nothing in the way of reading or sewing. She was beginning to get 
desperate, and threatened to leave for home again the next day, but on that day 
he came and they drove away triumphantly behind a team of mules.

Always in the ladies parlor, was the same question asked, "And what brought you 
here?" "Oh, I don't know," answered one lady, "I came to the end of the railroad 
and had to stop. Then I bought a couple of lots and put up a house and store. My 
store rents for $400 a year and I shall have 2 rooms to spare which will bring 
me $100 more." "Well," sair Mrs. No. 2 rocking herself furiously back and forth 
in a way that struck me as odd. "You will be making 25 per cent at least on your 
investment." But Mrs. No. 2, a wealthy widow, who unlike the lady from Maine, 
was used to both travel and the ways of the wicked world being asked in her 
turn, "And what brought you here?" replied somewhat with the wisdom of the 
serpent "Oh! a number of things," which left her questioner no wiser than 
before.

On Monday we arose at six o'clock, expecting the boat, the "Nettie Baldwin" to 
start that morning at 8:00 o'clock, but finally they said that it would not go 
until 10:00 a.m., then not until 12:00 noon, and at last, the wind increasing, 
that they would not be able to go at all that day as the wind would blow them 
ashore.

In the morning Mrs. S. and I started for the lake to fish, but really the wind 
was so strong that it almost blew us back and certainly blew us out of the 
notion of going. In the afternoon Mrs. C. invited me into her little sitting 
room and showed me her Japanese quilt, many of the blocks hand painted, think of 
it! In a new country and even a new town!

After we had gone into the parlor a young lady came in from the prairies with 
her father and brother, they had taken up 7 claims all together. All of the talk 
is claims and shanties. They don't pretend to call them anything else. She said, 
"Don't you think that the man working for Cora killed himself in her shanty, she 
says that she will never step inside of it again." She and I had a tete-a-tete 
conversation just before the supper.

They had left a pleasant home, sold nearly all of their furniture and came out 
to speculate as everyone else had. She said, "Our dining room table wouldn't go 
into the house, and the castor got

[P20]

broken, and when company comes I am so ashamed. But when I see how much more 
comfortable we are than so many others are who have come out here, I am ashamed 
to complain. But don't you get lonely?" "Oh, no, I can't say I do. Minerva and I 
are kept busy with the housework and then I have my fancy work with me and I 
manage to keep too busy to get blue or lonely, and then I write to all of the 
girls and get letters from them." Then she talked of her convent days until Mrs. 
C. came for her to go to supper. Would I go down with them? But I declined with 
thanks as Mr. and Mrs. S. always came for me. After supper we went up beyond the 
"Mill Dam" to fish. Had very good success and when the carriage came back for 
us, we went home feeling quite triumphant. Mrs. C. and I then went to see about 
the boat and were told that it would go without fail on Tuesday. I had been 
quite anxious to see Miller and Wells. The trip up the James River was decidedly 
amusing, when I reached the boat at 8 in the morning the captain came and took 
my bag, in the way of boats in older places. Quite an old wonderful jolly 
gentleman was standing there to see us off and as I was looking at him from the 
dock said, "Seems good to see a steam boat out here. It reminds one of the 
'Albany Steamers'." Bye and bye the load was on and they prepared to shove off. 
The old gentleman, in the meantime nodding and smiling at me at each stage of 
the proceedings.

In the meantime a party of 4 or 5 gentlemen had gathered on the shore to see 
someone on the boat off. They all bantered the gentlemen on the boat, "Don't 
stand on one side of the boat like that, get in the middle. Don't you see you 
are tipping it over, here help push, etc. I'm not a deck hand, etc." Finally 
they got up the steam and the boat was under way. But not so fast! It refused to 
leave the shore more than two or three feet. Then they used a long iron rod as a 
lever and tried to push it out as they would a little row boat, still in vain. 
Finally the captain and all the crew had to get off and push, those on shore 
still bantering. But finally we were really off and the old gentleman waved his 
hand to me and made me feel as if I had left home.

The wind was not only strong but cold, and I went into the little cabin to get 
my shawl and waterproof while a gentleman near me, who looked like a Spaniard, 
drew his storm coat around his--what shall I say?--legs, upon my honor! By now 
we were all inside the small cabin.

By and by Miss _____ proposed going on the hurricane deck, for our little 
steamer had all of the fixins of a larger one. So all of the passengers agreed, 
and there we laughed and joked and did all of the silly things that people do in 
a very high state of spirits.

As we approached a landing, Senator L. said "That's a horrible place," Miss 
_____ looked a little queer and Mr. L. added, "Does anybody here get off there?" 
And Miss _____ said, meekly, "Yes sir I do!" "Well I really beg your pardon, I 
don't mean to says its a horrible place, only the last time I came down we ran 
aground here, and I had to push my daylights out to help get the boat off 
again."

The explanation was accepted, the boat made a landing, the plank was thrown out 
and Mr. L. assisted her to the shore and a gentleman came out from the little 
shanty which constituted the "Village", and took her bag. By now it was lunch 
time, I had not thought to bring any, said I in dismay! Mr. L. said, "The waiter 
put me up a lunch this morning, if you will permit me to go get it I shall be 
delighted to share it with you." During the tete-a-tete lunch, he told me about 
his wife (a Townsend girl) an elegant little lady, at least I think so, and his 
one son Burke Lyons, showed me their photos etc. Then proceeded to tell me all 
about his wealth, his hunting trips, etc., his happy domestic life, culture, 
political honors, etc. Then he explained about his chronic poor health, 
neuralgia and what not. Finally he went below deck finding both the sun and wind 
too strong for him. The boat glided lazily along the narrow stream until we came 
to the lake which really deserved its name. The boat had to stop from time to 
time to clear the grasses and moss from the machinery and wheel.

The next place to land was Eaton, and Mr. L. prepared to land. In the meantime 
we counted the inhabitants of Eaton, there were 7 dogs, 5 or 6 children, two 
ladies and one man. We went on and soon we were at our destination. It had taken 
me seven days to get to my destination.

The Nettie Baldwin was a small boat, 65 feet long and 18 feet wide, had a deck 
and cabin where one could get in for shelter from the sun and wind and rain.

The Nettie Baldwin was named for the wife of Major M. R. Baldwin of Minneapolis, 
Minnesota. It was the only steam boat which carried freight on the James River 
from Columbia, Brown County Territory to La Moure, Dakota Territory.

Built by Captain Wilson in 1881, Mr. Wilson was the father of Robert and 
Elizabeth Connell.
The first trip to La Moure was in May 1882. The boat was enlarged to measure 80 
feet long by 20 feet wide in 1885. The Nettie Baldwin made its last trip up the 
river June 19, 1886. The captain of the Nettie Baldwin was a man by the name of 
Captain Pontine.

On November 8, 1879 in the County of Stutsman, Dakota Territory, the articles of 
ownership and use of the boat were incorporated by the stockholders of the 
Dakota or James and Elm River Navigation Improvement and Transportation Company 
of Dakota Territory. This meeting was held at the office of M. S. James in 
Minneapolis, Minnesota. Stockholders present in addition to Mr. James included 
Mr. W. M. Baldwin and John W. Bingham.

Another steam boat on the James River was named "The Wanderer." The last 
steamboat making "pleasure runs" between Oakes, North Dakota and LaMoure as late 
as 1914. Captain A. W. Alexanderson of Tacoma Park was its builder and skipper.

[P21]

COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP

REMINISCENCES OF EARLY COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP

by T. M. Elliott

[Photo: Town Plat of Columbia in 1883.]

The first white settlers in Columbia Township were Clarence Johnson, Bill and 
Hattie Young who arrived in August, 1877. In the spring of 1878, Ole, Ben, and 
John Everson, Nate Johnson and some other settled along the east bank of the 
James River and by 1880 settlers were arriving in greater numbers, including 
George B. Daly, John Daly, Francis Elliott, the McGregor family, Satterlee's, 
Tom Murphy, Flanders, Brewsters, Kanalys, and let us not forget the missionary 
work of Father Haire. In those days it was necessary to make a 110 mile trip 
(each way) to Watertown, South Dakota for flour and other food supplies and 
these trips were made by ox teams or horses if you had them. Mail was delivered 
from Jamestown, North Dakota.

[Photo: Clare Johnson and Nathan Johnson]

There must have been lots of buffaloes slightly before this 1880 settlement five 
miles north of Columbia as the bank of the "Jim" river there was covered with 
buffalo bones and horns that could be polished to a high luster and amongst the 
bones occasionally arrowheads, evidence that they had been killed by Indians. 
The first fifty cents the writer ever earned was made by heaping up these bones 
in piles where they were carted off in wagons. Not bad pay for a kid of seven in 
the "80's".

[Photo: Mrs. Hattie Young Gruenwald, second from right, the first white woman 
who came in 1878. Her husband, Gus Gruenwald at right.]

Also showing a phase of the eternal triangle is

[P22]

the recollection of a squaw carrying a papoose stopping over night in our long 
sod house. She was from a Devil's Lake, North Dakota reservation, armed with a 
butcher knife, and in pursuit of her boy friend who had eloped with another 
squaw and going to another reservation near Yankton, South Dakota, a mere "trek" 
of 500 miles or more arid carrying the baby on her back.

Tom Marshall, later U. S. Senator from North Dakota, surveyed Columbia Township 
in the early "80's" and his camp is remembered, about five miles north of the 
town of Columbia.

[Photo: First house in Brown County built in 1878 by Clare Johnson.]

The site of the town of Columbia in Columbia Township was selected because of 
its picturesque environment, situated at the confluence of the James and Elm 
rivers and the then beautiful Lake Columbia. The river was dammed and a flour 
mill established by Friel or William Townsend.

Early business enterprises were the J. D. Lavin grocery and general store, 
Pardee grocery (no credit but he would loan the customer money to pay for their 
groceries), W. A. Burrington men's furnishings, Musser and Bittman general 
store, Andy Stone meat market, the four story Grand Hotel, several saloons, and 
old timers insist that at one time there were seven drug stores and eleven 
hotels, possibly an exaggeration. Also Frank McCaw had a jewelry store as did 
Charlie Holcomb. Adene Williams had a "novelty" store, Ed McCoy and William 
Gilfoy each in machinery business, J. H. Jackson hardware store, William 
Schliebe and a Mr. Foy, blacksmiths, and John Caskin, groceries and general 
merchandise.

[Photo: C. W. Atkins home in Columbia built in 1882 and now owned by Mrs. H. H. 
Hoover.]

Other eminent early citizens of Columbia were Charles B. Peck, John R. James, D. 
C. McKenzie, Sam Waters, Harry Hoover, Lyman Turner, Ashmun Loomis, C. E. Corry, 
Charles Baker, H. C. Sessions, William Davidson, (last five were bankers), J. 
Howard Taylor and Dr. Taylor and Dr. Smith, S. P. Comstock, father of Mrs. Sara 
Sidow, Aberdeen, Dennis Crowley, early day lumber and coal dealer, father of 
Mrs. J. E. Kelly, President of Brown County Historical Society, and D. C. 
McKenzie who built the first building in Columbia.

[Photo: J. H. Taylor, first druggist in Columbia.]

Early lawyers included Charles W. Atkins, Isaiah Hunsberger, Pollock Taylor, 
"Judge" Wells, and others.

Columbia's record as county seat of Brown County is something like "on again, 
off again, on again, gone again". It seems that Columbia got the most votes at 
the first election for county seat and then Aberdeen got it away by some means 
after which the court rebuked Aberdeen for its "overzealousness" and restored it 
to Columbia. This writer remembers with great pleasure the triumphant return of 
the county records in horse drawn wagons, this being the second "on again" for 
Columbia. After Aberdeen got it away the second time, Columbia supporters 
settled back in apathetic resignation and refused to prosecute.

During the time Columbia did have the county seat, excitement was stirred up by 
a jail delivery one Sunday morning when Sheriff Charlie Meredith brought 
breakfast to the prisoners and was slugged and five prisoners escaped and fled 
north along the river bottoms, through the tall reeds and rushes but were 
recaptured about six miles from town.

When Columbia had the county seat, the fair grounds and race track were located 
north and east of the city limits.

For diversion in early days there was a rollerskating rink, well patronized, 
excursions as far north as Ludden, North Dakota on the Nettie Baldwin and Fanny 
Peck steamboats, toboggan slides, skating and iceboating on the lake, baseball 
in the summer.

The Columbia "Sentinel", an early day paper, was published by C. E. Baldwin, 
assisted by Frank Elliott, Jr., in the mechanical department. Another early day 
newspaper published when Ordway was aspiring to be the capitol of Dakota 
Territory was the Ordway "Times" edited by Ezra Elliott.

The Grand Hotel, rated to be one of the best hotels west of Minneapolis in those 
days, housed a saloon, a jewelry store, and other business enterprises. After 
various vicissitudes it was finally torn

[P23]

down and rebuilt in Redfield, South Dakota where it is now occupied as the 
Eastern Star Home.

[Photo: The Grand Hotel, built in 1883.]

The James Block, another large office building, was occupied by early 
professional men and also by the Columbia Business College conducted by a 
Professor Hildebrandt. This building was torn down and sold for $700.00, less 
than the glass in the windows cost and transported to Oakes, North Dakota, the 
first floor occupied by stores, and the second as an opera house.

Early County Superintendents of Schools were: C. J. C. McLeod, Reuben Jones, W. 
W. Shaff er and others. Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer taught in the Columbia school and 
after her death in 1889 he left here and later entered the school system of 
Newark, New Jersey, where he eventually rose to be city superintendent of 
schools in Newark, certainly a meteoric advance from Columbia. Many others 
typical of the high class of citizens in early Columbia history rose to 
positions of eminence in the business world, one being Charles A. Baker, broker, 
Washington, D. C., and a few did very well for themselves in Aberdeen and 
elsewhere.

The first bank in Columbia was razed in 1964 and thus another land mark 
disappeared.

THE DIARY OF BEN, JOHN & OLE EVERSON AND WILL HAWS (A BROTHER-IN-LAW)
by Ole Everson

Thursday, March 21, 1878:
Cloudy in the morning, but cleared up about ten o'clock. From Meditio we started 
towards Iberia where we got about evening, after getting lost once or twice and 
roads heavy. We got some eggs at Iberia and camped about one mile west of the 
town.

Friday, March 22, 1878:
Weather clear and pleasant. We traveled on the old government road from Iberia 
to Lamberton along the big cottonwood. Not much settled along the road. Passed 
through Lenewart and another busted up town. Stopped the nite six miles from 
Lamberton on the cottonwood and in the evening I discovered I had lost my watch 
and supposed that I had lost it where we camped for dinner or where, I was 
following the river looking for ducks ten miles back. The next morning it was 
very nice moonlight so I started back and looked every place I had been the day 
before but did not find it and when I got back to camp the boys were gone and I 
had to walk to Lamberton where I got my breakfast after walking about thirty two 
miles. I took the train for Marshall. This was Saturday, March 23, 1878.

Saturday, March 23, 1878:
Weather clear and pleasant. John found my watch. I had lost it the evening 
before feeding the cattle. After I got back from looking for my watch, I took 
the train at Lamberton for Marshall. I passed the boys a little east of town and 
waved my hat at them, and they saw me and knew I was ahead of them. Got to 
Marshall about eleven o'clock and it seemed like home to me after camping.

Monday, March 25, 1878:
Weather clear and pleasant. Filed my tools in the forenoon and made a clothes 
real for Mr. Whitney. After noon I fixed John Hunter's desk or secretary.

Tuesday, March 26, 1878:
Weather clear and pleasant. We built a barn for Mr. Smith.

Wednesday, March 27, 1878:
Windy and cold. Did nothing for the day but filed a saw and started to make a 
corner bracket.

Thursday, March 28, 1878:
Weather pleasant. I made a window frame for John Hunter and made some frames and 
got out
some Cornish for Mr. Bank.

Friday, March 29, 1878:
Weather clear and pleasant. Worked on Mr. Banks house and an awful job it was.

Saturday, March 30, 1878:
Snowed in the morning until nine o'clock and was cold and raw the rest of the 
day. Done nothing all day.

Sunday, March 31, 1878:
Weather clear and pleasant. Went to the Congregational church and Sunday School 
in the forenoon and to something at the Methodist church in the evening.

Monday, April 1, 1878:
Clear but cold. Moved the old shop from the street to the right corner of Mr. 
Gables lot.

Tuesday, April 2, 1878:
Weather clear and pleasant. Done nothing all day but lounge around the town.

Thursday, April 11, 1878:
Weather clear and pleasant after the storm but we did not think it prudent to 
start as the snow was deep and we thought that we had better rest until the next 
day. We were wandering around the lake during the day trying to catch some fish 
but were out of luck, but Ben shot a white brant. There were brants by the 
thousand but wild. We had three visitors in the afternoon. They had camped 
somewhere before the storm but there tent had blowed down and they went over to 
Mr. Lonegays and stayed during the storm. Will and I went to visit
Jewels during the day and found them in a worse condition by far than we were. 
Their cattle were completely gone during the storm and he was living in a shanty 
and it was leaking all over from the

[P24]

snow melting on the top of it. We found him the most surly and disagreeable man 
that I ever met or had anything to do with so did not stay long. We let our oxen 
loose in the morning and they got away from us in the afternoon. We had quite a 
run after them and found them about two miles west of our camp.

Friday, April 12, 1878:
Weather clear and pleasant. I got a fish the first thing in the morning. After 
getting our breakfast and packing up we drove up to Mr. Jewels about a mile and 
a half, where we got 300 pounds of hay for $3.00. He directed us on the road. We 
took our wood along with us from Lake Kampeska. The road was rough and rolling 
all the way the first day until night. We traveled about six miles northwest and 
then struck straight west of the hills. Northwest of Lake Kampeska was full of 
alkaline. lakes and at one where we stopped for dinner, the water was strong and 
bitter. We named it Horseshoe Island Lake on account of its shape. We helped Mr. 
Wagner through two snow banks and broke our chains, then left him. We saw two 
jack rabbits in the afternoon and I shot one. It was the biggest rabbit I ever 
saw. We camped for the night on some lakes we called came station lakes about 20 
miles west of Lake Kampeska where we found plenty of dry wood and water. I think 
the land was good around the lakes with timber enough firewood for a family or 
two.

Saturday, April 13, 1878:
 It snowed a little in the morning and we found the roads heavy on account of 
the snow that fell while we were at Lake Kampeska. It quit snowing about ten 
o'clock in the morning but was blowing the rest of the day. The land and soil 
seemed good for about thirteen miles when it got broken and rough again. When we 
got to a lake we thought could be half way from Lake Kampeska to the James, we 
named it Halfway Lake and then we drove for about twelve miles through hills and 
rough country where we saw the first antelope. We tried to get a shot at them 
but found them wild to get at and did not get a chance at them. We drove on 
until dark expecting to find some suitable place to camp but had to camp in the 
hills for the night.

Sunday, April 14, 1878:
We found an east wind in the morning and cloudy, and it was so all day. About 
eight o'clock we got through the hills and struck the valley of the James river 
but did not know it then. In fact, we had a very slim idea of the river and we 
drove all day west and were greatly puzzled about the land, although we thought 
it good land. Ben and Will said that if the land was a good on the river they 
would take land. It seemed perfectly level and only broken now and then. The 
land north was the same as when we struck the level. We looked in vain for some 
good place to camp on the level. We could not even find a hill to break the 
wind. Saw some antelope during the day and found the ironwork of a buggy. The 
wood of it was burned.

Monday, April 15, 1878:
Weather cold and raw with an east wind. It was my turn to drive the team this 
morning and the boys walked a little ahead. We got to the river about twelve 
o'clock and we drove into the first grove that we came to and it was the first 
time that Ben was in good spirits since we started for the James. After a hasty 
dinner, John and Ben took their guns and went down the river. Will and I stayed 
in camp and did some baking. Will made some biscuits. John and Ben went about 
three miles south and then returned. We had a thunderstorm in the evening with a 
shower of rain, but we were in a dense grove and did not mind it. We stayed 
where we first struck the river until the next morning, all as happy as been and 
well pleased and full of expectation.

Tuesday, April 16, 1878:
Weather clear and pleasant. We broke up our camp and started up the river north. 
We were told there was a large lake with about 700 acres of timber and we were 
going to head for that. There were nice groves all along the river and land that 
could not be best, right up to it. About noon, we got to an Indian village and 
were quite surprised for we did not expect any such thing. I think that we all 
had a queer feeling, although I don't think any of us were afraid. We kept right 
on until we got to a creek that looked bad and we were afraid to try it, but an 
Indian came down and showed us where to cross. We got across without getting 
stuck and then drove up to the village and all the Indians gathered around us. 
It made us feel quite queer for the first time and we kept good care of our 
guns, but very soon got over it. They were quite displeased to see our breaking 
plow, for they knew we were looking for land and they were afraid we would 
encroach on them. They blatted for quite a while around our plow. None of them 
could speak the English language. One motioned toward the sun that it was dinner 
time and we drove over onto the banks of the river and went to getting our 
dinner. They all gathered in a ring around us and one of them saw the violins in 
the wagon and the boys had to play for them. One of the Indians had his face 
painted in stripes. I expect it was war paint.

After the meal was over, they commenced to go back to their tents and we 
prepared to resume our journey. Just as we were leaving the camp, a blanket fell 
off the wagon and we did not notice it, but the Indians commenced to make 
motions and showed us the blanket. One of them went along to show us the road 
and to beg. We gave him some flour and he carried it in his blanket, a greasy 
old looking thing, and we gave him some money as he was the one that showed us 
where to cross the creek. He went back and another one took us as he wanted some 
butter. He had a good hickory shirt that he wanted to trade off, but we did not 
understand him and supposed that he wanted to carry it in his shirt or the shirt 
he had with him. When we offered him some, he shook his head and we decided it 
was not butter he wanted, but he wanted more, but as we did not understand him, 
we put the butter back and he went through the greatest motions that I ever did 
see to get us to understand what he wanted. He went along with us until almost 
night then went back. We went down on the river to camp for the
night. It was very pretty land and some good timber where we camped.

[P25]

Wednesday, April 17, 1878:
It rained some during the night and in the morning. John and I started about 
north and left Will and Ben with the wagons. Our intentions were to find Sand 
Lake which we thought must not be far distant. We took our guns and some 
biscuits in our pockets and started about ten o'clock in the morning and 
traveled until about one in the afternoon, when we got to a large swamp on the 
river and away north we could see timber and we started for it. When we got 
there it was a bend of the river and about three miles to the north seemed to be 
some heavy timber and we supposed it was the Lake and made for it. We got to it 
about sun down and in a shower of rain. We were quite wet when we got there and 
cold and you might expect we were delighted to find a nice shanty with a fire 
place and lots of wood and we also found some piles of logs thrown together and 
they had been cut by whites. As we had no ax to cut wood, we got long poles and 
as the fire place was opposite the door, we put one end of them in the fire and 
kept pulling them along as they burned.

The land and the lay of it was first rate. We supposed that the lake was a 
little ways ahead and we would go to it in the morning and then return to camp 
and the wagons. We laid down on some poles for the night as the floor was damp 
and everything wet outside after the rain.

Thursday, April 18, 1878:
Weather pleasant with showers in the afternoon. We started north early in the 
morning and about one thirty we were in sight of some huts and supposed they 
were Indian, but getting nearer, they looked more civilized and we found they 
were across the river. Seeing a man we hailed him and found there were four 
whites living there. They told us it was twelve miles up to the lake and no 
timber but we might go up and see for ourselves. We went on until we got to the 
lake but found nothing there so turned back and stopped with the boys for the 
night. We had antelope meat for dinner and it was splendid eating. We found them 
very pleasant boys. They had come over from the Missouri River in August and had 
wintered there. They were bound to have us settle there. Ben Arnold took me 
around in the evening and showed me some land.

Friday, April 19, 1878:
Weather warmer with a south wind. We left the settlers in the morning to go back 
to the wagons. I caught a fish on the way and roasted it.

PRAIRIE PIONEERS
by Madge T. Harris

It was in the spring of 1883 when my parents decided to move to Dakota 
Territory. My father's two brothers and a sister decided to go too and take up a 
claim. The people in the east had heard glowing accounts of the far west and 
there was a general movement to the west about this time.

My father and his two brothers left in late spring for Dakota while mother, my 
brother, and I left for Hackensack, N. J. to visit her relatives before leaving 
for the West. I was just six years old and my brother 4 1/2 years old.

[Photo: Mrs. Madge Taylor Harris]

This gave the Taylor men time to take up land and build the four shanties before 
we arrived. After our visit in New Jersey we came back to our Michigan home in 
Almont to say "good bye" to all the relatives and friends there before going 
west. They all seemed to think that it was a very risky move, especially 
mother's folks in New Jersey. They said we would all be murdered by the Indians 
or frozen to death in the dreadful winters out there. Mother had the true 
pioneer spirit though and was more than ready to go.

I remember the long train trip. We went through S. Paul and on to Aberdeen where 
father met us and from there north to Ellendale. The Taylors had taken up their 
claims not far from Ellendale, about eight miles south of Ellendale. The four 
quarters joining so that the shanties were built near together on the inside 
corner of each quarter of land.

We arrived there in August on the hot prairie, long grass all around us waving 
like a sea in the wind. Each house or prairie shanty as they were called 
consisted of one large room 18 by 20 feet. I remember the pleasant smell of the 
new pine lumber of which they were built. They were simply furnished. The 
carpenters who had helped build them had made beds, tables, chairs, cupboards 
and benches. We were just to live there nine months until they could prove up on 
their claims and they had to plow a certain number of acres.

The men were busy all Fall, first building a dugout barn for the oxen, then 
cutting hay for the winter food for the oxen. Soon there were three or four long 
stacks of hay around which brother and I played.

In October they began plowing their land and sodding the shanties as a 
protection against the cold winter of which they had been warned.

One of the men would drive to town once a week with the wagon drawn by two oxen 
for our groceries and coal for the cook stoves. Each shanty had a large old 
fashioned cook stove which was our only heat in the winter. It was a long 
tiresome trip to Ellendale with oxen. They would start early in the morning and 
get back in time for supper.

When they were plowing the mice were thick. They would scurry from the upturned 
sod.

New settlers were moving in all the time from the midwest and east, and taking 
up claims but they were all located three or four miles from us. One young man, 
who had spent one winter on the prairie and didn't want to spend another there, 
de-

[P26]

cided to go east for the winter and he asked father if he would keep his horse 
for him until spring for the use of it, which father was very glad to do. No he 
could go to Ellendale on horse back quicker than with the oxen. He would bring 
our groceries back in a large flour sack swung across the saddle in front of 
him. Brother and I would eagerly watch for his return as he always brought us 
each a long red striped stick of peppermint candy. Mr. Dean was the name of the 
horse and we always called the horse Daisy Dean.

Just before Christmas they made a trip to town to get more coal and groceries. 
They left early in the morning before daylight and didn't get back until dark. 
It was always great fun to look over the things that they had bought but this 
time there were some packages not for inspection but were quietly laid away on a 
high shelf. There was also a Christmas box from Hackensack, N. J. which was put 
away too until Christmas.

On Christmas morning I awoke early in my trundle bed to see if Santa Claus had 
been there and in the dusk of the early morning I could see my stocking hanging 
on the rafter where brother and I had hung our stockings Christmas Eve, and I 
could see a doll's head sticking out of my stocking. My brother's stocking had a 
toy sticking out of it. I didn't get up for we were told not to get up until the 
fire had been started. A low fire was kept all night but in the morning it had 
to be shaken down and the drafts opened and fresh coal put on and in no time the 
room was warm. We eagerly emptied those stockings and underneath the toy and 
doll there were candies, nuts and an orange. That doll was just what I had been 
hoping Santa would bring me. She had a china head and was all dressed in a blue 
ruffled dress. I named her "Shoo Fly". I don't know why unless it was that in 
the early fall we had so many flies around and mother was always saying "Shoo 
Fly".

Late in February we were invited over to our nearest neighbors (the Faucetts) 
for dinner. We traveled the three or four miles there in our sleigh. They had 
small children and brother and I played out in the snow with them, sliding down 
hills in their sled. The snow was melting day times and freezing at night so the 
hill was very slippery and we went scooting down at a rapid rate. That was the 
first we had played with other children since we left the East. The only thing 
that I remember about the dinner was that the children (six in all) had to wait 
for the second table and that we had dried apple pie. After all that coasting 
out in the invigorating air we were as hungry as bears.

At last Spring came, warm winds. They called them Chinook winds. They melted the 
snow rapidly and water was dripping from the roofs and mud everywhere. The oxen 
had been sold to another homesteader and Mr. Dean had returned from the East and 
taken his horse Daisy Dean to his homestead.

Father and his brother, who was a doctor had gone on to Columbia where they had 
bought a drugstore in that thriving town. We were getting ready to move there. 
Our furniture had come on from Michigan and was stored in Columbia.

One sunny windy day father came driving up from Columbia in a livery rig to take 
us to Columbia. And we said "good bye" to the little sod shanty and all its 
furniture of rude manufacture and started on the way to our new home. The 
weather was cold and mother had wrapped and bundled brother and me up in the 
back seat of the topless rig. As we were driving along at good speed a small boy 
about 10 years old came running out to the road from a homestead. Father stopped 
to see what he wanted and all he wanted to know was whether those were two 
babies in the back seat. We children felt quite insulted.

Columbia was located on the James River said to be the longest unnavigable river 
in the world. A large flouring mill had been built in 1882 south of town on the 
river. The dam which was built for this mill formed Columbia Lake. The mill had 
a capacity of 250 barrels a day.

[Photo: Flour Mill on the James River.]

[Photo: Petition for a fish way in the Mill dam on the James River.]

[P27]

The river was just back of our house about a block or so. My brother and I would 
often run down to the boat landing when we heard the whistle to watch them 
unload. The two days would be there to load and carry any cargo that might be 
there. Often the boat would have excursions on a Sunday up to points north. We 
would watch as the boat sailed off, the railing lined with passengers, and the 
large water wheel at the back tossing up water.

[Photo: Taylor Drug Store with Captain George Pontine, skipper of the Nettie 
Baldwin standing third from the left.]

The Northwestern Ry. had built as far north as Columbia. A large round house was 
built and the train would turn around and go back to Aberdeen the next day. 
Traveling men coming to Columbia had to stop overnight and hire a livery rig to 
go north the next day. That made flourishing business for the hotel and livery 
stables.

There were four churches in town the Congregational, the Baptist, Methodist and 
Catholic. One on each street and the Catholic on the hill near the school house.

A pioneer desiring free land searched out his 160 acre plot and secured it by 
posting a "straddlebrig" adjacent to the quarter section marker. Some filed 
ahead of the government surveyor. Three laths nailed together in a tripod form 
and placed on the site of the claim served as a marker. It straddled the quarter 
section line thus the name. These flimsy signs served notice to others that the 
land had been claimed. The system often led to fraud, "claim jumping" and on 
rare occasions a tragic final judgement upon man's inhumanity to man.

We would often fish from the deck of the old steamer Nettie Baldwin.

The first bridge built in Brown County over the James River was about one half 
mile south east of Columbia.

And in 1885 a large roller skate building was put up and roller skating became a 
favorite pastime. It was run by Hans Gilbertson. They had roller skates of all 
sizes for rent and there were seats all along the side for spectators to watch 
the skaters. Evening was the popular time for skating and the large building was 
well lighted with kerosene lights. Mother and I would frequently go down to 
watch the skaters in the evening. There was always music and some of the skaters 
became fancy skaters. There were a lot of falls too among beginners. I never 
tried roller skating but the place was crowded every evening.

As Aberdeen grew the rivalry for the county seat became worse. At one time they 
came up from Aberdeen at night, entered the Court House and carried all the 
county records to Aberdeen. The fight was on for several years and Aberdeen 
finally won out and became the county seat. This took many people to Aberdeen, 
the railroad town and county seat. More than fifteen large houses were moved to 
Aberdeen.

The Chicago Northwestern Railroad had extended beyond Columbia to towns north so 
that now traveling salesmen after completing their business in Columbia would 
travel on north, which caused a slump in the hotel and livery business.

Many people moved to Aberdeen and Columbia began going down.

There were several years of crop failures and the big flour mill had shut down 
and the mill dam had gone out and with it Columbia Lake. The Nettie Baldwin now 
abandoned was at anchor on the James River just below our place--parts of it 
were disappearing but we still stood on its deck to fish.

[Photo: A June 1897 camping party, including Clare Johnson's son and the Atkins 
boys.]

In October and November we would see flocks of

[P28]

geese flying south. A hunter named Mr. Laton had a little house boat on the 
river where he lived the year round. He use to skin the ducks and geese and tan 
the skins and sell them to the women. There was quite a fad at that time for 
ladies turbans made from geese feathers or duck feathers. My mother had a soft 
goose feather turbin. The town dressmakers would make these feathered skins into 
turbans. Our town had two or three dressmakers and they were kept busy. In those 
days you couldn't buy ready made dresses in stores. You would select your 
material and if you couldn't make a dress you would take it to a dressmaker to 
have it made from the pattern you would choose from the Delineator or some other 
fashion magazine. I can remember standing while a dressmaker fitted me and being 
so fidgity because I wanted to get out to play and it seemed as though she would 
never get through, sticking a pin here and clipping there. Some women went out 
sewing by the day and one time we had a Mrs. Gleason come for a week to sew for 
us. She was a jolly woman and talked all the time she wasn't running the sewing 
machine.

[Photo: First County Commissioners and County Officers, 1883.]

DALY CORNER
Taken From Our Family (Daly-Sullivan)

In 1880, John Daly and his four sons, George, John, Edward and Austin went with 
J. D. Lavin to Watertown, Dakota Territory, which was then the end of the 
railroad. There they bought a team and light wagon, and drove to Columbia. 
George filed on his pre-emption claim two miles east of Columbia, but in order 
to get a tract large enough so that they could all have their farms adjoining, 
they had to go two miles north and seven miles east of Columbia where they 
located.

In order to file on the land, they drove overland to Jamestown, the nearest 
point on the Northern Pacific Railroad, and took the train to Fargo, the land 
office for the district. They filed on the land on April 9, 1880.

The J. C. Daly family donated the land for the school which is named the Daly 
Corner School.

The Thomas Sullivan family from Flint, Michigan, homesteaded south of Daly 
Corner.

The descendants of the original Dalys still live on these original farms.

[Photo: The Daly Corner School built in 1882. Teacherage at the right.]

[P29]

ABERDEEN TOWNSHIP

by Helen J. Bergh

The first settlers came to Aberdeen Township about the year 1880. William Hedley 
was one of
these. He drove from Lucknow, Canada, bringing lumber with him for a house. He 
went back to
Canada in the fall and returned with his family the spring of 1881, settling in 
the northwest part of the township. Another early family was the Kressin 
Andersen's. A grandson, Kristian T. Andersen tells of their coming.

"Kressin Andersen journeyed to the United States, we understand, on the last 
sailing ship to carry a full cargo of Norwegian immigrants to the New World, 
earning part, or all, of the passage for himself and family by serving as ship 
carpenter during the voyage.

Leaving Kristiansand, Norway in the fall, they had a stormy trip, taking about 
nine weeks to make Montreal, Canada, thence to Chicago, and out to Clinton, 
Wisconsin, where they resided for approximately three years, and where Grandma 
Andersen died, and is buried. While there, he worked as a carpenter and 
cabinetmaker.

When some individuals from the Clinton community returned with reports of 
abundant lands in the Dakotas, he determined to locate there. It is an 
interesting detail to note that he built a wagon gear from Wisconsin White Oak, 
the iron work being put on by the blacksmith in Clinton.

In 1880, he, together with his five children, loaded on the Milwaukee Railroad 
and journeyed to the end of the rails, which was Bristol, South Dakota. The 
train was made up almost entirely of immigrants, and, when they unloaded, 
another one of the new settlers, whose name we have lost, had a yoke of oxen and 
a Democrat Wagon. Grandfather had three horses and a heavy wagon. The other man 
had already located his claim, so Grandfather loaned him the heavy wagon to haul 
his goods to his homestead. Grandfather, in turn, hitched up his horses to the 
Democrat Wagon, and drove northwest to look for land.

Locating the homestead which is now part of Gordon Bergh's farmland, driving 
thence to file on the land at the Government Land Office, which, then was 
located in Watertown. Then, back to Bristol, where he reclaimed his heavy wagon, 
loaded up his gear, and drove to the new home, passing the railroad grading 
crews, which, by that time, were working west of Groton.

A sister and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Soren Olson, had located near what became 
Tacoma Park, S. D., so a stop was made there on the journey.

It is interesting to know that the only tree they found after leaving the James 
River, was a willow tree growing at the base of a tall bank in the curve of 
Foote Creek, about a half-mile north of where they put their claim shack.

Mr. Anderson, at the time of settling in Brown County was a widower with five 
children, and, apparently forty-six years of age. Besides farming, he worked at 
the carpenter trade, being employed in some old-time structures, the original 
building of the Aberdeen Milling Co., Zion Lutheran Church, and a number of 
other buildings.

Andrew, the eldest son, sold his tree claim and removed to Chicago, in about 
1890, where he became a partner in a firm manufacturing office furniture, 
associated with a man by the name of Petersen.

Christian, the third son was an apprentice to D. G. Gallett, to learn jewelry 
and watchmaking. Sometime during the 1890's, he went out to establish a business 
of his own in Cripple Creek, Colorado. Apparently the victim of foul play in 
that gold rush town, he was never heard of again.

Annette, the daughter, married Charles Kreier, and moved to Poinette, Wisconsin.

Emil remained a bachelor, dying in Poinette, Wisconsin about 1944.

Soren, the youngest son, married Marie Engen, living in Brown County all his 
life, and died in Aberdeen in June of 1932."

Verna Merten, still living on her father's original claim, which comprises much 
of the southeast part of Aberdeen, tells of her father's coming.

"In the spring of 1880 John J. Zimmerman, his brother-in-law, Win. F. Sidow, 
both of St. Charles, Minn., and Gustav Merten, of Lomira, Wisc., went to 
Watertown, Dakota Territory, to look over the land offered at the U. S. 
Government Land Office, where they were given instructions as to how to reach 
the area later organized as Brown County. When they came to what became Aberdeen 
Twp. they each chose a quarter of land as a claim. Their mode of travel had been 
by walking, both ways, from Watertown to Aberdeen. Their trail was that of 
buffalo and deer and occasionally they would need to retrace their steps because 
they would have followed a trail ending as a "salt lick". It was the month of 
March, no snow, beautiful weather, prairie grass tall and thick. They found at 
Aberdeen only three tents, presumably those of the surveyors. By October of the 
same year the tents were gone but there were three shacks in their place.

Because of the deep snow many of the settlers found they were not able to go to 
Watertown for supplies, and some nearly starved--1880-81. Mr. Henry Slack was 
one of the earliest of settlers in the Rondell area. When he was an aged man he 
asked to ride with someone who was coming to Aberdeen on business, so that he 
could stop to see his early day acquaintance, Gustav Merten. On seeing him and 
with tears streaming from his eye's Mr. Slack's exclamation was, "Well, Gus, 
it's a lot different than it used to be, those were hard days!"

Jacob Britzius used to have a sod house on his

[P30]

claim southeast of Aberdeen, and the Wm. Sidow children used to like to go over 
there to spend an afternoon or evening. They used to recount the news that had 
come their way, spend some time singing, hear stories of the older folk's 
childhood, pop corn, and if fortunate have a chance to eat an apple, or maybe 
melt maple sugar to eat with a spoon or with bread. Their beverage was probably 
parched wheat, or of the less desirable barley which was somewhat bitter. The 
parched grain was ground fresh each day and was parched or roasted only in small 
quantities. The grain was cleaned by blowing, washed, dried, then a small 
quantity was put in a hot frying pan in which a little butter had been melted. 
The grain was then stirred constantly until nicely browned. Grinding was done in 
a coffee mill, every family had one.

A flour grinding mill was started at Columbia, there was another one at 
Redfield. One could take sacks of wheat, have it ground and sifted for flour, 
middlings and bran, as desired, and pay for this in cash, or the grinding could 
be done on shares. Sometimes the coarsely ground grain was used for a cooked 
breakfast food. Later Aberdeen had a mill also.

Jacob Britzius took title to a quarter section of land in May, 1881. He made the 
trip by walking from Watertown, where the government land office was, with two 
other men. They wanted a hot meal so stopped early near Rondell. Suddenly there 
was a great noise, and they saw Indians across the James River. The Indians made 
a fire, roasted meat, which the hungry men could smell. The horses were hobbled, 
tents were pitched, all with much noise. The men decided to go to bed, early, 
set watch of three hours each, get started early before the Indians could detect 
them. The first watchman woke up after midnight, saw the other two asleep, 
determined to do his watch until morning. When they awoke the sun was high, each 
looked surprised at the other, then across the River to their unwelcome campers, 
but the Indians, like the Arabs, had taken their tents and as silently stolen 
away. The men heard not a sound. It was Drifting Goose and followers.

If there were not chickens enough to carry the family through the year one could 
shoot a prairie chicken or two. There were no game laws nor conservation 
practices except that of the tree claim.

Antelope were sometimes available by good rifle shot, some of the meat was used 
fresh and the rest was pickled or brined, as were pigs and corned as beef, 
sometimes smoked to keep it further.

Occasionally there was a family of bison that wandered away from the larger herd 
and some of the settlers were able to get fresh meat and a fur coat or robe.

During the winter of the big snow, 1880-1881, there were three bachelor settlers 
who finally found it too difficult to twist grass enough to keep three stoves 
hot, so they moved their food supplies to one place where they spent the winter. 
By spring they had left only some flour, syrup and grain to grind for coffee. 
They put their sense of good humor to use by thinking they were having a change 
of menu every meal because they ate bread, syrup and coffee for one meal, then 
had a change next mealtime by having syrup, bread and coffee, the third meal was 
of coffee, syrup and bread.

It was difficult to have fresh fowl on the table so one time the wild geese were 
flying at night. The moon was bright and there was much honking. Hoping that he 
could bring down a bird Gustav Merten took his gun, aimed it into the noisiest 
spot overhead, fired, waited, but nothing happened. There had been disturbance 
among the flying geese. Next morning about 50 feet from the house was a goose. 
Not knowing what brought it there the goose was dressed, found to have been 
shot, so the family ate it.

There were built by the U. S. Government two brick powder houses, one on either 
side of the bridge across the Moccasin Creek, east of Aberdeen, on the section 
line between Sec. 18 and Sec. 19, T 123, R 63. The powder house west of the 
Creek was on the north side of the road and the building east of the Creek was 
on the south side of the bridge. There was kept a supply of powder and shot so 
that the settlers could go there for supplies to make their own shells in case 
the Indians became troublesome. While Drifting Goose was moving along the James 
River and making life miserable for the white people a scout was sent out from 
Fort Sisseton and all settlers were ordered to the Fort. Supplies of powder were 
distributed in case needed on the way. Many had loaded their wagons with food, 
bedding and precious small objects when another scout was sent out that contact 
had been made and await further orders, but the trouble for the time being was 
over.

On May 23, 1883, Mrs. Julius Hasse and her daughter, Emilie Luke, arrived by 
C&NW Ry. at Rudolph, Dakota Territory. On May 24, 1883, Julius Hasse and his two 
sons, George and Otto, arrived with a car of household goods, two horses, a cow, 
some farm implements. There was no snow, the grass was waving 4 ft. tall, the 
sun shone brightly. At St. Charles, Minn., the snow had been 4 ft. deep. They 
were met at Rudolph by Dillman G. Luke, Mrs. Hasse's son, who had come to Dakota 
the previous year, settling in Gem Twp. where the Hasse family also established 
their home.

1881 saw a tremendous influx of homesteaders, particularly after the railroad 
got as far as Aberdeen. Many came by ox team or with horses. Gunder Larson and 
his family came from Drammen, Norway, in May with his son Leonard staying at 
Groton and working on the railroad. His youngest daughter, Susanna, later Mrs. 
A. H. Bergh, resided on the original homestead west of Wylie Park until her 
death in 1962. Following is her account of their coming. "Agents working in 
Drammen, Norway, advertised Dakota Territory as Utopia. My father, Gunder 
Larson, was impressed with the tales of gold and the beauties of the far-off 
land. In April of 1881, I found myself on a combination sail and steamship. As 
the "KATE" left the shores of Norway, we Larsons--seven in all--began wondering 
about our new life. Three weeks later we immigrants were herded off to Castle 
Garden, New York.

[P31]

I can still remember the ladies dressed in fine silks and satins who came to 
watch us disembark.

The train stopped at Groton since the rails hadn't reached Aberdeen. We rode in 
a lumber wagon through Aberdeen, which then boasted only one shanty, to the 
Christen Andersen home five miles northwest of Aberdeen. Our home for six weeks 
was a tent near their house. Each night we made a smudge to smoke out the 
mosquitoes so we could sleep. During this time my father was building a frame 
house and digging a well. Mother hauled the dirt out of the well and helped bank 
the house with sod.

Whenever Father went to Aberdeen, he would take his knife and cut clumps of 
grass as a trail marker to find his way home. He cut his hay with a scythe and 
the women folks used hand rakes. Before the summer was over he had his first 
oxen.

August of 1881 was a never-to-be-forgotten month. An eight-year old can stretch 
his ears to hear almost everything and the tales of prairie fires ran tingles 
down my spine. Early one morning, Father saw a wisp of smoke to the northwest. A 
brisk wind was blowing so the family began making a path around the haystack. We 
all hauled clay from the well to lay in a path. The house was surrounded with 
clay from the cellar and the well. Water was poured on the path and the clay. As 
the sky became redder, I was sent into the house while the others hurried across 
the ravine to take down a wooden calf pen. This precious lumber had to be saved. 
Our cattle pulled their ropes free to run to a little patch of plowed ground. It 
was thought that locaters might have become careless and started the fire. More 
prairie fires followed but this one seared me the most.

The winter of 1881-1882 was an open winter and I often played outdoors without a 
coat, but our neighbors could not forget the hardships of the previous year.

Spring of 1882 gladdened the heart of even a homesick Norwegian girl. The fire-
blackened ground burst forth with multi-colored shades of green dotted with all 
shades and kinds of flowers: crocuses and violets, buttercups, and later the 
anemonies, wild geraniums, and pink wild roses. Herding the cows amidst this 
wild beauty was a delight until I found underneath the tall grasses snakes and 
badger holes. But how thrilling it was to stand still and listen to the call of 
the prairie chickens and the songs of the meadowlarks."

Ole Anderson brought his family from Norway and homesteaded northwest of Wylle 
Park. It was in their home that the present Bethlehem Lutheran Church had its 
first services. A daughter, Mrs. Fred Roundy, now resides three miles north of 
the old home. Joseph Yeoman came from Wisconsin and family legend credits him as 
being one of the publicspirited young men who went to Columbia one dark night 
and transferred the county records to Aberdeen. James Cameron and Laucklan 
MacKenzie came from Canada. Frank Webb came on foot from Watertown and 
homesteaded where the stock yards are now. His father and younger brother, 
Eugene E. Webb, settled two miles south on the land where Radio Station KSDN now 
stands.

The site of Brown County Fairgrounds was the homestead of J. C. Kuney. Mrs. Mary 
Bixby and her sons came from Minnesota and lived on the land where Brookside 
School now stands west of the Foote Creek bridge. Upon their return to 
Minnesota, one of the sons became governor of that state. Their next-door 
neighbor was Horace Beals, who with his mother had come from Springfield, 
Massachusetts. Beals' Spring Water, five cents a pail, kept much of the town 
supplied with soft water for many years. David Culbert, who lived south of 
Aberdeen also sold soft water. T. C. Gage, who had a store in Aberdeen, rode out 
to his homestead west of Wylie Park every night where he slept. His daughter, 
Miss Matilda Gage, now owns the land. Andrew Melgaard's tree claim became 
Melgaard Park and he gave the land which is the site of Northern State College.

Others who came in the early 1880's included: William Avery, Fred Alley, 
Emmanuel Merten, F. O. Korte, C. J. Fischbach, Charles Holmes, Patrick Burns, 
Patrick Cully, O'Donnell, August Dally, C. W. Swift, C. M. Pleasants, George 
Weed, Rueben Rice, Jacob Lowe, Mrs. Caroline Wight and her sons Warren and 
Herbert, Andrew H. Bergh, Mrs. Mary Raedel and her family, Jacob Schaffer and 
Charles and Earl Edson who had a small greenhouse. The Edson brothers built the 
original house, later remodeled which was occupied by the Andrew Fischer family 
when the quints were born on September 14, 1963.

The Sidow and Zimmerman families came in 1882. Before they came, the Dayton 
family who owned many lots in the townsite, had gone to St. Charles, Minnesota, 
and tried to buy their claims of 1880. Julius Robert Fritsche, wife and seven 
children came from Lomira, Wisc. and lived in Frederick C. Merton's kitchen 
while they built their own house in Bath Twp.

The Sidow family lived in the north edge of town and Mrs. Lydia Meisenbach, the 
sole survivor here who lived until August, 1958, told of going over to Kline 
Street to go to school to avoid the big slough which covered much of the town. 
She also told of Mr. and Mrs. Proud, proprietors of the Park Place Hotel coming 
up for a barrel of water every day because the city water was hardly drinkable.

During the middle 80's the John Johnson family drove down from Canada and 
homesteaded near Ipswich, later moving to Aberdeen Township. Two of their sons, 
Ronald and Angus spent the balance of their lives here, and a daughter, Mrs. Mae 
Dell Somerville, now ninety and active, resides in Aberdeen.

Taming the prairie had its difficulties. Mrs. A. H. Bergh recalls the threshing 
of 1882. "The first threshing machine was a horse-power affair with no blower. 
There were four pitchers. Mother cut the straw bands on the bundles, the bundle 
feeders threw in the grain, one man kept the horses going, and others sacked the 
grain as it was threshed. We didn't have enough tables so planks were set on saw 
horses. Linen sheets helped out as tablecloths. Then 

[P32]

Father and Leonard hauled the wheat to Columbia by wagon to be milled. They left 
by early morning moonlight and I sat outdoors at night listening for the sound 
of wagon wheels. That same summer they walked to Columbia, a distance of twenty 
miles, to buy two cows."

By 1886, the township was organized into four divisions for roads and schools 
with the following officers: Township Clerk, George Weed; Treasurer, Edward 
Small; Supervisors, C. W. Swift, C. H. Pleasants, D. C. Thompson and Frank Webb, 
Chairman. On June 21, 1886, the road overseers, consisting of Walter Cook, 
William Hedley, Charles Holmes, and Jacob Britzius decided on a two mill levy 
for roads and a one mill levy for the general fund, said levy to be made on 
assessed valuations. Road overseers were instructed to collect sums assessed 
against each property through cash or labor on the road at $1.50 per day for a 
man and $3.00 for man and team, wagon or plow, said money to be used to improve 
roads and bridges in the district.

Mustard seems to have been quite a problem by this time, for on July 25, 1886, a 
bill for $18.50 was allowed for mowing and raking these weeds along the roads. 
According to the records in William Hedley's overseer's book, dated 1886, tax 
payments yielded from $2.35 to $10.50 per quarter with road taxes varying from 
550 to $1.89. The next year in District No. 3, Erastus Webb, overseer, they were 
somewhat higher, ranging from 120 to $13.61.

Land varied in value from $5.00 to $22.00 per acre, swine averaged $5.00 per 
head, oxen $35.00, horses $50.00, cattle $20.00 to $35.00. Tax lists of 1886 
listed for most residents from two to four horses, two or three oxen, five or 
six head of cattle, carriages, stages, wagons, sleighs, and farming utensils.

[Photo: Pictured is the Aberdeen Township Board. Frank Webb served on the board 
from 1886-1914; Andrew H. Bergh, 1897-1919; Harold Melgaard, 1904-1917; A. 
Zimmerman, 1912-1917; Gustav Merton, 1903-1921.]

There was also a section on statistics, acres and yields of each grain, and 
acres of natural and planted trees-ash, willow, box elder, cottonwood, elm and 
maple. One Aberdeen Township citizen owned a

[P33]

watch assessed at $40.00, another a carriage valued at $125.00. Beard Brothers 
owned 600 sheep. Aberdeen Steam Brick Works was running at capacity.

In 1887, Charles J. Eschbach received $39.00 for thirteen days of assessing. 
1888 was a busy year for township officials. Furniture was needed for their 
official meeting place which was designated as Town House. On March 5, 1888, the 
township board paid out the following amounts: one table, $4.50; one half dozen 
chairs, $3.50; 230 pounds of coal, $1.25; pen, ink, pencils, paper, 600; a 
broom, $1.25; and a ballot box, 90 cents. Evidently there was good attendance at 
board meetings for they needed more chairs and on March 20, the same year, they 
bought another half dozen at 550 each, and some window blinds. These same chairs 
are still in use (1964).

A. M. Gates, road overseer for District No. 4, which comprised the northeast 
portion of the township, received $4.75 for the following services to his 
district: buying lumber, $3.00; nails, 500; use of a borrowed saw, 250; and 
putting down bridge plank, $1.00. Bridges seemed to be high on the list of 
necessities, for on July 24, new iron bridge bolts cost $3.50. A three mill tax 
was levied for the general fund.

People apparently were not too careful of disposing of dead animals, for in July 
a bill of $29.00 was allowed for the burial of nine cattle, each critter 
carefully described, four horses, and five dogs. In 1889 a bill for $2.50, 
carefully notarized, was paid for a similar service.

The Barnes Lumber Company sold a quantity of heavy dimension materials for 
bridges, including thirteen oak posts at 150 each. Someone else got $1.50 for 
putting in a plank culvert, and another got $1.50 for taking a load of 6 x 8 
timbers to reinforce the Foote Creek bridge. Everything apparently went 
smoothly, for only nine voters came to the polls in 1890 when Andrew Melgaard 
was elected supervisor. Twelve showed up in 1892 when the supervisors authorized 
the expenditures of $404.00 for roads in the township. This is quite a contrast 
to the $7000 levy in 1956. They also served notice to the city authorities of 
Aberdeen prohibiting their using the highways of Aberdeen Township as a dumping 
ground for the garbage of the city. Other business included an allowance of five 
cents a pound for some spikes. Seventeen came out to the board meeting in 1893, 
but in 1894 the attendance jumped to twenty-eight when it was decided to spend 
$1100 for roads and bridges. The next year thirty-three attended and officials 
voted to allow themselves $3.00 per day for township meetings. Frank Webb was 
elected Township Clerk. In 1896, only twenty-six votes were cast but 1897 
brought out a larger group. Andrew H. Bergh was elected Supervisor. In 1898, 
Chairman Andrew Melgaard appointed a committee of three-Frank Webb, J. C. Kuney, 
and Jacob Britzius to locate and buy a lot for a permanent township hall. 
$400.00 was allowed for it. They found a lot, nearly a quarter of a block in 
size and very well centered in the township. Aberdeen City has grown up around 
it. The white frame building which is like an old-fashioned schoolhouse on 6th 
Avenue West, across the street from the Lincoln School is the Aberdeen Township 
Hall. It has been in continuous use since then for all township and school 
district meetings. In the early years the building was used for Sunday School 
meetings and in later years revival meetings were held there.

In 1899 finances were a bit low. An extra three mill levy was voted upon and the 
Supervisors decided to meet with the County Commissioners to try to get a bridge 
on Foote Creek at Beals' Crossing. History doesn't tell who built the bridge, 
but in 1904, M. F. Zimmerman was appointed to circulate a petition to ask the 
County Commissioners to build a bridge across the Mocassin at Melgaard's. Gustav 
Merten was elected Supervisor. The next year the board allowed $50.00 for the 
purchase of a safe which still occupies one corner of the building. A few years 
later, in 1910, a survey marking all corners of the township was authorized 
along with expenditure of $10.00 for the purchase of a desk for the township 
hall. In 1953, the old coal heater finally gave up the ghost and was replaced 
with an oil heater.

Evidently there were parking troubles in town then too, for in the minutes of a 
1911 meeting, there is a resolution which reads this way: "Resolved that the 
city of Aberdeen provide some place or places for farmers to hitch their horses 
when coming to town. This question has now reached a point where something has 
got to be done in this matter. We must have some place to tie our teams or quit 
coming to your burg. You must not kick if your farmer customers send away for 
their goods if you do not treat them white. No man can sit in his rig and do 
business from his wagon seat."

Other troubles beset the early settlers. The latter 80's and early 90's were 
extremely dry. Each spring started out beautifully green but rain failed to come 
later. Men collected buffalo bones and stones and hauled them to Aberdeen. The 
bones were shipped East and were used in the refining of sugar and the stones 
were used in house foundations. Barrels of clothing were shipped from the East.

[Photo: Mr. and Mrs. James Henry Wylie for whom Wylie Park was named.]

Wylie Park was an early tree claim which became city property very early in the 
1900's. There

[P34]

was a slough directly east of it which was dug out and enlarged somewhat at the 
same time. An artesian well was dug southeast of it and filled it with artesian 
water. This is the present lake at Wylie Park. There was a tiny island in the 
center of it and people could row out to it. Some years later a zoo was added 
and a small dance hall was built. About 1920 a large dance hall was built, 
another artesian well was dug, a bath house was built and a tall slide was 
erected on the north side of the lake. There was also a large grandstand and 
ball park on the south east side of the trees. This structure has long since 
literally gone with the wind. The park also boasted easy transportation from 
Aberdeen. It had a tiny depot to which a street car ran daily during the summer 
months. It was well patronized until the permanent departure of street car 
service from Aberdeen in the fall of 1922.

Immediately north of the park and extending southeast across Lee Park golf links 
and northwest across the prairie to Leola and beyond it past the state line is 
an old railroad grade. In the 1880's it was known as the Aberdeen, Bismarck, and 
Northwestern Railway. By the time the grade was finished the company's funds 
were gone and so the line was never ironed.

Another abandoned, unfinished railroad grade, called the Duluth, Pierre Railway 
runs in a southwesterly direction from Aberdeen toward Pierre. It crosses the 
land northwest of Radio Station KSDN. It, too, was a dream never realized.

Early school records for Aberdeen Township apparently no longer exist. There 
were three terms of three months duration each year. The first school of which 
there is any record is that built two miles west of Wylie Park. It was built 
about the year 1884 and has been in continuous use since then. It boasted the 
first slate blackboards in Brown County. It is now called Brookside and after 
two or three remodelling jobs, it is completely modern (1964). It was used as a 
rural teacher training school for Northern State College from 1920 until 1959.

[Photo: Brookside School as it looked in 1884.]

Some of the early teachers were Miss Hattie Lytle, who had a first grade 
certificate, got $40.00 a month and paid $2.00 per week for room and board, Miss 
Viola Cook, Miss Rose Seelye and Miss Winnie Perry. Textbooks included Swinton's 
History with a multitude of dates, Swinton's Readers, grammar books, geography, 
arithmetic, physiology and spelling books. Another teacher, Miss Elsie Rice, who 
lived several miles distant, stayed at the school one winter. She was a bit 
timid about staying alone, so Susanna Larson, later Mrs. A. H. Bergh, stayed 
with her during the term. During blizzards, pupils and teacher stayed at school, 
nailing the door shut against the wind.

These early schools served their neighborhoods well as community centers. They 
were used for Sunday School, lyceum meetings and even early day funerals. At the 
lyceums there were usually lawyers or other business men out from town who 
debated or discussed the politics of the day, in addition to any talent, musical 
or otherwise, which the community afforded.

Other schools of the township are Riverside, west of the cemetery; Parkway, 
south of the airport, and Plainview, east of the fairgrounds. Riverside and 
Parkway date back nearly as far as Brookside although the present buildings were 
erected in the 1920's. Plainview was built in 1921.

Early school board members included Frank Webb, Patrick Burns, Gustav Merten, 
Jacob Britzius and C. W. Swift. Serving during the first quarter of this century 
were Joseph Yeoman, Gustav Merten, Andrew H. Bergh and Harold Melgaard.

In reviewing the history of Aberdeen Township, for a period of more than three 
quarters of a century, certain names stand out because of long and continuous 
service. One of these is that of Frank W. Webb who was one of the first 
supervisors, serving from 1886 to 1894 and as township clerk from 1895 to 1914. 
He also served on the school board until his death in 1915. His place was taken 
by his son Roy Webb, who served until 1919, when he moved from this vicinity to 
Watauga, South Dakota. Eugene E. Webb, a younger brother of Frank's then served 
on one board or the other until his death in 1938. For a short period in the 
1920's his son Harold served on the school board.

Another name associated with township history is that of Andrew H. Bergh who 
served on the board of supervisors continuously from 1897 until 1919 and on the 
school board from 1911 until the time of his death in 1921. In 1935, his son, 
Gordon, became Township Clerk, a position he has held continuously until the 
present time (1964). Andrew Melgaard served as Supervisor from 1888 to 1909. 
Harold, his son, served as assessor from 1904 until 1917 and also served for a 
time on the school board. Another who served for a long period of time was 
Gustav E. Merten, who was on the board of supervisors from 1903 until his death 
in 1921. He also served for a time on the school board. Others who served on the 
township or school board for long periods of time were: Patrick Burns, Joseph 
Yeoman, Herman Wendt, and George Evans. Two men, George Zick and Herman Hein 
served on the township board for twenty-five years. Three men who served on the 
school board for many years are Clarence Lowe, Raymond Shaw, and William Bengs.

[P35]

ABERDEEN TOWNSHIP OFFICERS -- 1886-1959

CLERKS
George Weed, 1886
N. C. Johnson, 1887
C. H. Pleasants, 1888
Charles Edson, 1889
C. H. Pleasants, 1890-93
George Raedel, 1894
Frank W. Webb, 1895-1914
Roy Webb, 1915-1919
James McHugh, 1920-29
Ray Ernst, 1930-1933
Kristian Andersen, 1934
Gordon Bergh, 1935-1964

ASSESSORS
C. J. Eschbach, 1887-89
Patrick Burns, 1890-1898
W. A. Rayne, 1899
Harold A. Melgaard, 1904-1917
John Makens, 1918-1919
Alice McHugh, 1920-29
Penn Williams, 1930-35
George Evans, 1936-1938
Ward Sharp, 1939
James Callum, 1940
Alvin Werth, 1941-1943
Gerhart W. Busch, 1944
Lawrence Peck, 1945-48
John Rawson, 1949
Lawrence Peck, 1950-51
Marvin Gerharter, 1952
John Rawson, 1953-1956
Lawrence Peck, 1957
Marvin Gerharter, 1958

SUPERVISORS
Frank W. Webb, 1886-94
C. W. Swift, 1886-1892
C. H. Pleasants, 1886
D. C. Thompson, 1886-87
Andrew Melgaard, 1888-1909
C. J. Eschbach, 1892-98
Charles Edson, 1895-97
Andrew H. Bergh, 1897-1919
A. J. Cook, 1899-1901
Gustav E. Merten, 1903-1921
F. M. Wertz, 1910-1920
A. Zimmerman, 1912-17
C. M. Zick, 1913-1925
J. E. Smith, 1916-1919
George Ernst, 1919-1926
George Gambrel, 1920-28
George Zick, 1925-1930; 1937-1948
Ing Palmer, 1928-1935
Frank Rehfield, 1926-32
Joseph H. Putman, 1930-1937
August W. Sauck, 1931-1934
Donald Gambrel, 1935-41
Herman C. Wendt, 1934-1951
George Evans, 1947-1958
Alvin Werth, 1948-1954
Floyd Walberg, 1951-58
Henry Gugel, 1954-1957
Henry Arntz, 1958-1964
George Zick, 1958-1959
Robert Fessenden, 1959-1964

TREASURERS
Edward Small, 1886
George Weed, 1890-1896
Joseph Yeoman, 1897-1908
John Cavanaugh, 1909-1914
Eugene E. Webb, 1915-1927
R. A. Olson, 1928-1929
William Heller, 1930-33
Herman J. Hein, 1933-59
Raymond Shaw; 1959-64

ABERDEEN TOWNSHIP SCHOOL TEACHERS
The following is a partial list of names of the teachers of the four schools.

PLAINVIEW 1921-1959
Florence Harrison,
Marie Schrimpf, 1923-
Alice Schlong, 1927-
Genevieve Keller
Eleanor Seamonds
Carol Andersen, 1941-42
Iva McAtee, 1942-
Joyce Wood
Closed

RIVERSIDE
Winnie Perry
Miss Tallett
Florence Delaney
Adelia Britzius, 1915
Flossie Webb, 1912-1915
Julia Finley, 1927-1947
Dorothy Evelo, 1947-49
Esther Hoeft, 1949-1954
Myra Watson, 1954-1959
Dorothy Demmers, 1954-
Ione Green
Bernice Nelson

BROOKSIDE 1883-1964
May Wheaton
Hattie Lytle
Viola Cook
Rose Seelye
Winnie Perry
Elsie Rice
Miss Parrott
Flossie Webb, 1910-1912
Rose Ruby, 1912-1914
Anna Baldridge, 1916-17
Petra Swindal, 1917-1918
Iva Seaman, 1918-1919
Ethel Enberg, 1919-1920
Martha Pabst, 1920-1923
Virginia Goulet, 1923-29
Helen Bergh, 1929-1964

PARKWAY 1929-1964
Margaret Neville, 1929-1932
Annabel Mowry, 1932-36
Ann Hill, 1936-1937
Edna Jensen, 1937-1938
Evelyn Engen, 1938-1941
Margaretha Ristau, 1941-1944
Gertrude Hohler, 1944-1945
Ruth Franzen, 1945-1946
Ferdina Beck, 1951-1959
Cynthia Munger, 1959-1960
Selma Bastian, 1960-61
Miriam McQuoid, 1962-1963
Cornelia Wallace, 1963-1964

[Photo: Brookside School, Miss Flossie Webb, teacher. Pupils from the A. H. 
Bergh, Jacob Lowe, and Henry Artz families.]

[P36]



EARLY HISTORY OF ABERDEEN, SOUTH DAKOTA -- 1880-1900
by J. H. McKeever

Had it not been for an unexpected turn of events the city of Aberdeen would 
never have been settled. The great boom of Dakota Territory, 1878-1888, turned 
the eyes of the nation toward the vast and fertile land awaiting settlement and 
a flood of homeseekers set in.

Railroad management eager to share in the new development began projecting lines 
into an empire that awaited them. The Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad 
Company, terminating at the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, immediately 
made plans to get its share of the new wealth. A new railroad was planned from 
Minneapolis. It was to be built west across the Minnesota border at Big Stone 
Lake, continue on into Dakota Territory as far as the Andover of today. There 
the road was to turn northwest to Columbia, which was then the county seat of 
Brown County, continuing on toward Bismarck, N. D., hoping to get a share of the 
traffic the Northern Pacific was enjoying in that region.

At any townsite free land was eagerly given for the railroad right of way and 
station. But at Columbia it was different. The townsite was owned by J. D. Lavin 
and J. R. James. Convinced that the railroad plan was definite they insisted 
that the land needed be paid for and perhaps a drawbridge over the James river 
be constructed.

Columbia then was the largest town in the county and had visions of growth in 
navigation. A dam had been built in the river which created a lake and deepened 
the channel into North Dakota. For shipping there were two steamers, the Nettie 
Baldwin and the Fannie Peck. They were large enough to carry passengers and 
freight and plied between Columbia and Ypsilanti, N. D., within 30 miles of 
Jamestown. Ordway was the other town which preceded Aberdeen. It was 
immortalized in the books of Hamlin Garland and had great ambitions. It strove 
fruitlessly to become the territorial capital and was so hopeful of being the 
home of a university that foundation walls were built only to see the school 
later located at Mitchell.

Confronted by the Columbia demand for payment, the railroad changed its survey 
to meet the north and south Milwaukee line where it crossed the Chicago & 
Northwestern road at Grand Crossing, two miles south of Aberdeen. Here again 
townsite arrangements were unsatisfactory and so the survey was changed to run 
straight west from Andover.

This change left the Northwestern Railroad without the hope of a town at its 
junction and in spite it refused to recognize an Aberdeen settlement. It would 
sell tickets and ship freight only to Ordway and passengers for Aberdeen had to 
jump off the cars when the train was forced to stop by law before crossing the 
Milwaukee tracks. But many were carried by and had to find horse transportation 
back. This went on for a couple of years until the Northwestern built a station 
here to get a share of the growing traffic.

When Grand Crossing had promised to be the townsite Rice Bros. and a dozen 
settlers from Watertown hastened to it as fast as ox teams would go. A store was 
erected, and others were on the way when the bubble burst. Rice moved his store 
to the new town and at the corner of Main Street and First Avenue it was long 
occupied by J. H. Firey as a drug store.

Aberdeen was named for Aberdeen, Scotland, the birthplace of Alexander Mitchell, 
the president of the Milwaukee road. Assured by the new survey in 1880 eager 
settlers hurried to come from the railhead, among them S. H. Jumper in his wagon 
bed who is reputed to have been the first to have slept on the townsite. Other 
first arrivals included James Ringrose and William Elliot. One early wagon train 
comprised 50 horses and 75 men.

[Photo: Early Aberdeen Depots]

The first train to reach Aberdeen came in on July 6, 1881. It was then that the 
positive influx of newcomers began. Homeseekers came from the eastern states, 
particularly New England and New York. They were men and women of culture and 
education. In the new town there never was any atmosphere of pistol toting wild 
west rowdyism. These people came to establish new homes and new businesses for 
themselves and their families. As

[P37]

the town grew it became the home for emigrants from Germany, England, 
Scandinavian countries and Russian Odessa, all of the highest type. Gen. Nelson 
A. Miles visited the settlement in 1880 and being shown around by S. H. Jumper 
asked, "Where are the old men?" And the answer was that there were none.

The first thing was to plat the town. C. H. Prior, the railroad townsite agent, 
laid out sixteen blocks as bounded today by the railroad on the north and Fourth 
Avenue on the south, First Street on the west and Washington on the east. This 
plat was filed on Jan. 3, 1881, and S. H. Jumper as agent for the railroad began 
selling lots, despite the fact that much of the area was under water. The first 
lot was bought by R. S. Ellis, the present Moose lodge building across from the 
courthouse, on which he built the first hotel, a sod house.

[Photo: R. A. Mills had the first drug store in 1881, a 10 x 12 building known 
as the "pill box". The above building was erected later.]

All was hustle and bustle. With the arrival of lumber over the new railroad 
small homes were being built, for these eager settlers looked to the future and 
built for permanence. Beard Gage & Beard were in a new store. R. A. Mills is 
reputed to have erected the first frame building  for his drug store. Jumper & 
Bliss built their store first and others followed. E. O. Mead general store, W. 
J. Brewster harness dealer, Fischbein Bros., J. Hauge, Frank M. Harper, Garland 
& Randall, Cornish & Stuart were others. A. C. Witte hardware store continues to 
the present day, the oldest retail business institution in the city. O. Daly and 
a John Brock had restaurants. S. R. Cross, Bliss & Jumper established lumber 
yards.

It is reputed that the first customer at the first store asked for a washboard 
but there was none. Others in business were: Rice Bros. & Bowden, Huntington & 
Shuler, R. O. Mills, A. Hazard, C. L. Deming, E. G. Alley, H. Y. Hauser, O. A. 
Fowler, Bowman & Foley. Cornish & Stuart had the first plastered building. 
Others were D. G. Gallett and S. M. Salisbury.

The first physician was Dr. Louis F. Diefendorf, who was associated with Dr. 
Coyne. Others of the Territorial period were Dr. D. C. Fowler, Drs. Elliot & 
Webster, Dr. William Leine, Dr. C. G. McCammon, Dr. H. E. McNutt, Dr. E. B. 
Jackson, Dr. Duncan, Dr. Pine and Dr. J. W. Summers.

In 1890 the town had 230 occupied business buildings 11 of them being three 
stories high, 30 retail stores, several wholesale houses, 20 hotels and 
restaurants, 7 livery stables, 3 lumber yards, 3 brick yards, 11 farm implement 
houses, 30 lawyers and in the county 7 newspapers.

Spirits were high in the little town as it grew that first period. There must be 
a celebration for Christmas. There always had been in the homes they had left in 
the east. But in this wide sweep of prairie there wasn't a tree of any kind. 
Finally the railroad agent, W. E. Perry, shipped in a diminutive tree. A five-
foot tree was not sufficient to mark the occasion so it was set up in the Beard, 
Gage & Beard store with lengths of lath tied to its branches gay with colored 
festoons to make the joyous symbol of the day.

Before the railroad came in 1881 Aberdeen was a little nucleus of sod shanties, 
tents and frame buildings. A territorial census listed only 353 as the 
population of the whole county. Five months after the railroad came Aberdeen had 
a population of 250. By July of 1882 it had grown to 1000 population. By 1886 
the count had grown to 2500 and in 1890 the census listed 3,182. By 1900 the 
town had grown to 4,087 and by 1903 it had attained to 7,177.

Eager for permanence the citizens of the little settlement on the bare prairie 
wanted to become an organized town. They petitioned the county commissioners on 
April 4, 1882, for permission to hold an election and this was granted.

This first election was held June 5, 1882, and the following trustees were 
chosen: E. Kolterman, First Ward; E. H. Alley, Second Ward; S. H. Jumper, Third 
Ward; John Garland, Fourth Ward; and John T. McChesney, Fifth Ward. Other 
officers were: O. S. Cook, assessor; Isaac Hull, marshall; R. A. Mills, justice 
of the peace. At the first meeting of the trustees E. H. Alley was chosen 
president.

Existence under this first form of government proved unsatisfactory and at the 
1883 session of the Territorial legislature a special charter for Aberdeen was 
enacted.

The first election under the new charter was held on April 5, 1884. The 
following officers were elected: John Garland, mayor; M. J. Gordon, clerk; M. F. 
Fischbein, treasurer and the following aldermen: M. McKellop, First Ward; R. A. 
Ellis, Second Ward; E. H. Alley, Third Ward; E. T. Pierce, Fourth Ward; W. F. 
Lange, Fifth Ward. Other officers: 

[P38]

John Gracy, marshal; J. Walter Hallet, justice of the peace. Mayor Garland 
resigned after a few months in office and Phil Skilman was chosen to succeed him 
and he was re-elected the following year.

Those who have been mayor of the city through the years are: E. H. Alley, 1882-
83; W. F. Lange, acting mayor; John Garland, 1883; Phil Skilman, 1883-87; John 
T. McChesney, 1885-86; R. A. Mills, 1887-88; A. W. Pratt, 1888-89; B. F. 
Stearns, 1889-90; Robert Moody, 1890-92; A. C. Witte, 1892-94; S. H. Jumper, 
1894-96; Dighton McGlachlin, 1896-98; C. J. Hute, 1898-1900; J. E. Adams, 1900-
02; A. S. Reed, 1902-04; A. N. Aldrich, 1904-10.

At first the salary of the mayor was $10 per year and the aldermen were paid 
$5.00. The first city ordinance was to control livestock and limit traffic on 
Main street to 8 miles per hour.

Water is the life blood of any community. When the railroad came the townsite 
was located on a flat area instead of on higher ground west but it was alongside 
a slough filled with water.

To supplement the water supply the locomotives were shunted east to the James 
River, twelve miles, where a pumping station was maintained. Water in the river 
ran low and it was decided to sink an artesian well.

This railroad well was the first to tap the vast Dakota artesian basin 
underlying the townsite. It was drilled in 1882 just north of the present 
courthouse, where were located the station and coal sheds then east of Main 
Street. At a depth of 920 feet water was struck and rose with a gush of 2,000 
gallons per minute and at a pressure of 180 pounds per square inch. The water 
was yellow and mixed with slime but it was water and a pinch of alum made it 
clear and palatable. The volume was so great that it was shared with the 
townspeople and Aberdeen had its first free flowing water supply.

Ambitious to have their own well the citizens with Phil Skilman as mayor, voted 
221 for and 26 against a bond issue for $20,000 to be spent for a well and to 
lay water mains. On Jan. 21, 1884, a contract was made with Gray Bros. of 
Milwaukee to sink a well to a depth of 1000 feet at a cost of $4,000.

Work began the following month of February at a point east of the courthouse. 
What was acclaimed the greatest well in the world came in and Aberdeen became 
nationally famous. Visitors flocked in to see the world marvel and it almost 
inundated the town. Water began to flow on May 23 at 908 feet gently at first 
and then with an enormous surge. Out of the well erupted the drill rods end over 
end. Then the steel drill stem and the massive bit as the stream of water 
scattered the equipment in confusion over the well site. The six-inch stream of 
water rose 60 feet into the air discharging 2500 gallons per minute at a 
pressure of 155 pounds.

The town was aghast. There was no way to stop the flood which soon deluged the 
streets, filled basements and made Main Street a river on which rowboats plied. 
Main Street had always been low. The wooden sidewalks were three feet above the 
roadway. An immediate project was to fill the street to its present grade. A 
ditch was dug to divert the flood to the Moccasin Creek and as many as 60 wagons 
worked to carry away the sand that was part of this first eruption.

Finally a gate valve was fitted on the well to control the flow and Aberdeen had 
its first water supply. Indeed it had more than water for the force of this 
great well provided the power to operate the sewer pumps when the first sewer 
system was laid in 1888 at a cost of $38,074.

[P39]

[Photo: ABERDEEN, BROWN COUNTY, DAKOTA IN JUNE, 1883]

When the first town council met in 1883 on April 8 a petition was filed 
requesting the opening of Main Street across the railroad tracks. Mr. Prior had 
platted the town south of the tracks with no idea that it would ever go north 
but there were some homes over there. When the petition came up for action May 9 
the railroad and some southside business men objected but a majority of the 
citizens wanted the crossing opened. The controversy raged bitterly. Fire hose 
with a stream from the new well fended off the railroad workers and locomotive 
crews. The coal shed was moved out of the way but the railroad and its friends 
moved it back when most of the town was at a Fourth of July ball game. A court 
order was ignored by the railroad and at one time irate citizens anchored a 
locomotive with log chains and stopped all traffic. Later in the year an 
amicable settlement was arrived at and the crossing was opened.

Aberdeen became the county seat only after a prolonged contest of bitter rivalry 
with Columbia. When the county was organized July 30, 1880, Columbia was 
designated as county seat by the county commissioners. They were John R. James, 
Clarence D. Johnson, and D. C. McKenzie, having been appointed by Nehemiah 
Ordway, the Territorial governor. At the first election in the county the 
question of county seat was to be settled. The judges were N. M. Cole, Archie 
Baldwin and Lew Bowman, the latter Aberdeen's first lawyer. Columbia decided 
that there would be one polling place, the Howland Hotel in Columbia. There were 
two tickets, Brown County Peoples ticket and the Independent. The tickets bore 
the printed names of Columbia and Ordway with space for writing in. The count 
gave Columbia 82 votes, Ordway 11 and Aberdeen 13.

Following this first vote a special election was held in May, 1883, proposing 
that the county be divided with Columbia county seat for half and Aberdeen for 
the other half. This was defeated.

Aberdeen boosters then succeeded in having the legislature enact a law providing 
that a county seat might be moved upon a majority vote. An election was held in 
July, 1886, and Aberdeen won, 2744 votes, to Columbia's 666. The records were 
immediately moved and housed in a new courthouse which had been erected on what 
is now Aldrich park.

Columbia filed a contest of the election as to its validity and won a decision 
in the litigation that followed. Aberdeen had to vacate its possession and after 
two years the records were sent back to Columbia. In the meantime in 1885 
Columbia had voted $7,000 for the erection of a courthouse.

Aberdeen sought a new approach and on Nov. 13, 1889, succeeded in having the 
state legislature pass a law permitting the removal of the county seat if it had 
been established by less than a majority of the voters. The issue of removal, 
was again submitted at an election in 1890 and by a large majority Aberdeen 
became the county seat as it is today. The first session was held on Nov. 24, 
1890.

Education loomed large among the early residents. They were men and women from 
homes in New England, New York and half a dozen eastern states. They were well-
educated, college and university graduates, seasoned business and professional 
men, all eager to move the culture of their old homes to the town they were 
building on the raw Dakota prairie. In August of 1881, only months after the 
first settlement, Mrs. C. H. Pleasants became the first teacher when she 
gathered together 25 children in a sod shanty and held the first classes.

[P40]

[P41]

[Photo: Brown Co. Old Settler's Association, 1913]

[Photo: Lincoln Ranch]

[P42]

[Photo: Early Aberdeen Churches and Schools]

The sod house was on the site of the Central High School. In 1883 the first 
permanent school building was erected on that site, the lots having been given 
by F. H. Hagerty and William Lloyd. It was a two story brick costing $8,500 with 
$1,500 added for furniture. H. A. Way established a business school in the very 
early days prior to 1900. The Northern Normal and Industrial School, which today 
is known as Northern State College, was located here about the turn of the 
century with an enrollment of 200 students. The Catholic Sisters maintained a 
convent school for girls, and in more modern days the Presentation Sisters built 
their Junior College for girls.

Churches came through an odd bit of circumstance. In a card room in the summer 
of 1881 idle talk of this group of men brought out the fact there was no church. 
They were of the opinion that if their town was ever to amount to anything it 
must have a church. Action was needed and E. H. Alley got up from his table and 
passed the hat. In cash he got $150 and more in pledges. The next day he went up 
and down the street, in and out of business houses and saloons. No denomination 
was in mind. They just wanted a church.

[Photo: Northern Normal and Industrial School]

[P43]

[Photos: Aberdeen Churches]

[P44]

The Presbyterians built the first church in 1882, though they had been holding 
services, the first on May 1, 1881, when Rev. H. B. Johnson, a Home Missionary, 
came from Watertown and preached in the Sod Hotel. The fund the boys had raised 
became the nucleus for the new church built on lots at Kline Street and Fourth 
Avenue given by F. H. Hagerty and Wm. Lloyd. This was in 1884, a larger one was 
built in 1896 and the present church in 1927. The church was organized Jan. 1, 
1882, the charter members being Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Hagerty, C. A. Bliss, Neil 
McLean, W. F. Avery, Mrs. John Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Dexter Wadsworth, Rev. and 
Mrs. D. T. Rowlands and Kitty Rowland. When Rev. Johnson returned to mission 
work Rev. G. A. Brandt became the first pastor in 1883.

On July 3, 1881, a little group of people held the first Methodist service in 
Brock's tent hotel. Tradition has it that planks were dragged in and placed on 
empty beer barrels to provide seating. Rev. A. O. Phillips, a missionary who had 
filed on a claim near Ordway, conducted the first service and later became the 
first pastor. His charge extended from the Sisseton Indian Reservation to the 
Missouri River. Plans were laid for a new church. The women organized the Ready 
Workers: Mrs. D. D. Jones, president; Mrs. R. L. Brown, vice president; Mrs. C. 
F. LaScelle, treasurer; and Mrs. C. G. Burnette, secretary. The chapel was built 
at Third Avenue and Jay Street in 1884 and the church formally incorporated by 
J. H. Hauser, John Proud, Alexander Hazzard, William Cassels and R. L. Brown. 
This first little chapel became too small and on Sept. 24, 1886, the first 
church was dedicated. The present church was erected in 1909 at Lincoln Street 
and Fifth Avenue.

A small group of people loyal to the traditions of the Episcopal Church gathered 
for services in the Rudolphus Burgitt home as early as 1883. This group welcomed 
a visit by The Rt. Rev. Bishop William Hobart Hare in 1884. Bishop Hare had been 
doing valiant work since 1873 among the Indians of Dakota Territory as well as 
in the white field. He promised to send a missionary minister to Aberdeen.

The Rev. G. W. Flowers arrived in May, 1885. Services were held in Berry's Hall 
which had been secured at a rent of $1.00 per Sunday by a committee consisting 
of Dr. DeWitt, C. Fowler and Mr. J. Q. A. Braden. A more suitable place was 
found later in a store building next to the U. S. Land office on Nicollet Avenue 
now known as 6th Avenue.

Plans for a church edifice to house the growing congregation, now known as St. 
Mark's, were becoming very zealous. Lots on the south side of 6th Avenue between 
Main and Lincoln were purchased. The Rev. J. M. McBride was the Rector from the 
autumn of 1886 to the spring of 1889. The corner stone for the new church was 
laid on May 19, 1887, with the most impressive ceremonies which had ever taken 
place in Aberdeen. These were under the auspices of the Grand Lodge A. F. & A. 
M. of Dakota Territory. A hundred Masons from all over the Territory attended 
dressed in full regalia. The stone was laid in accordance with ancient Masonic 
custom and was consecrated by Bishop Hare.

The first service was held on Christmas Day in 1887. In 1897 St. Mark's had a 
vested choir.

A rectory was built in 1902 just east of the church. In 1904 the church was 
visited by a fire bug and considerable damage was done to the interior. In 
making repairs it was decided to extend the chancel and to build a Guild Hall.

St. Mark's occupied this property until 1960 when they moved into a new brick 
church of contemporary architecture located on North Kline Street and the end of 
14th Avenue.

Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, the second church in the settlement, was 
established by Father Robert W. Haire, when the first mass was offered Dec. 2, 
1882, in a little church built on lots given by F. H. Hagerty, a non-Catholic. 
Aberdeen parish then extended from Springfield, Minn. to Jamestown, N. Dak. on 
the north, to the Missouri river on the west and to Huron on the south. In 1884 
the congregation was augmented by the arrival of a colony of Russian-Germans 
from Odessa and for a time service in English and German was conducted. In the 
winter of 1881 Father Haire lived at the Sherman Hotel and of a Sunday morning 
there would be 150 or more guests, claim holders, at breakfast. After the meal 
one day Margaret Ringrose (Mrs. Isaac Lincoln) arranged an altar and what was 
the first mass was offered. In 1887 Mrs. H. C. Jewett organized the Sacred Heart 
Altar Society.

With the coming of the Presentation Sisters a convent was built in 1888, with 
donations from Protestants as well as Catholics. The Knights of Labor gave the 
work and the architect the plans. In 1896 a brick church was built at Third 
Avenue and Arch Street to be succeeded by the present structure in 1935. Father 
Dermody was pastor. The school building was erected in 1913. In 1889 Father 
Haire was relieved of his pastorate but in 1901 was restored and became chaplain 
of St. Luke's Hospital. Rev. B. J. Kelly was the second pastor. Father Dunning 
succeeded him, others followed. Revs. Murphy, Browne, Paquen, Early, Railand, 
O'Hora until Rev. Michael Dermody came in 1904.

St. Mary's church was started to serve German residents on the northside in 1904 
and the school in 1911. The first priest was the Rev. Father Dahlman.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church grew from the first service for the pioneer Norwegian 
Lutheran people on Oct. 8, 1881, held in the sod house on the farm of O. C. 
Anderson. Pastor Ofstedal presided and the congregation was formally organized 
in 1884, Pastor Ofstedal serving for three years. In 1887 Pastor N. O. Gierre 
became the first resident minister. Services were held in homes or public 
buildings until the first church was erected in 1893 on the present site. Early 
in 1924 the church burned but by fall under the pastorate of Rev. A. Elmer Moe a 
new brick church was started. The present parish building was added in 1952, 
Rev. E. W. Nervig, pastor. In 1916 English was substituted for Norwegian in the 
Sunday service. In 1904 the custom of the annual ludefisk supper was instituted 
by the Ladies Aid.

Zion Lutheran Church was organized in 1882 and

[P45]

in 1885 acquired the early Presbyterian Church and in 1908 bought the former 
Methodist Church. During the pastorate of Rev. Harold O. Bomhoff plans were 
inaugurated for the imposing structure on South Main Street which was dedicated 
in 1953. Army service characterized pastors of the church Rev. William Kraushaar 
was a chaplain in World War I. Rev. Bomhoff served five years in World War II as 
chaplain, one of which was in active service. Rev. W. Spiegel resigned to enter 
Lutheran World Relief in Europe in the same war.

First Evangelical United Brethren Church had its first service April 18, 1882, 
Rev. F. C. Jenney, the first pastor, presiding. Homes of Chas. Zimmerman and 
William Sidow were meeting places until the first church was erected at a cost 
of $4000, in 1887. Among the early families were: Wolter, Glau, Bengs, Luke, 
Hasse, Fritsche, Wm. O'Neil, Merten, Evers, Korte, Rahskopf, Loebs, Werth, Zech, 
Zick, Diestler, Kuechle, Arendsee. In 1925 in the pastorate of Rev. John E. 
Booth plans were made for a new church and the present one was dedicated June 
12, 1927.

St. Paul's Evangelical Church was organized at the home of Herman Janecke, Rev. 
George Fischer presiding. Five members signed the constitution: Janecke, Anton 
Wagner, Carl Waack, Andrew Kindschi and Harry Schroeder. For 16 years services 
were held in the Janecke and Paul Froehlich homes and various churches. While 
being served by Pastor F. J. Graeber the first church was dedicated Oct. 18, 
1903, on Seventh Ave. S. W. Rev. Graeber was pastor for 47 years, the first of 
the only three resident pastors in the history of the church. The others were 
Rev. E. E. Streufert and Rev. W. J. Link. In 1910 a larger church was built to 
provide for a Saturday day school, the session later changed to Sunday, and the 
German language church service converted to English. In 1963 the present youth 
center was added.

Father Robert W. Haire came to the new settlement of Columbia in June, 1880, and 
his imprint on the community was vital and lasting. He achieved the founding of 
Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the second church in Aberdeen. When St. Luke's 
Hospital was established he served for years as chaplain and in 1886 was made 
the parish priest. As a young man he forsook the study of law to become a 
Catholic missionary. He served six years in Detroit and Flint, Mich., then 
studied in Louvain University in France and St. Mary's of the West in Cincinnati 
but his missionary spirit led him to Dakota. He filed on a homestead near 
Columbia and there with his own hands he erected a sod shanty to serve as a 
church. He was a man of deep compassion for all. He waged an unending fight for 
the equality of men. It was he who wrote the law of the initiative and 
referendum and led the movement which made it a part of the state constitution, 
the first such law and a model which other states have adopted. In his honor a 
bronze statue has been placed on the campus of Northern State College.

Before the mails came, Aberdeen depended upon Yorkville as its postoffice. This 
was a station on the James River below Tacoma Park where William York had 
established a store and ferry across the river in June of 1878. This station was 
on the stage route between Yankton and Jamestown, N. D. To get the mail to 
Aberdeen Ira O. Curtiss, later a prominent attorney, was hired to ride his horse 
out to Yorkville with his mailsack and bring in the mail for which he was paid 
$3.00 for each trip.

[Photo: Aberdeen's Main Street in 1883]

[P46]

[Photos: Aberdeen National Bank, First State Savings Bank, First National Bank, 
Brown Bros. Bank]

[P47]

Just a month after the train came in a postoffice was established on Aug. 1, 
1881. It was housed in the Jumper & Bliss Store and John H. Drake became the 
first postmaster. Other postmasters following him were: Mary E. Hannaman, 1883; 
Chas. A. Fischer, 1884; John H. Firey, 1887; Romula H. Mills, 1890; Andson W. 
Pratt, 1894; S. H. Jumper, 1898.

Through the efforts of Senator J. H. Kyle the government erected the town's most 
imposing Post Office structure in 1904.

Banking institutions quickly followed the advent of the railroad July 6, 1881. 
In the next month on Aug. 25, 1881, the first bank was opened for business in a 
part of the Jumper & Bliss Store. It was called the Bank of Aberdeen with C. A. 
Bliss as president; J. K. Siddle, vice president; and J. C. Simmons, cashier. 
Mr. Siddle was a resident of Minneapolis where he was president of the First 
National Bank.

The Brown County Bank followed closely, organized in December, 1883. Wm. F. 
Graves was president; M. E. Vinton, vice president; and John T. McChesney, 
cashier. Graves and Vinton lived in St. Paul so that the management devolved on 
McChesney. On March 27, 1885, the institution became a national bank and changed 
its name to Aberdeen National Bank. McChesney was president; William F. Graves, 
vice president; J. Q. A. Braden, secretary; Robert Moody, cashier. Others 
associated were John Perry, Frank Beard, William Tennant and Ellery Mead. Robert 
Moody became the second president serving from 1890 to 1901. The Aberdeen 
National building in 1885 was counted as the most expensive in town. It was the 
only brick building.

The Farmers & Merchants Bank was the forerunner of the First National Bank. It 
was started Jan. 2, 1883, with the following officers: S. H. Jumper, president; 
F. S. Gibson, vice president; G. L. Caldwell, cashier. The directors were: J. W. 
Pence and M. P. Stroupe. The name was changed to the First National Bank on June 
8, 1883, becoming the first federally authorized bank in the town. Mr. Jumper 
served as president until 1894 to be succeeded by C. F. Easton to 1899. At that 
time F. B. Gannon and J. H. Suttle of Ellendale, N. D., bought control and Mr. 
Gannon became president continuing until the bank was sold to the Northwest 
Bancorporation.

The Hagerty & Pierce Bank opened June 6, 1882, Pierce soon retiring, F. H. 
Hagerty was joined by Mr. Marple in September, 1883.

The Northwestern National Bank was organized in 1888 with Henry Marple as 
president and the following directors: J. W. Holt, J. H. Firey, T. C. Gage, and 
William Briggs. After four years it went out of business in 1892.

Other early banks were Brown Brothers which was liquidated several years later 
and First State Savings, Dakota National, and Citizens Trust and Savings which 
consolidated with the First National Bank.

The Home Building & Loan Association was originally the Aberdeen Building & Loan 
organized in 1886. Its first loan was for $600 to C. M. Moe for a new house. The 
charter expired in 1904 and a new charter was issued to the Home Building & Loan 
Association. The new officers were S. H. Jumper, president; T. C. Gage, 
secretary and C. F. Easton, manager. Others associated included A. C. Witte, A. 
E. Boyd, C. A. Howard, C. N. Harris, B.

[P48]

C. Lamont, W. G. Bickelhaupt, F. B. Gannon, C. J. McLeod, W. G. Wells, J. C. 
Bassett.

As a wholesale distributing center Aberdeen gained prominence when the Jewett 
Brothers, four in number, started the first wholesale business which lead to the 
city becoming a large distributing center.

Mr. C. A. Jewett and Mr. Harvey C. Jewett, who were among the very early 
arrivals in Aberdeen, started in 1883 a retail grocery business known as the Red 
Front. Within a very short time they saw the opportunity for a wholesale grocery 
for this territory and laid their plans for just such a business. They had a 
large frame building erected at the northwest corner of Main Street and Third 
Avenue which housed both the retail and wholesale business. This venture 
expanded rapidly. They disposed of the retail business in 1886 and built a large 
three story brick building for wholesale purposes only. This building was at the 
Southwest corner of Main Street and Fourth Avenue and is still (1965) standing. 
The third floor was finished off so that it could be used as a general meeting 
room for such organizations as the Masons, Odd Fellows, and A.O.U.W. lodges.

Mr. R. N. Jewett had joined in business with his brothers. In 1889 a branch was 
opened in Sioux Falls with D. C. Jewett in charge and later C. A. Jewett moved 
there.

By 1903 the Main Street location was outgrown and a very large brick building 
was constructed at Railroad Avenue and Kline Street. By this time Jewett 
Brothers had started a wholesale drug business which was long under the 
management of Carl A. Newton. In 1941 the Jewett Brothers wholesale grocery was 
sold to the Nash-Finch Company but the wholesale drug business was retained and 
is now under the management of a grandson of Harvey C. Jewett.

[Photo: Excelsior Block, home of Jackson Hardware and Olwin's Dry Goods Co.]

The Jackson Hardware Company was established in Aberdeen in 1888. John H. 
Jackson had come to Ordway in 1881 and opened a hardware store. When Ordway lost 
out to Bismarck as the territorial capital he moved to Columbia in 1883 but when 
the county seat was moved to Aberdeen he moved again. In 1888 he opened a 
wholesale and retail hardware business in the Excelsior Block on the West side 
of Main Street. In 1903 he discontinued his retail business and built a three 
story building next to his former location but by 1906 this location was 
outgrown and a big warehouse was erected on Railroad Avenue.

With one wholesale grocery house another soon followed. W. G. Wells started the 
Aberdeen Wholesale Grocery.

In 1889 Aberdeen was made a railroad terminal which had the effect of reducing 
freight rates to the advantage of the wholesale houses. This established the 
city as a distributing point.

[Photo: Aberdeen Roller Mill]

[Photo: Eagle Roller Mill]

Manufacturing became a factor in the development of the town when the Aberdeen 
Roller Mill was started Nov. 2, 1883, by C. F. Hatch, L. C. Mitchell and William 
Tennant. The ownership later reverted to Tennant and Charles A. Lum. The mill 
had a capacity of 200 barrels daily. The brand name of flour was "Snow White."

Another mill here was the Eagle Roller, their flour brand being "Daniel 
Webster".

K. O. Lee sold farm implements and steam engines. His skill in the repair of the 
latter developed a machine shop which grew into the K. O. Lee Manufacturing 
Company, now operated by his son Clifford Lee.

[P49]

A. T. Green had a metal working shop which is now the Hub City Iron Company, now 
continued under the management of his son, Paul Green.

Both of these industries have world wide markets.

An early venture to capitalize on the major resource, agriculture, was the 
Desipota factory, a pioneer project for making dessicated potato flakes. J. C. 
Neumann came to town in April, 1899, proposing a plant to employ 40 men and 60 
women. Citizens raised $16,000 for a building and 59 farmers agreed to furnish 
at least 11,000 bushels of potatoes each year. On July 8 the building was 
dedicated with a public dance and the first product was on the market in 
November. Perhaps it was too long before the taste of dehydrated potatoes had 
developed because production was discontinued after a couple of years.

Here in the heart of the wheat country it seemed logical to make something of 
the crop. W. F. T. Bushnell headed an enterprise for the manufacture of Wheat 
Hearts for a time. It was the forerunner of Cream of Wheat.

Buggy whips were made by the Wells-Bantz Company.

Famous chocolates were turned out by Ward-Owsley Candy Company.

An early venture was Lamb's brick yard. A house made from these bricks is still 
standing on First Ave. S. E.

The telephone came early to this frontier settlement. Mr. J. L. W. Zietlow, who 
had a natural bent for electrical studies and operations visioned all the little 
communities of the vast middle of Dakota Territory served by an independent 
telephone company. He organized one at Aberdeen setting up an exchange there as 
well as in 1886 building toll lines to Columbia, Bath and Groton which in 1887 
he had to maintain alone against the hazards of wind and severe winter weather.

Mr. Zietlow perfected a push-button release for harnessing the fire horses. The 
horses were trained to step into place under the overhanging harnesses which 
dropped into place.

[Photo: Dakota Central Telephone pole wagon. J. L. W. Zietlow at right.]

[Photo: Fire house with first telephone exchange on the second floor.]

Wall type crank handle boxes appeared on the walls of business places and of a 
few homes but at first people were not persuaded of the convenience of a 
telephone. There followed ten years of hardships and struggles and disputes with 
the big Bell Telephone Company which decided in the end that the territory was 
not worth fighting for. Mr. Zietlow built toll lines to other towns in the James 
River Valley and beyond. In 1896 the line to Redfield was constructed and proved 
of great value when the flood followed the big snow in the spring of 1897.

All of this grew to become the nucleus of the Dakota Central Telephone Company. 
Mr. W. G. Bickelhaupt became associated with the company in 1898.

At one time it was said that Aberdeen "led the world" in phones per person and 
the city was one of the very first to have the dial system.

The exchange was housed in various places in Aberdeen. The present building was 
completed in 1918 and in 1934 the Dakota Central was purchased by the 
Northwestern Bell Telephone Company.

[Photo: Olwin-Angell Store, 1903]

The founder of the Olwin-Hall Dry Goods Company was Mr. A. H. Olwin who traveled 
here in 1883. At first he was associated with the Jewett Brothers in the Red 
Front Grocery and purchased the Jewett interests in 1887. He went into the dry 
goods business in 1892 and the next year became the sole owner of the Olwin Dry 
Goods Company which did business in the Excelsior Block on the west side of Main 
Street. In 1897 Mr. Robert Angell joined Mr. Olwin and in 1903 they incorporated 
the firm as the

[P50]

Olwin-Angell Company at which time a two story building was erected in its 
present location and later a third floor was added. Mr. Frederick Ackley came to 
the store in 1902 and became the manager in 1919. The store is now under the 
management of Mr. Ackley's son, Olwin.

The Coe and Howard Abstract Company was organized in 1888 by C. M. Coe and 
Charles A. Howard. Officers in 1889 were S. H. Jumper, president; J. Q. A. 
Braden, vice president; C. M. Coe, secretary; Charles A. Howard, assistant 
secretary; and B. C. Lamont, treasurer. Mr. Coe left the partnership and S. C. 
Hedger joined with Mr. Howard in the title and real-estate business. Mr. Howard 
was a major in the 2nd South Dakota Battalion in the Spanish American War in the 
Philippines and was prominent in the Masonic Lodge in Aberdeen and the State.

The Park Place Hotel, later known as the Minard, was started in August, 1881, 
east of the court house by James A. Proud, who had come planning to start a mill 
and changed his mind. It became famous for the annual luncheon which Mrs. Proud 
gave for the women of the town. Mr. Proud was the first to have planted trees in 
the. barren landscape for he brought a dozen trees from the James River banks 
and planted them in front of the hotel to signify Park Place. Today the city is 
thickly wooded, every tree having been planted by hand.

The Alonzo Ward Hotel grew from the lunch counter that Mr. Ward started when he 
came from the east. Its first brick building at Main Street and First Avenue was 
destroyed by fire in November, 1926, to be replaced by the present six story 
fireproof structure.

[Photos: Aberdeen Hotels]

[P51]

The Radison Hotel was erected on Main Street by Ben Ward, a brother of Alonzo, 
after having found the new town to his liking. The big horseshoe counter in its 
restaurant became famous as the center for social and business greetings of 
business men. The excellence of its cuisine was due to the supervision of Mrs. 
Ward.

The Wisconsin house was reputed to have occupied the oldest building in 1882. 
Its owner for years was A. N. Aldrich, who later became mayor of the city.

The Empire Hotel, a three story structure on Main Street, was erected in 1899 by 
Louis Hanicker, having started a business venture at this same location in 1885.

The Commercial Hotel was erected in a later period by A. L. Larson.

A hotel called the Kennard House was a four story brick building with a tower at 
the S. W. corner of First Avenue East and Lincoln Street. L S. Haseltine was the 
proprietor. It was steam heated. It became the Aberdeen Hotel and in 1904 was 
the Commercial Club and so used for many years. It finally became the home of 
the Moose Lodge.

The city directory of 1889 lists twenty hotels and it is said that 70,000 people 
registered that year in the city's hostelries.

The Federal Land Office was moved from Watertown in 1882 so as to be nearer the 
landseekers who must file their homestead claims promptly. The Aberdeen district 
included the counties of Brown, Edmunds, McPherson, Campbell, Walworth and 
portions of Dickey, McIntosh and Emmons in North Dakota.

The earliest hotels were sod shanties giving shelter but that was about all. C. 
H. Ellis built on the corner across from the present courthouse where later a 
three-story hotel was erected. O. H. Fowler had the Alpha House west of the 
townsite. The Howland was the home of the town's bachelors. The Artesian was 
operated by C. Boyd Barrett until he had a venture in editing a newspaper. In 
1890 he became registrar of the land office.

The Sherman Hotel, a huge frame structure for its day, gave the town a gala 
occasion at the opening banquet and grand ball on Nov. 4, 1881. James Ringrose, 
the owner, was a legendary figure in the community and the hospitality of the 
house became known throughout the Territory. This was fostered by the four 
sisters of the host for they were active in the management. A boarder in another 
hotel changed to the Sherman because there he could use silver knives and forks 
instead of steel.

There was soon constructed on the west and south sides of the Sherman Hotel a 
large balcony with supporting posts on the sidewalk. From this balcony the Rev. 
James H. Kyle gave his famous address on July 4, 1890, which resulted in his 
election to the South Dakota Senate.

A brick addition was added to the hotel in 1887 and burned in 1906 and after 
another fire in 1926 the present structure was built. The hotel is now the 
property of Mr. Ringrose's son, Maurice, and his daughter, Mrs. Margaret Hart.

Eager to have the fees for publishing final proof notices of homestead land 
filings two newspapers were started. Both were dated Aug. 4, 1881. The Aberdeen 
Pioneer, D. C. Wadsworth, publisher, came out on that day, and the Dakota 
Pioneer, J. H. Drake, publisher, was out the next day. The rivalry between these 
two publishers was so bitter that it led to personal encounters enlivening the 
street scene upon occasion. Wadsworth changed the name of his paper to Aberdeen 
Republican to avoid the similarity in name of his rival. Later it was acquired 
by C. Boyd Barrett, a Confederate veteran of Lee's army, whose soldierly bearing 
and fastidious dress gave him eminence among his fellow citizens. He operated 
the paper until December, 1898, when he sold to George B. Daly, who changed the 
name to Aberdeen Democrat and it was finally absorbed by the Aberdeen News. W. 
E. Kidd, known as "Billy the Kid," for a short while operated the Aberdeen Star 
in which he carried on his very radical ideas of reform.

L. Frank Baum, who later became famous as the author of the Wizard of Oz and 
other children's books, leased the Dakota Pioneer from Colonel Drake in 1890 
when the latter was appointed by President Harrison to be U. S. Consul at Kiel, 
Germany. Baum changed the name of his paper to the Aberdeen Saturday Pioneer. He 
made it a spirited publication sparkling with wit. Its every issue was eagerly 
awaited to read the personal quips and humorous comments that his mythical "Our 
Landlady" made about local folk.

Mr. Baum with his family had arrived in Aberdeen in 1888 and started a variety 
store known as Baum's Bazaar. Here Aberdeen residents could purchase such 
luxuries as Pottery, Bohemian Glass, Japanese Goods, Toys, Bicycles, decorated 
chamber sets, Candy, Cut Flowers, and Ice Cream. The bazaar did a good business 
until the summer of 1889 when the dry weather, causing a crop failure, ended in 
disaster the last of the year at which time Mr. Baum turned to the newspaper 
business. He left Aberdeen in 1891 for Chicago and later won much fame as the 
author of children's stories and books.

The weekly news, later the Aberdeen Evening News, was launched in 1885 by C. W. 
Starling and Paul Ware. The latter soon sold his share to E. C. Torrey of the 
Ordway Tribune and the plants were consolidated.

The first issue as a daily came off the primitive power press July 26, 1886. H. 
S. Williams became a major owner and with H. C. Sessions published the paper 
until C. J. McLeod in March, 1893, acquired the Sessions interest. The ownership 
was then vested in Williams, Torrey, George Schlosser and McLeod. Out of a 
succession of changes McLeod became sole owner in 1900.

The Aberdeen American was launched in 1904 to give voice to the liberal 
Republican sentiment in the state. Tom Potwin was the first editor. When he 
retired Alfred A. Pickler and Walter Kutnewsky associated themselves with J. H. 
Holmes until 1909

[P52]

[Photo: This blotter was on the desk of the Sherman Hotel about 1890.]

[P53]

when J. H. McKeever became owner and in partnership with E. P. Neill operated 
the paper until the sale to the Ridder Bros. of New York absorbed the Evening 
News and the Journal, which had been started by Jay Reeves and M. M. Carpenter. 
Henry Schmitt is now editor and publisher.

The Dakota Farmer, now a dominant factor in the agriculture of the two Dakotas, 
was launched in Alexandria in 1881 and moved to Aberdeen in 1893, by W. F. T. 
Bushnell in association with Win. C. Campbell. In 1910 W. C. Allen acquired 
ownership.

Before the turn of the century the Zeitung, a German language weekly, was 
published in Aberdeen.

Aberdeen was only two years old when the ambition of the residents generated the 
need of a library. B. E. Hutchinson, register of the land office, led in the 
discussion that led to a meeting on Feb. 25, 1884, at which the Aberdeen Library 
association was formed. Mr. Hutchinson was chosen president; J. H. Hauser, vice 
president; Frank Beard and J. H. Perry, directors. Then the group listened to a 
lecture by H. M. Marple on "Education in Our Public Schools."

Just a month later on March 18, 1884, it was decided to incorporate as the 
Aberdeen Free Library Association. The certificate bore the names of B. E. 
Hutchinson, J. H. Hauser, F. H. Hagerty, C. A. Ozias, Frank Beard and J. H. 
Perry. At the indifference of some to the idea of a library, A. F. Milligan, who 
served later for many years on the board, is quoted as having said that everyone 
was so intent upon getting started in his own affairs they did not consider a 
library too important.

To finance the project memberships were sold at 25 cents a month or $1.50 per 
year. The list of the first subscribers was a list of early day residents. But 
funds were needed and there were donations, home talent entertainment, and 
lectures to raise money. One of the lectures was by A. C. Mellette, later 
Territorial governor. Finally in 1900 the city assumed maintenance of the 
library.

At first the maybe 100 books, many of them gifts, were housed in two rooms in 
the Hagerty & Marple Bank building, now the Hagerty Building. Miss Elnora 
Pleasants was first in charge and others in the early years were: Miss Belle 
McCrea, Miss Elva Crain, Miss Genevieve Taubman, Miss Clara Wright, and Miss 
Nellie Alley. In 1893 Miss Pleasants reported that from April 5, 1892, to July 
5, 1893, the total circulation of books had been 2599 and 2860 visitors had come 
to the reading room. The average was seven books loaned each day and eight 
visitors came daily to the reading room.

As the use of the library grew a building of its own was needed. Senator James 
H. Kyle headed a group over a period of years working to raise funds. In 1900 he 
received word from the Carnegie Foundation that it would give $15,000 toward a 
new building if the city would assure $1500 annual upkeep. There was one 
condition. It must be named for Alexander Mitchell, president of the Milwaukee 
Railroad. Carnegie and Mitchell had been boys together in their native city of 
Aberdeen, Scotland, and this was to be a mark of their friendship. Ours is the 
only one of the many libraries in the country given by Carnegie that does not 
bear the name of the donor.

[Photo: Alexander Mitchell Library]

A site for the new building was donated by C. H. Prior, the railroad townsite 
agent, 150 x 150 feet at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Lincoln Street. Plans 
were drawn by a Mr. Van Metre and in 1901 the contract was let to Andrew Fossum. 
Mayor John E. Adams appointed A. C. Witte, A. N. Aldrich and M. H. Kelly to 
superintend the construction.

The new library building was dedicated at an open house July 15, 1902. In the 
receiving line with Miss Aurora Koehler, assistant librarian, were the members 
of the board: Mrs. Louis Lager, president; R. N. Jewett, vice president; M. H. 
Kelly, secretary; and Dr. George F. Countryman, librarian, as then one board 
member was designated. When Miss Koehler resigned in 1914, Mrs. Adele Drum 
filled the position for a period of years until Miss Dorothea Heins, the first 
trained librarian came to serve until her death in 1944. To succeed her Miss 
Helen Glau, the present librarian, was appointed.

[Photo: Aberdeen Post Office]

St. Luke's Hospital came into existence as a result of a diphtheria epidemic 
which swept the community in 1900. The Presentation Sisters were teachers with 
classes in their convent. In the crisis that had arisen part of the convent was 
converted to a temporary hospital. Other Sisters went into homes to care for the 
sick until the need abated. In grateful recognition of their willing service 
physicians and citizens saw the need for a hospital and besought the Sisters to 
establish a hospital. Although their life's work was teaching, the Sisters 
consented with the approval of Bishop O'Gorman, to undertake the project. The 
original building was erected in 1901, later replaced by the present five

[P54]

story modern structure. St. Luke's has made an impressive growth in service. It 
is fully accredited with a large staff of physicians and nurses. It was here 
that the Andrew Fischer quintuplets, four girls and a boy, were born on Sept. 
14, 1963, and the hospital gained worldwide fame. This was also the birthplace 
of the Schense quads, two girls and two boys, in 1931. A School of Nursing is 
maintained in connection with the hospital. Mother M. Joseph Butler was the 
first administrator.

[Photo: St. Luke's Hospital]

The Presentation Sisters came from Georges Mills, Dublin, Ireland, to Dakota 
Territory in 1880. This small mission band was assigned to Charles Mix County 
where in a sod house they lived and taught a few French and Indian children. 
After the first winter the house fell apart and a call came for their help in 
Deadwood. In 1882 they were asked to conduct a school in Fargo, N. D. On Oct. 4, 
1886, they were offered the opportunity to open a school in Aberdeen and Mother 
Mary John, Mother Mary Aloysious and three novices set out for their new home.

[Photo: Presentation Academy]

From that early beginning the service of the Sisters has greatly grown not only 
in the hospital, the school for nurses, but also in the field of teaching and 
Classes for girls were started in the convent later to be housed in an 
impressive building north of the city known as Presentation Junior College for 
Girls. The building was started in 1952 and opened in 1954.

The greatest civic enterprise of its day was the erection of the Grain Palace in 
1893. It stood at Main Street and Fifth Avenue covering half a block with a 
seating capacity for 1600 persons. The work was all done by citizens, who gave 
labor or pledges of money. It was an ornate structure devoted to conventions, 
entertainments and an annual fall display of agricultural products. One of these 
was denominated as the state fair. At this annual exposition the festivities 
were presided over by the Grain Lady known as the Queen of Aberdeen. She was 
wholly garbed in grains and grasses, on her head a crown of the same. Her left 
hand held flowers and upon her wrist was poised a live pigeon.

[Photo: Interior view of the Grain Palace]

[Photo: Exterior view of the Grain Palace]

There was a great stage at the south end of the auditorium. The entire outside 
of the building was covered with beautiful designs and patterns all executed in 
grains and grasses grown in this vicinity. Much of the inside was similarly 
decorated. Mr. Louis Lager was the designer and superintendent

[P55]

of this work so grandly done. Mr. Zietlow supervised the electric lighting 
effects.

Grain Palace sentiment was brought to the point of action by a committee 
consisting of Rev. F. A. Burdick, Ira Barnes, George Schlosser, Robert Moody as 
president and C. F. Easton, treasurer. In the group to sell stock or take 
contributions were: H. C. Jewett, S. W. Narregang, S. H. Jumper, Isaac Lincoln, 
H. H. Saben, S. M. Salisbury, J. L. McCall and James Ringrose.

At the opening on September 11, 1893, the Fourth Regiment Band from Sioux City 
played and Gov. C. H. Sheldon spoke. Then followed thirteen days of exposition 
festival. Some other attractions at the Grain Palace were the Chicago Marine 
Band (1895), Road Shows (1897), The Andrews Opera Company (1898), The Boston 
Ladies' Symphony Orchestra (1899) as well as many local and home talent affairs. 
In May, 1894, the high school commencement exercises were held in the Palace for 
three graduates, Leon and Dana Foster and Harold Wilson.

The building burned soon after the turn of the century.

From the sod houses and tents that marked the first settlement of the town, 
frame buildings soon appeared and business houses with false fronts emphasized 
the assurance of permanence.

The great blizzard of January 12, 1888, blasted an impact upon the town that was 
never forgotten. There had been cold winters before. The first winter of 1880-
1881 brought huge drifts of snow which in melting turned Main Street into a 
river of water and mud. The three days preceding the great blizzard were cold 
with minus temperatures of 42, 35 and 32. Thursday, Jan. 12 opened clear and 
calm with a temperature that had mounted to 28 above zero. Mid-morning a gale 
wind began blowing the powdered snow in waves that obliterated everything. 
Merchants were marooned in their stores, office workers dared not venture out. 
There were deaths in the storm elsewhere in the state but none in the town. 
Newspapers of the country carried lurid accounts of the storm and Mayor A. S. 
Hewitt of New York wired Mayor R. A. Mills an offer of a carload of provisions 
to feed the sufferers. Mills told him that there was no suffering and thanked 
him. Two months later on March 14, 1888, New York had its worst winter storm and 
Mayor Mills wired an offer to send relief but Hewitt said it wasn't needed.

Courthouse employees were stranded and efforts to reach the George Perry home 
only a block away failed. Finally John Houhlihan, register of deeds, got a ball 
of heavy twine. With one end anchored this led S. C. Hedger, four other men and 
two women in a procession to safety. The only death in the county befell a young 
lady school teacher at Northville, who tried to reach her boarding place only 30 
yards away. She lost her way and her body was found half a mile distant.

[Photo: Gottschalk Opera House]

There was time for play in the growing town and summer and winter the residents 
found diversion indoors and out. The first theatre was over Frenchie's saloon. 
An opera house was built with a seating capacity of 600 and a stage big enough 
to accommodate traveling theatrical companies. Famous bands came to the Grain 
Palace. The opera house burned down May 1, 1902, to be succeeded by the 
Gottschalk rink and theatre which later also burned to the ground.

There were elaborate July 4th celebrations, there were horse races, dog races, 
baseball games with maybe a hired professional or two, dancing upon all 
occasions, mostly square dances. In the homes social life was gay with dinner 
parties, there were basket socials, sewing bees, amateur dramatics, concerts and 
women's clubs. The Wednesday and the Tourist clubs had early origin. There was a 
winter course of Lyceum entertainments sponsored by the Methodist Church and a 
summer Chatauqua under a tent. Outside the town lay a hunter's paradise for 
prairie chicken were there in countless number.

[Photo: Masonic Temple]

The first fraternal organization grew out of a meeting of a group of men in 
September, 1882, who decided to form a Masonic lodge. Aberdeen Lodge, No. 38, 
was chartered June 15, 1883, with the following memberships: R. S. Ellis, M. H. 
Dille, S. H. Jumper, W. B. McChesney, J. H. Perry, H. P. Bolles, F. L. Dille, F. 
E. Hemstreet, H. B. Johnson, D. D. Jones, W. W. Lewis, H. H. Randall, Abraham 
Slingerland, Henry Van Slyck, and J. M. Wilson. With the growth of the town 
other lodges were instituted, among them Odd Fellows, Elks, Knights of Columbus 
and others. When the Masonic Temple was dedicated in 1897 it was the fourth 
building in the

[P56]
	
nation and first in the west wholly devoted to Masonry.

Eastern Star, Minerva Chapter No. 5, was organized Oct. 9, 1888, with Mrs. J. M. 
McBride as worthy matron. Other associated with her were: Mesdames H. S. 
Williams, L. C. Dennis, C. M. Coe, J. H. Firey, C. B. Barrett, Phil Skilman, W. 
A. Ward, S. H. Jumper, William Tennant, R. A. Mills, J. B. Holt, Jessie H. 
Wendell and Miss Emily McBride. Hattie Lager and Laura T. Brown were the first 
initiates.

The A.O.U.W. Lodge was instituted in 1885. Among its early members were: Dr. H. 
E. McNutt John Proud, A. H. Olwin, C. W. Starling, W. H. Kearney, J. E. Adams, 
W. B. Windsor, C. A. Howard, J. S. Shaffer and Henry Neill.

The Y.M.C.A. was organized in 1887 with Robert Moody as president; D. G. 
Gallett, vice president; E. C. Davies, secretary; Rev. T. H. Haug was the second 
secretary and in 1889 F. H. Hagerty was president. It became inactive until in 
1915 the present board was formed.

Bounteous crops in 1882 of 40 and 50 bushels of wheat to the acre and of oats 
105 bushels, these being the only crops, raised high hopes of harvests to 
continue year after year. They fell off in the drouth years of the 1890's. In 
the fall of 1893 L. Harris and J. H. Houser were hired in a vain attempt to 
bring rain. The next summer Mayor S. H. Jumper designated June 12, 1894, as a 
day of prayer for rain. Rain came and on June 17 a service of thanksgiving was 
held in the Grain Palace.

Aberdeen acquired its sobriquet "Hub City of the Dakotas" when W. P. Butler, 
city engineer, devised a map showing rail lines radiating in nine directions 
like the spokes of a wheel. The Great Northern had built from Wahpeton, N. D. to 
the Aberdeen Fergus Falls & Pierre Railroad with visions of extension to the 
state capital. Some of that right of way was graded beyond the terminus here. 
The Minneapolis & St. Louis was extended from Watertown and the city was the 
most important rail center in the northwest. Butler's map was printed and widely 
circulated, even in Europe, and the city has been the Hub ever since.

Electric lighting for streets and homes came in 1886 when on May 1 the Aberdeen 
Electric Light company was organized. Arc lights replaced the corner gas lamps 
and the evening round of the gas lighter was ended. Capacity was limited in 
those days and the company refused to add one more street light when the city 
refused to allow street lights turned off at one o'clock in the morning.

A franchise for an electric street railway was granted to a group of optimistic 
citizens in 1886. It did not come into being.

The ambition for a street railway persisted and in 1888 another franchise was 
granted to C. T. McCoy, H. M. Marple, S. H. Jumper, F. W. Brooks, L. G. Johnson, 
J. A. Houlihan and F. H. Hagerty. L. A. Cleaver had an idea of an interurban to 
Huron but the hard times sealed the fate of a railway. In 1910 local boosters 
got behind the project and the rails were laid and cars began to run. In this 
group were: C. A. Howard, J. L. W. Zietlow, Isaac Lincoln, George Bolles, S. C. 
Hedger, J. H. Holmes, F. B. Gannon and C. A. Russell. Tracks were laid from the 
college to Wylie Park with a transfer point in the one hundred block on Main 
Street. The cars stopped running in 1922 when the multiplicity of automobiles 
diverted the riders.

[Photo: Street Railway]

A great day for the city came on Oct. 14, 1899, when Major C. A. Howard and the 
South Dakota troops came home from the Spanish American War. They had been in 
the Philippines. President William McKinley and four members of his cabinet were 
here to welcome them in the greatest crowd the city had ever known. Other 
distinguished visitors would include Susan B. Anthony, who came in January of 
1890. William J. Bryan spoke here in October, 1896. Col. Theodore Roosevelt, 
then governor of New York, came Sept. 1, 1900 and later when president in 1903. 
On Aug. 28, 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was a later visitor. President 
Taft was a visitor in 1912.

Despite its location on the frontier, Aberdeen saw few Indians after Drifting 
Goose left his lodge at Armadale, so that visitors on Oct. 9, 1888, created a 
sensation. Indian Agent James McLaughlin, superintendent of the Standing Rock 
Reservation, and a band of Indian Chiefs stopped here to take the train for 
Washington. They were going to confer about rights for the Indians. In the group 
were the most noted chiefs, all in their native garb, as follows: Sitting Bull, 
John Grass, Gaul, Mad Bear, Big Head, Two Bears, Thunder Hawk, Bears Rib, Fire 
Heart, High Eagle, Gray Eagle, Hairy Chin, High Bear and Walking Eagle.

For three weeks in October, 1909, the eyes of the nation were on Aberdeen. The 
city was the location for the drawing for ownership of 10,000 farms to be had as 
the Cheyenne and Standing Rock Indian Reservations were to be opened for 
settlement. Previous to the drawing thousands of land seekers flocked to 
Aberdeen to register for a place in the drawing. Up and down Lincoln Street 
local notaries set up their desks to help make out the applications. Judge James 
W. Witten presided at the drawing which was held in the Gottschalk rink. The 
thousands of applications were tossed in a great heap upon the platform and two 
little nine-year old girls picked them up in turn. Alice Jackson, daughter of J. 
H. Jackson, and Josephine Burke, daughter of Congressman C. H. Burke of Pierre, 
did the honors.

[P57]

First choice for his quarter of land fell to William J. Engel of Butte, Neb., 
but three days before the drawing he had gone to Tripp County and filed on land 
there. Thus he became ineligible to share in the drawing. So first chance to 
pick a farm out of this two and a quarter million acres of virgin land fell to 
No. 2. He was Calvin Bowdry, a negro janitor from Bismarck, N. D. 

In the summer of 1909 the city was shocked by news of its most sensational 
crime. Emil Victor, a young lad, had murdered the Christie family and Michael 
Ronayne at Rudolph and fled. A posse was hastily formed by Sheriff Anderson and 
following his trail south he was captured that afternoon. After trial he was 
hanged on a scaffold erected beside the jail. Members of the posse served later 
on in driving from the city I.W.W. agitators bent on destroying crops.

Through the gift of Andrew Melgaard Aberdeen enjoys the beautiful Melgaard park. 
He owned the land south of the townsite. In his memory a bronze statue has been 
erected in the park. When the courthouse was moved its site became Aldrich Park. 
Wylie Park, northwest of the city, is the largest, comprising Lake Min-e-ho and 
a large buffalo pasture. With the rebirth of Moccasin Creek a recreation area 
has been developed along its banks.

[Photo: Melgaard Park]

Some of the "firsts" in the little town and its growth are:

The first boy born was a son of O. A. Fowler, born in the first sod house.

The first girl born was the daughter of John A. Proud, in January, 1882. She 
lived only 14 months and there being no cemetery, burial was made on her 
father's claim.

The first fire destroyed a livery barn on Nov. 14, 1883. Thereupon a volunteer 
fire department was organized the following month.

The first church wedding was that of Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Gage on June 1, 1885, 
the bride having come from New York for the occasion. Before that Hugh Blanding, 
one of the town's bachelors, went to Minneapolis in September of 1881 and came 
home with a bride.

[Photo: Horse Drawn Steam Pumper]

[Photo: Bay horses of first Fire Department]

First permanent store building was built of hemlock and tar paper.

The first train arrived July 6, 1881 and became the first daily train from St. 
Paul on March 24, 1882.

First teachers institute held Oct. 20, 1883 with 26 present.

First train service west of Aberdeen November 11, 1883.

First poor fund created in March, 1884, at $100 per month.

First concrete paving 1907, supplanting the wood block paving.

Brown County Bar Association organized April 15, 1884.

First annual Brown County Fair opened Oct. 2, 1884.

Aberdeen Rifles organized in January, 1885.

Aberdeen Merchants & Manufacturers Assn. formed April 1, 1886.

First funeral was in the winter of 1880 when a man named Peters died. He was 
buried in the snow north of the railroad tracks. In the spring the body was 
removed to a grave in the higher ground which

[P58]

[Photo: When Ringling Circus came to town]

is now Lee Park Golf Course. The first death was that of a railroad worker's 
child.

Ringling Bros. Circus on July 4, 1902, credited Aberdeen with its greatest one 
day receipts. The circus had returned after the city had previously barred its 
elephants and heavy trucks from the wood block paving. On this day the parade 
was diverted to pass the home of Mrs. Chauder, mother of Mrs. M. P. Stompe. She 
had been a friend of the Ringlings.

The first automobile was owned by R. L. and F. A. Brown in 1900, a Winton.

The first steam laundry was established here by Miss Elizabeth Edgoose in 1885 
and in 1886 she started the first greenhouse. In 1892 she married Richard 
Strohmeier, who had come in 1891.

There were dressmakers in the early days. In 1885 Mrs. Theresa Hofler and Mrs. 
Ella Jones were offering their services at 75 cents per day in the homes of 
their customers. They required eight yards of goods for a dress for a medium 
sized woman.

The town business men centered their activities in 1897 in a residence as the 
Aberdeen Club at the corner of Main Street and Sixth Avenue.

The first hospital was started in the "Old Cassell" house with trustees from the 
churches, Baptist, Catholic, Episcopal, Presbyterian and Methodist. This was in 
April, 1886, and it was named Good Samaritan Hospital. Later it was, helped by a 
loan of $500 and moved to a building on Eighth Avenue N. E. Finally it became 
Brown County Hospital where patients were taken care of for $8.00 per week.

Among the pioneers who spent the first winter of 1880-1881 on the townsite were: 
Thomas Boyden, Julius Bonneau, Mr. and Mrs. O. A. Fowler in their Alpha Hotel, 
Lou Bowman, Mr. and Mrs. H. Peters, W. A. Saniels, Charles Deming and Billy 
O'Neill.

A. L. Ward's restaurant had the first commercial ice cream freezer.

When the first lot sale was started C. H. Prior planned that Lincoln Street 
would be the chief business street. However the prices of lots on that street 
were so high that buyers went over to Main.

The first frame building was that of R. A. Mills drug store.

When the sewer system was installed it was a world marvel for the pumps were 
driven by the force of the water from the artesian well. A second well was sunk 
at Jay Street and Eleventh Avenue to provide the power. Visitors would feel the 
pipes to be sure they were not hot with steam.

The water from the artesian well was rather unpalatable and it took a good deal 
of getting used to

[P59]

it. Some used sugar, some giner or vinegar. The barrels of water that were 
carted around and sold to the residents were dosed with alum to settle the 
sediment. The Lennox baseball team came to play and their copious drinking of 
the water made the visitors so ill that they were an easy victim.

Early in 1881 there were 61 buildings on the townsite counting houses and stores 
and including the sod shanties.

Aberdeen long depended upon its artesian well for water. It was hard water and a 
more palatable quality of surface water was sought. This effort in 1935 
developed into the construction of a dam across Willow Creek to form a 
reservoir, a dam on the Elm River and a treatment plant at Ordway with a main to 
reservoirs in the city. The city now has ideally soft water in ample supply.

Government offices have been a factor in the growth of the city. The Internal 
Revenue Service was located here July 1, 1901, in charge of Herman Ellerman, to 
administer income tax in the two Dakotas. This was changed May 15, 1920, and 
Aberdeen became the administrative office for South Dakota.

[Photo: Wilcox Apartment House and Minard Apartments]

Another installation of size is the Bureau of Indian Affairs, supervising Indian 
Reservations in South Dakota, North Dakota and Nebraska. Other federal bureaus 
include the ASCS Office, Farmers Home Administration, Federal Crop Insurance, 
Soil Conservation Service, FBI, General Services Administration, Social Security 
Administration, U. S. District Court, Railroad Retirement Board and Selective 
Service Board.

When the state unemployment law was enacted in 1937 the headquarters were 
established in Aberdeen. Later in 1962 came the State School for the Blind.

Senator James H. Kyle was the only Aberdeen citizen to have been elected to the 
United States Senate. He was pastor of the Congregational Church. He espoused 
the cause of the Populist Party, which had inflamed the farmers and labor in 
1890 when he was elected to the state senate. During that session the 
legislature elected him U. S. Senator. It was he who authorized the law which 
established Labor Day as the first Monday in September. In 1896 he was 
reelected. He died in 1901 being a Republican at that time.

Senator Kyle was responsible for getting the first federal building built in 
town. That was in 1904 and a resolution for the erection of a postoffice at 
Aberdeen had been on the calendar for a long time. Finally Senator Kyle came 
upon Speaker Reed in a relaxed mood with the result that the Speaker shouted at 
him, "I'll let you have your blank, blank building. I'd rather spend the money 
for buildings than send it all to the Phillipines."

Multiple homes had a start when the Apartment, later known as the Wilcox, was 
erected on Kline Street at Seventh Avenue in 1888. In 1889 the occupants were: 
Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Sheldon, Mr. and Mrs. N. H. Wendell, Mr. and Mrs. S. J. 
Wright, Dr. and Mrs. Harragin, Mr. and Mrs. William Tennant, Mr. and Mrs. C. M. 
Wilson and Miss Maggie Wilson.

When death came among the pioneers there was no designated place for burials. 
Perhaps a spot was chosen on the prairie or a homestead claim. The land of E. H. 
Alley and J. Q. A. Braden near the city became a common burial ground until the 
owners prohibited such use. In January of 1886 the city bought land of John 
Shuler for $1600, which is part of the present Riverside Cemetery. It was 
platted in March of that year by W. P. Butler, city engineer. The first burials 
were made in October, 1886, Mrs. Andrew White and Mrs. Dr. Pine.

Sacred Heart Cemetery was laid out in 1883. St. Mary's Cemetery was laid out in 
the early 1900's.

Air transportation for Aberdeen had its beginning when a few young men gained 
ownership of planes and used a pasture south of the city for their field. Among 
them were Clyde Ice, H. M. Baird, Ole Fahlin, Chester Wage, Carl Swanson, Clyde 
Fulletin,

[P60]

Earl Vance. Prof. F. W. Smith of the college was manufacturing spark plugs and 
in 1910 acquired a plane. In 1921 the Brown County Fair Board established an 
airport in the fairgrounds north of the city. In 1923 this was the site of the 
first air meet in the state. Hopes were high at that time. that Aberdeen would 
become a station on the transcontinental route, but these vanished when it was 
directed through North Dakota.

Saunders Municipal Airport was created when the city voted $20,000 in bonds on 
June 10, 1930, the Swengel farm east of the city was purchased and the modern 
terminal building erected. The field was named for Gen. Luverne Saunders, a 
resident of Aberdeen, and a famous war hero of the Aviation service.

Intercity bus service was begun when Carl Swanson started his Jackrabbit Lines, 
later succeeded by Greyhound Lines.

Such is the early history of Aberdeen which owes much of its present position as 
a superior place in which to live and transact business, to the enterprise and 
enthusiasm of the pioneers who envisioned and worked for a splendid city in what 
was called "the great American garden of the James River Valley."

Grateful acknowledgment is made for assistance gained from the manuscripts of 
the following: Luke Falk, John Wade, T. C. Gage, S. M. McCall, Mrs. J. E. Kelly, 
Mattie Wendell Allen, Helen Glau, Sister Margaret Mary, Presentation Sisters, 
Jessie Ethel Proud Minard, M. M. Cleworth, Helen Hanicker Pattno, W. P. Butler, 
South Dakota Writers Project, W.P.A., Creighton A. Holstad and the Newspaper 
Files of the Aberdeen Pioneer and the Aberdeen American-News.

[Photos: Big Snow of 1897 and Resulting Flood.]

[P61]

ELIZABETH EDGOOSE STROHMEIER
by Clara Strohmeier Clark

[Photo: Miss Elizabeth Edgoose]

The following is a partial history of the life of Elizabeth Edgoose-Strohmeier, 
born November 16, 1852, Holland fen, Lincolnshire, England. The third youngest 
child of Mary Jones Edgoose and Joe Edgoose. She was one of a family of 13, born 
in a 400 year old thatch roofed house. Whose stone walls were 4 foot thick and 
the thatched roof was 2 foot thick, wherein the many birds, etc. hid their nests 
and returned there each Spring to raise their young and to make life more 
beautiful for the children who lived and grew up there. Elizabeth was always 
very small, very active, and almost always cheerful, and could see and enjoy her 
many blessings. When she was 13 years old she went to Sheffield, England to 
learn the dressmaking trade. She was very happy and tried real hard to do just 
as she was told to. The shop where she was an apprentice catered only to the 
"better class" ladies. Among them was "Lady Terry" a member of the royal family. 
Lady Terry took a very great liking to Elizabeth. She came to the shop real 
often to have some small alteration, each time asking that little Miss Elizabeth 
do the stitching. Each time she would ask as many questions as seemed prudent 
under the circumstances. After some time Lady Terry asked Elizabeth if she would 
like to come to live with her as her "ladies companion;" to accompany her on 
most of her daily trips outside of her home, as well as to help her with 
personal companionship in her home.

Lady Terry was herself a very fine needle woman. With Elizabeths consent she 
went to see Mrs. and Mr. Joel Edgoose and asked if she might have their 
permission to take Elizabeth into her home as her companion. This companionship 
lasted until the Spring of 1873. Elizabeth was, after her first few months, 
entrusted with the care of the very fine cut glass, sterling silverware, as well 
as the very dainty china, etc. Lady Terry was very anxious about "Little 
Elizabeth" when she developed a bad cough. She had her own physicians check her 
chest for symptoms of the very prevalent tuberculosis. The doctor found that 
Elizabeth did have what was termed "quick consumption." Elizabeth had heard and 
read that the climate in some parts of the United States was a very dry climate 
and if such was the case there was a possibility that Elizabeth might overcome 
the disease that was slowly destroying Elizabeth's lungs. The doctor advised 
much rest and nourishing food and to not be exposed to the foggie damp days. He 
also gave her a small lung exerciser, as he termed it. It was a small breathing 
tube.

Elizabeth had 2 sisters, Mary and Alice, also a brother John and his wife Mary 
and 3 sons, all living in Chicago, Illinois. After several months Elizabeth 
decided to take the chance on the better climate. So she packed up her 
belongings and booked passage on a steamship. She bade Lady Terry as well as her 
own parents and sisters and brothers a farewell that all felt was final, as the 
doctor expressed concern that Elizabeth would not have the strength to withstand 
the ocean voyage. The voyage took 13 days, due to the fact that they encountered 
some rough seas. Elizabeth celebrated her 21st birthday two days before landing 
at New York. Elizabeth lived in Chicago with her sister for 5 years, then went 
to Manastee, Michigan with the McElligott and Seamor families. They were English 
families that the family had known in England as well as in Chicago. There Mrs. 
McElligott and Miss Elizabeth established the first laundry.

Manastee was a small great lakes shipping town as well as a lumber town. The 
McElligotts and Miss Searmore as well as Miss Elizabeth belonged to' the 
Episcopal faith, shortly after their arrival there they contacted the Episcopal 
Mission in that area and made arrangements for Sunday services. As there was no 
church there, they offered the use of their laundry room which they scrubbed and 
cleaned each Saturday and got benches and chairs for the faithful to use. These 
services were well attended and it was not too long before there was a fund 
started towards the construction of a church. When the church was dedicated, a 
copy of Miss Elizabeth's letter for the church of England was placed in the 
corner stone there. Elizabeth lived in Manastee, Michigan for a period of 7 
years.

Shortly afterwards Miss Elizabeth again felt that she would have to get to a 
drier climate as her old cough came back and she had severe chills and fever. So 
again she packed up her personal belongings and boarded a train for the far 
west. She arrived in Aberdeen, Dakota Territory, May 1, 1885, late in the 
afternoon, very tired and very sick. After getting off the train and seeing that 
her baggage was unloaded she walked down Main Street looking for a place where 
she might obtain sleeping quarters, also board for awhile. She stepped into the 
Lockington Meat Market. She inquired of Mr. Lockington as to where she might 
find a room and after she showed him the reference letter she carried from 
Manastee business people as well as church people, Mr. Lockington had someone 
direct her to the home of Dr. McNutt. Dr. McNutt felt that Miss Elizabeth was a 
very fragile sick person and after reading her reference letter talked to his 
wife and they decided that they had a spare room that she might rent until such 
time as she could make other arrangements. Mrs. McNutt gave Elizabeth some hot 
tea and a light lunch and Elizabeth went to bed early. The following morning 
Mrs. McNutt didn't want the doctor to leave the house

[P62]

until he made certain that they still had Miss Elizabeth with them, instead of a 
corpse. When there was no sound from the room and it was getting to be almost 10 
a.m. the doctor carefully opened the door and was surprised to find that 
Elizabeth was very much alive and apologized for having slept so late.

The trip from Chicago had taken the best part of 3 days and 2 nights and the 
train was drafty and cold. Therefore a warm feather bed felt comfortable. And so 
Miss Elizabeth slept sound as well as late. After a late breakfast Elizabeth 
went for a walk to see just what kind of town she had come to and to get a 
better idea of what Aberdeen, Dakota Territory, had to offer in the way of a 
means of earning a living, etc. The first thing that she bought in Aberdeen was 
some trees from a nursery salesman who had a big wagon load of them that he 
hoped to sell to the claim settlers. As Elizabeth had not purchased any 
property, she asked Dr. McNutt's permission to dig a small ditch in his back 
yard to "hill the trees in." With his consent and the loan of a shovel, Miss 
Elizabeth proceeded to dig the ditch, much to Dr. McNutt's astonishment. She 
placed the trees in the ditch and covered the roots with loose dirt. Within a 
few days she bought a lot at what is now known as 320 South Main Street. She 
also bought the quarter block located at the corner of 5th Ave. S. W. and 3rd 
Street, took the trees to the 5th Ave. and 3rd St. location and planted them, 
deposited her remaining funds in Isaac Lincoln's bank. She made arrangements for 
a building to be erected at 320 South Main Street later that summer.

After making these arrangements, she then decided that she wanted to see the 
Missouri River--"The Big Muddy" as Mr. S. W. Narragang's real estate ads had 
read in the papers in Merry Old England. Also in the paper in Chicago, Illinois 
he had advertised--go west young men go west--To Aberdeen, Dakota Territory, 
then on out to see the "Big Muddy." They told of all the opportunities and 
wealth in this area etc. After making all necessary arrangements for the 
construction of the future "C. O. D. Laundry," Elizabeth Edgoose proprietor, she 
decided to see the Big Muddy during the time until the construction would 
actually begin. This building, by the way, still stands, naturally there have 
been some alterations, such as a new front etc., but structurally it is the 
original building.

So fortified with a government map that was marked with the mile stones, that 
were numbered, location of living springs that were safe to use water from, 
locations of settlements etc., Elizabeth decided to go to Mound City or LaGrace, 
both one and the same place in reality.

For her trip, Elizabeth obtained a splint basket, a small alcohol lamp and tea 
kettle, a cup and saucer, canned apples, soda biscuits, eggs, bacon, a long 
light pole with a string and a tin can attached, to use in dipping water from 
the water holes, as quite often the sod around the water hole was undermined and 
not safe to go too close for fear of falling into the hole. A blanket for a bed 
roll, her prayer book and a lot of faith that God would guard over her and let 
her come safely back again, she took off. She also paid up a months rent at the 
Dr. McNutt home for her room.

As she walked across the prairie the buffalo and antelope would stop and stare 
at her, then turn and run away. For hours on hours all that she could see was 
the tall buffalo grass that waved like ocean billows when the wind blew. When 
she was tired she sat down for a while or lay down and often went to sleep for 
awhile. At the first water hole she saw fresh egg shells crushed there. From 
there on that was the one thing that she noticed. Sometimes the shells seemed 
quite fresh, other places they seemed quite old, as though it had been some time 
since they had been left there. That was an indication of how long it had been 
since someone had stopped there.

After several days, clouds came up and it began to rain. That same day towards 
evening Elizabeth sighted what looked like what possibly could be a couple of 
sod shanties. As she approached them she saw several covered wagons. On 
approaching the sod house, a man came to greet her and she asked him if he could 
tell her how far to LaGrace or Mound City. He said, "Why Miss, this is Mound 
City. This is the land office. What can we do for you? Where is your party, 
etc." When she told him that she had no party, that she was alone and that she 
had walked from Aberdeen alone, he just didn't believe it, until someone came to 
the door of the sod shanty, and with a scream of "Betsy what are you doing here? 
Did I hear you say that you had walked all the way from Aberdeen? Sounds just 
like you. Oh, we are so happy to see you." It was Mr. and Mrs. Huffman and 
family, who had arrived by covered wagon the previous day along with another 
couple and family in their own covered wagon. Naturally the government land 
agent tried to interest Elizabeth in taking a claim next to the Huffmans, but 
Elizabeth told them of her investment in Aberdeen and that her journey had 
really been for the sole purpose of seeing the great Missouri. That evening she 
rented a "flop" for the sum of $2.00 on a straw tick on the clay floor along 
with Mrs. Huffman and the children. The next morning after breakfast she started 
on again and walked to the river. She just couldn't quite believe what she saw. 
The river was so small "due to the lack of spring rains" that she said to 
herself, "Why I could almost jump across that muddie stream. I had expected to 
see a roaring trembling raging river."

She spent another day with the Huffmans and early the following a.m. Mr. Huffman 
was heading for Ipswich with just the breaching of his wagon to bring back a 
load of lumber to use for a roof for his sod shanty. Mr. and Mrs. Huffman and 
their friends had taken joining claims and they would build their house so as to 
cover just the corner of each claim and in that way just have to build one roof 
with a dividing wall inside the shanty to make 2 separate homes. Elizabeth sat 
on the back join of the rear wheels and rode all day back there in the rain. 
They arrived late that evening at Ipswich. Elizabeth got lodging there that 
night and the next morning walked back to Aberdeen, very weary and much 
disappointed in the great Missouri. Again the warm feather bed

[P63]

[Photo: Miss Edgooses' Greenhouse]

was a welcome sight and she had a good sleep. Then she went about checking up on 
the construction job. Naturally nothing had been done, but soon the carpenters, 
Mr. Brandes' crew or possibly it was Mr. G. McLaughlin a local carpenter, gave 
Miss Elizabeth an order for dimensional lumber to be delivered as soon as 
possible. In the ensuing time, the ground was made level and necessary rocks 
etc. for footings were brought in and almost before folks realized it the 
building was well under way. A well had to be dug! That too, soon progressed.

Miss Elizabeth ordered some very necessary laundry equipment from the "Sinclair 
Laundry Machinery Manufacturing Co," in Chicago, hunted up an old steam boiler 
and almost before anyone knew it, the laundry was ready for the first customer. 
Until such time as the machinery arrived from Chicago, the business was taken 
care of with the aid of some extra help. Three wooden wash tubs, a wood barrel 
or two, a couple of rubbing (wash) boards, cast iron laundry stove, a gasoline 
stove, two copper wash boilers, the "flat irons" that she had brought from 
Manastee, Michigan with her. A sign C. O. D. Laundry, Miss Elizabeth Edgoose, 
Proprietor. At first it was strictly C. O. D. Later on credit slips began to 
pile up, many never were collected. Miss Edgoose let it be known at the "Sherman 
House Hotel" as well as at the other hotels etc. that she could give 24 hour 
service. Soon the traveling public brought their laundry bundles in and it was a 
flourishing business, by the time that the Laundry equipment arrived from 
Chicago.

During this time Miss Edgoose had her home erected at 216 5th Ave. S. W. where 
she had purchased 1/2 block of land and where the following year her brother and 
family, John R. Edgoose, helped erect the first greenhouse. The incentive for 
this venture being a demand for flowers for weddings, funerals, as well as 
social affairs. Having come from "the east" different people inquired of her, if 
she knew where it would be possible to obtain "Flowers."

To some, money was quite plentiful, they missed the social life that they had 
enjoyed in their former homes. John, having been a mine foreman in England, and 
a Foundry worker, carpenter, or doing different kinds of obtainable work in 
Chicago, was anything but a florist. He was very fond of plants and flowers, as 
was his wife Mary. They "shipped in" Tube rose roots, Heliotrope, Fuschias, 
Carnations, also rose plants and an assortment of house plants. One of the sons 
refused to go into the greenhouse, he said it smelled "just like a funeral" and 
he hated funerals and he was very lonesome.

During the winter of 1887-1888 Mary Edgoose, "who was not well" decided that 
they should return to Chicago. This they did in the Spring leaving the two 
eldest sons with Elizabeth.

Things managed to go along fairly well until September when Miss Edgoose finally 
advertised in the "Florist Review" paper, for a florist to manage the 
greenhouse. Several florists applied for the job. The one letter with the 
neatest handwriting was the one chosen by Miss Edgoose. Richard Strohmeier was 
the applicant. He arrived September 20, 1891 from Minneapolis. February 10, 1892 
Elizabeth and Richard were married.

The year of 1894 the laundry was sold and all attention was given to the 
greenhouse and flower business. In 1896 Mrs. Strohmeier started the first home 
Bakery Shop, on the location presently occupied by the "J. C. Penny Store" at 
4th Avenue and Main Street South. If ladies had a favorite cake or cookie 
recipe, they could bring the recipe to the bakery and the food would be prepared 
to order. After managing the bakery for several years, Mrs. Strohmeier sold the 
business to the Appleford sisters, who owned and managed the bakery for many 
years.

About 1898 Mrs. Strohmeier again started another first for Aberdeen when she 
started the "Feather Shop", the only shop of its kind between Chicago, Illinois 
and Billings, Montana. This work she was actively engaged in until the time of 
her death in 1944. Elizabeth Edgoose Strohmeier had the first Steam Laundry, the 
first Home Bakery, the first greenhouse, the first "Feather Shop" in Aberdeen, 
Dakota Territory, as well as being so far as we know, the first and only woman, 
licensed steam engineer in Dakota Territory and the only white person to walk 
the distance from Aberdeen to the U. S. Land Office at Mound City, Dakota 
Territory.

[Photo: Mrs. Elizabeth Edgoose Strohmeier]

[P64]

ALLISON TOWNSHIP
by Oscar Turnquist (Brown Co. News, Frederick)

The first log cabin in Allison Township was built by two trappers, who had left 
the place before John Turnquist came in 1879 to live on this land. This log 
cabin 14 x 16 ft. had been built with hard work by these first men. All these 
trappers brought with them to this area was a yoke of oxen, and enough lumber 
for a door and a window, a stove pipe, and a scraper. The cabin was built of 
logs. On the roof they put poles, covering them with brush, hay, and chunks of 
sod. Then they took long grass and bound it in bundles for shingles over the 
roof.

These resourceful trappers made a stove out of gumbo and rock. They then took 
the sheet iron from the bottom of the scraper, cut a hole in it, and placed it 
over the stove. On this they did their cooking. These men used some of the 
scraper iron around the stove pipe to prevent the cabin from catching fire. 
Their furniture, as well as the lumber in the cabin was made out of wood 
collected along the Elm River. Turnquist fell heir to this claim shack and "its" 
furnishings, when he accompanied James Allison here, with whom he was employed. 
Henry H. Brackett was a third man in the party. All lived at New Ulm, Minnesota, 
before coming here.

[Photo: Log house on the Elm River. Built on the Ed Allison Ranch southwest of 
Frederick, presently known as the Webster Ranch.]

Allison, for whom the township was eventually named, was a contractor who built 
railroad grades, but he was also interested in raising cattle. When the two 
trappers, already mentioned, told Allison this land would be a good place to 
start a cattle ranch because of its tall grass and the water in Elm River, these 
men were practically on their way to look the land over. This was late in 1879, 
and they took up claims with Turnquist getting the already built claim shack.

Allison and Turnquist shipped 400 head of cattle by train to Bristol, which was 
as far as the railroad went. They then drove them the rest of the way to the 
prairie, which was to become Allison's ranch. When they came to the James River 
in 1881, they loaded the cattle on a ferry boat that had no railings on the 
sides. When the boat was half way across the river, the cattle all jumped off 
and swam back to where they had started. It was necessary to put a railing on 
the ferry before the cattle could be loaded again, and taken across.

Allison told Turnquist he had heard Dakota winters are mild, so you don't need 
much hay. They put up only enough hay to last thru January. By that time, there 
was two feet of snow on the ground. So they drove these cattle down the Elm 
River to feed on the brush. Before they got the cattle that far, 300 of them 
died on a side hill on Turnquist's land. The remaining cattle were driven to the 
Forks, and all perished there from starvation and the cold. Allison and 
Brackett, with Turnquist, their hired man, acquired more cattle and ran this 
ranch for 15 years.

Henry Vernon, who took up a homestead in 1881 in this township, built a 
slaughter house along the Elm River and butchered and dressed cattle, and sold 
the meat to the Olson Butcher Shop in Frederick.

Another early settler in Allison Township was Pete Meyers, who with his partner 
(his name cannot be recalled) lived in a dugout at the Fork. "The Forks" is the 
place where the Elm River and Willow Creek meet. They came in 1880 and were 
trappers. A year later Walker Lee homesteaded here. He often told of a group of 
soldiers who came over this trail, and the captain asked Lee what he intended to 
do on this land. Lee replied, "I'm going to start farming," and the captain told 
him that he had been coming over this trail for 15 years, and he saw more dry 
years than wet ones. But this did not discourage Lee.

In 1884, after the township was organized it was voted to build four school 
houses. Two of the school houses were burned in a prairie fire but the other two 
were still standing in 1957. The  very first teacher was Miss Carrie Foss. The 
first school board had Allison, Turnquist, and a Mr. Redding as its members. So 
Mr. Redding was an early settler but no other facts can be learned about him.

A granary moved cross-country from Watertown to the Allison ranch in the early 
80's still stands.

This trail, a government trail, of which we have already written, went from Fort 
Snelling in Minnesota to the Standing Rock Reservation and crossed what is now 
Allison Township. The Indians from Sisseton used this trail when they went to 
Standing Rock Reservation in June. They would bring back ponies and many of them 
camped on Turnquist's homestead. It is known that in 1873, Custer camped here, 
too, when traveling on this trail.

There was a chance to make some money in 1883 and 1884, when a company came 
through and paid $11 a ton for buffalo bones. It took a lot of bones to make a 
ton. The bones were hauled to Frederick and shipped from there. At the end of 
two years when there seemed to be no more bones, the project folded. The bones 
were taken to sugar refineries.

[P65]

BATES TOWNSHIP
by Mrs. Raymond Johnson

In collecting material for the history of N. E. Garden Prairie, which is now 
Bates Township, the writers have endeavored to contact as many of the pioneers 
as possible. We have tried to give only such data as we know to be authentic. If 
we have made any errors in statements, or left out any pertinent facts, it is 
because we were either uninformed or misinformed.

The first settlers came in 1881. They were Mr. and Mrs. Will Weeks and son 
Robert, Mr. and Mrs. John Hite, sons Charles, Eugene, and Earnest and one 
daughter Cora, from Michigan. They located on S. W. 1/4 of Sec. 11, Twp. 121, R. 
60.

In 1882, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Phillips and son Charles came from Canada. Al and Frank 
Woodall, Joe Hurd, and Mr. and Mrs. Fritz Kuehnert came from Wisconsin. Mr. 
Kuehnert started a shoe shop in Groton, while his wife held down the claim.

The year 1883 added Mr. and Mrs. George Mereness and sons Charles, Will, and 
John and daughters Hattie, who married Lyman Strong, and Edna, who is now Mrs. 
George Potter of Groton and was born after the family came to Dakota Territory. 
There were also Mr. and Mrs. Pete Mereness and daughter Elizabeth, Mr. and Mrs. 
Andrew Cady and sons Charles and Will, and daughter Lucy, Mr. and Mrs. Fred 
Hausen and son Frank. Their second son Art, was born after they moved to Dakota 
and so far as we know is the only pioneer of the Township born in a sod shanty. 
Mr. Barlett came from New York, and Lew Wolf came from Pennsylvania that same 
year, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Kennedy and daughters Lina and Clarabelle, Will 
and Dick Cook, Jim McDanials and Charles Matthews all came from Michigan. Mr. 
and Mrs. S. A. Keiser and Samuel Keiser and family came that year also. Mr. and 
Mrs. Andrew K. Tollefson and son Thomas came to South Dakota from Ansgar, Iowa 
sometime in April, 1883 and located on the N. E. 1/4 of Section 35, Twp. 121, R. 
60.

Other settlers in the early 80's were William Linsies, John Brices, James Hill, 
Mr. Conley, Fred and Max Bahr, the Robert Balls, one son Frank and three 
daughters Kate, Myrtle and Mattie, the Washnok family consisting of two sons, 
Henry and Gustave, two daughters Minnie and Bertha, who married Charles 
Schinkle. In later years Frank Ball married Bertha Quandahl; Mattie Ball, Ed 
Hofer; Kate Ball, George Tollefson; and Myrtle Ball, Dan Clemenson.

The year 1884 brought Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Feller and sons F. J., Jason, and Alvin 
and daughters Jennie and Ethel. Jennie married Charles V. Matthews and lived the 
greater part of her life on a farm in Bates Township and at the time of her 
death in 1942 had never been outside of South Dakota since she moved here from 
Ohio. Ethel, the only living member of this pioneer family, became Mrs. Delbert 
Ragels and lives in Groton. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cooley came from Michigan, and 
Samuel Larson and family came from Illinois. Their three daughters Martha, now 
Mrs. Colcord of Conde, Elizabeth, now Mrs. Richard Voss, Sophia, now Mrs. 
Earnest Hite of Conde, who was born in South Dakota as also was Mary, now Mrs. 
Roy Bauman, now living in Missouri, and also three sons Thomas, Louis, and 
Henry. The latter two were born in South Dakota.

New settlers in 1885 were John Allen and daughter Agnes and Mrs. John Applegate 
from Illinois. Agnes married Chauncy Haywood who came from Michigan.

Charles Weeks, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Haywood and sons George and Mark and daughters 
Jennie, Laura and Bertha all came from Michigan. Mark is a resident of Groton, 
and George lives in California. They are the only surviving members of the 
family.

[Photo: Mr. and Mrs. I. L. Bates for whom the township was named.]

Mr. I. L. Bates came from Michigan in 1882 and built a claim shanty and proved 
up on his claim. He brought his family out in 1886 after having rented his farm 
a year or two and was back in Michigan. His son Frank became an Osteopath Doctor 
and moved to Nebraska, Sarah married Jason Feller and now lives at Salem, Oregon 
and Minnie married William Anstiss and is living in Santa Cruz, California.

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Holder and sons, George, John, and daughter Grace came from 
Michigan. Grace married Mark Haywood.

Mr. and Mrs. Lester Church and son Wilbur and daughters Lula and Ella and John 
Green, also Mrs. Roby and sons Will, Charles and Roy all came from Wisconsin. 
Charles lives in Texas and Roy in California.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Ragels and sons Delbert

[P66]

and Claude came from Wisconsin in 1888. Mr. Ragels started up a cheese factory 
on his farm in 1889 and the farmers brought milk to the factory every morning to 
be made into cheese, which was much in demand in the community and it was also 
sold in surrounding towns.

Mr. Andrew Tollefson opened up a post office in their home where mail was 
distributed twice a week. He named the Post Office St. Ansgar after his old home 
in Iowa.

Wilbur Church and John Green had a well drilling outfit and were kept busy 
drilling wells in the community. Harry Bartlett opened the first blacksmith shop 
on his farm.

The pioneer days were full of all kinds of activities, such as literary 
societies, and debating groups, who pondered over the issues of those days. Then 
there was the organization of Township school districts. Samuel Feller was one 
of the office holders of the double Township known as Garden Prairie He was also 
one of the first board members of the combined school districts in Garden 
Prairie Township.

The early settlers had many things in common and were always ready and willing 
to render aid in all emergencies. Especially in case of sickness, there was 
always someone to summon a Doctor, or any other help needed.

Perhaps it would be in order to mention how living hands did all that was within 
their power to comfort bereaved families. On the S. E. corner of section 35, 
Twp. 121, R. 60, is an abandoned burial ground used in the early days where 
twenty-one loved ones were interred. Andrew Tollefson made the caskets and also 
conducted several of the services. On the death of a child, the services of a 
minister could not be had so Charles Matthews conducted the service, as told by 
Thomas Tollefson.

Then with poor crops, money was a very scarce article. Still through those 
difficult years they kept faithfully looking for better times. With no money for 
fuel the people gathered cow chips or buffalo chips, and if one could muster a 
ten cent piece or its equivalent, in eggs or butter, one could buy a pound 
package of good old Arbuckle Coffee, delicious to the last drop, for only ten 
cents.

You might say the early settlers were a master race, solving many of their 
problems by themselves. They also provided good wholesome entertainment for the 
young people. Many happy hours were spent in visiting and playing games which 
will be cherished memories to those of us who were the young people of that day 
and the old people of today.

In 1885 the first school, a term of three months was held that summer, in a 
claim shanty with Miss Agnes Dixon as teacher. She became Mrs. Traphagen and now 
lives in Britton. A Mr. Lindley taught the winter term in his claim shanty.

A new school house was built in 1886 on the west side of section 11, and with 
some improvements is still in use. Miss Sarah Bates was the first teacher, 
teaching the summer term and Frank Bates the winter term.

[Photo: Sarah Bates Feller, teacher of Feller School in 1886.]

S. J. Feller was instrumental in starting a Sunday School in the new school 
house in 1886, with S. A. Kennedy as Superintendent. We were served by the 
Methodist Church for a number of years. Our first minister was Rev. William Hyde 
and he was the first to serve the Groton church also.

It was a gala day for the community when a new organ was purchased for $54.40. 
This livened up the church and Sunday School very much. Weddings to be noted 
were those of F. J. Feller and Mattie Burdick in 1888, John Green and Ella 
Church in 1889 and Will Cook and Lina Stewart the same year.

In 1887 the community mourned the death of 8 year old Robert Weeks, the only 
child of Mr. and Mrs. Will Weeks of what is now known. as appendicitis. The new 
cemetery at Groton had just been laid out and Robert had wondered who would be 
the first to be buried there, he was the first. Another tragedy occurred when 
Mrs. John Hite was accidentally burned with hot tar and died several days later.

The big blizzard of 1888 was a memorable day and caused a great deal of anxiety 
especially to parents who had children in school. But our school and the 
teacher, Frank Bates braved the storm for about 40 rods and went to the John 
Hite home where they spent the night.

Among the pioneer were six G.A.R. men of the Civil War, Joe Holdor, Joe Hurd, 
George Mereness, Henry Haywood, Samuel Feller, and Isaac L. Bates.
 
This was a neighborhood of law abiding citizens, people who were religiously 
inclined.

After the territory became a state, I. L. Bates was sent to Pierre as the first 
representative and S. A. Kennedy was a Senator. Mr. Kennedy was a lawyer, who 
came to South Dakota for his health, and later practiced law in Aberdeen.

The community was very proud of its band which

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was organized in 1890. Chauncy Haywood, Aberdeen, Washington; and George Holder, 
Paw Paw, Michigan, are the only charter members still living. George, 
whimsically tells of how those country boys would practice sometimes four times 
a week. A few months after they organized they had learned to play three 
selections and went to a school house west of Ferney to play. As George tells 
it, the school house was small and the boys opened up with all they had and as 
he looks at it now, it was nothing but a big roar, but at that time they all 
thought it was grand. In 1891 they played at a Fourth of July celebration at 
Rondell and got $50.00. George said he and Charles Hite went to Rondell the 
night before and took a wagon load of ice and some lumber. They set up a stand 
and sold home made ice cream, lemonade, candy, and gum with Joe Donavan as the 
concessionaire. There were other stands there but Joe could yell the loudest and 
was the most clownish, so the boys got the biggest trade. The band was very 
prominent at political rallies and celebrations over a large part of N. E. South 
Dakota. The band brings pleasant memories to all who remember them.

Literary societies were organized in the early 80's. The young people would meet 
at the homes. They also had spell downs, and singing groups in which young and 
old took part. They were very happy people and set a good example for the young 
people.

The double Township was divided about 1911 and named the east Township Bates. 
The name of the band was then changed from Garden Prairie to "Pioneer Band of 
Bates and Scotland Township", as Scotland Township had joined the band soon 
after it was organized. Many of the second generation joined in 1910 and from 
then on. The band kept up regular meetings and took part in celebrations until 
the 1930's when so many moved out of the neighborhood. In June, 1941, when 
Groton celebrated the 60th year, the band was asked to help out. The members 
came from the west coast, Michigan, Missouri, and from different areas of South 
Dakota and the band was complete except for J. D. Feller of Salem, Oregon and 
Herbert Ahern of Duluth, Minnesota. On the Sunday after the celebration, the 
band and friends and neighbors of Bates and Scotland and elsewhere all met at 
the old picnic grounds, at Denholms Grove in Scotland where all present knew the 
band would never meet again, in fact it was the very last meeting that was ever 
held. This ended the many picnics held since the starting of pioneer days.

On June 9-11, 1956 when Groton celebrated 75 years the band was asked to take 
part, but only five members reported. With the valuable aid of the descendants 
of members of the band who had been and who were members of the school bands at 
Groton, Ipswich and Conde, they were able to give a nice concert and were also 
in the parade. George Holder, 87, the only one of the charter members of the 
band living, came from Paw Paw, Michigan. Charles E. Denholm, Claude Ragels from 
Missouri and Doland respectively were two of the first members and Jay Hall of 
Andover were present. The other members of the second generation who played were 
Edmund Graves and Dustan Matthews of Aberdeen, Lester Ragels, Crandall; Chester 
Ragels and Lyman Mathews, Groton. The descendants of early members were Mrs. 
Ramona Ragels Schinkel and Joyce Ragels, Groton; Cleo and Gail Ragels, Ipswich, 
who were all third generations in the Ragels family and Harley Ragels, Conde, a 
fourth generation member figuring from Harley's Great Grandfather, F. J. Feller; 
Carol and Kathleen Rix, David and Lorrin Feller all of Groton. Lee Haywood, 
Doland Hite, and Lesley Ann Benson, Verdon; Marilyn Sour, whose Great 
Grandparents, the William Cooks had pioneered in the neighborhood, and Kathy 
Blair, whose Grandparents had pioneered near the neighborhood. Both girls are 
from Groton. The 1956 band was the first time girls had ever played with the 
band. Also Shirley Feller and Bernyce Strom, both granddaughters of charter 
members of the band, were baton twirlers.

Charter members of the band were F. J. Feller, Alvin C. Feller, and Frank Bates, 
cornets; Charles Weeks, clarinet; Charles V. Matthews, George N. Holder, and 
Lloyd Robinson, altos; Ed Haywood and Charles Hite, tenors; Will Burdick, 
baritone; Chauncy Haywood, bass; Eugene Hite, snare drums; and Jason D. Feller, 
bass drum.

Many of the men of Scotland Township in Day County soon joined the band. The 
band became quite popular, playing for the many political campaigns, and at 
Tacoma Park for July 4th celebrations. These trips were made in later years by 
autos, but in the early days the traveling was done by wagon and they camped for 
a week at a time each summer at Enemy Swim, Pickerel, and Big Stone lakes, also 
at Mitchell during the Mitchell-Pierre fight for State Capital in about 1904.

F. J. Feller had a new top buggy in a shed during the Jan. 12, 1888 blizzard 
when some snow was drifted solid around the shed up to the roof and later a 
horse walked over the drift and on top of the shed and broke through landing on 
the new buggy, wrecking it.

Mr. Conley started to Groton in a bob sled the morning of the same blizzard 
wearing a brand new fur coat. The storm hit and he started back home and became 
lost so he unhitched the team and let them go and turned the wagon box upside 
down and spent the time inside of the wagon box, giving credit to the new coat 
for keeping him alive. In the morning when the storm cleared he was only a short 
distance from home.

One early spring day in the dry nineties, a terribly strong wind was blowing 
from the south, the air was full of dust, becoming also filled with smoke. It 
was from a prairie fire making its way north over much unbroken land and some 
stubble with the F. J. Feller farm buildings in its path. F. J. had left earlier 
for Ferney and became engaged in helping fight a prairie fire near Ferney to 
save some farm buildings, while neighbors were fighting fire to save his own 
buildings. The same day a prairie fire, traveling from the south over the hills 
east of Garden Prairie in Scotland Township, burned many farm buildings and some 
livestock. That morning when the air became smoke filled some families loaded 
their belongings in wagons and hay racks and left them standing on plowed 
fields.

In April, 1908, one pitch dark night after mid-

[P68]

night, the farm families in east Garden Prairie were routed out of their beds by 
ringing telephones, for the men all to go and help fight a wild prairie fire in 
the hills and some west of the hills. The fire had started from a train S. E. of 
Crandall and a strong wind moved it north. It was an unforgettable sight to see 
all the hills and gulches all ablaze on a pitch dark night. A few days before a 
small fire had gotten out of hand and traveled in a narrow strip several miles 
east and this burnt strip was the main thing that prevented the night fire going 
into the Andover-Bristol area. This fire ruined the gulches for picnics as they 
had been wonderful places for the settlers to spend nice summer days.

In October, 1896 snow came and kept getting worse as the winter set in and went 
off in a rain the last of April. Some potatoes had not been dug and as snow kept 
the ground from freezing, in the spring the potatoes were dug and in good 
condition.

Will and Sam Keiser owned nearly 100 head of fine draft horses and colts and 
when feed became short and almost impossible to get, many of the fine horses 
died.

Lew Wolf drove out to a straw stack with team and sled to get a load of straw. A 
thick coat of snow had to be shoveled off of the top of the stack, also drifts 
were well up to the top of the stack. He pitched a lot of straw up out of the 
hole and when he went to get out to pitch the straw onto the sled, he could not 
get out. Time went on and his wife becoming worried came out to see what was 
wrong, and helped him out of the hole.

A hog crippled by rheumatism became unable to walk and after the other hogs had 
been butchered and sold it was decided to kill this hog, belonging to I. L. 
Bates. William Anstise, a son-in-law, shot the hog with a revolver, in the 
evening, intending to pull the dead hog away the next day, but a blizzard came 
up and buried the hog pen. An unbelievable long time later, 20 or 30 days, it 
was discovered that the hog was alive and oddly seemed to be improved and lived 
and gained to become a butcher hog.

Along the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad tracks from Verdon to Ferney the 
snow was very deep and snow plows which were able to plow snow off the tracks so 
trains could get going again, piled the snow on sides of the tracks high enough 
so trains could not be seen as they went by. When the snow went off in April 
with a rain, water entered the basement of the farm house of the Robert Balls 
one afternoon. They carried all of the potatoes and other needs from the 
basement up to the rooms they used. During the night they were awakened to find 
the water was up to their beds in the rooms. They spent the remainder of the 
night ,on chairs and on top of tables.

A mail route was started about 1900 from Ferney, with Henry Becker as carrier, 
changing from Ferney to Andover about 1906.

In 1904 the Evangelical Church was built. In 1905, telephone lines were built, 
with central operated in the John Green store at Verdon. The other central 
operated in the farm house of William Allens in Scotland Township.

One summer perhaps in the early 90's, John Applegate had a fine watermelon patch 
on one side of a corn field. As it had been discovered by some young men, George 
Holder organized among the neighborhood young men for a melon raid at night. 
George then tipped off Mr. Applegate and told him to be at a certain place in 
the corn field with a shot gun. The raid just got under way in the patch when 
John fired the gun into the sky. Well, there was a grand scramble to get out of 
the patch, with some tripping over vines. George went over and spent some time 
with John, laughing and then ate a melon. Before long here came a horse hitched 
to a top buggy, two boys got out to gather some melons while the driver remained 
in the buggy. When the gun fired the driver grabbed the buggy whip and really 
got the horse going at race speed, leaving the two boys behind to get out the 
best way they knew how. It was not known who they were. Mr. Applegate invited 
all the neighbor boys back for a real melon feed a couple of nights later.

During the Alaska Gold Rush Days of 1898, one of our young citizens, George 
Holder, went to Alaska Gold area and spent about two years. While George never 
found much gold, he had many very interesting experiences. One time while at a 
sand beach early, he buried several coins under the sand which he took from his 
pocket and later when people were gathered around, he began digging in the sand 
as a pass time and unearthing a coin, he became excited and told the others of 
his find and kept right on digging, finding coin after coin, he told the others 
the sand must be full of money. After finding all that he himself had buried he 
left as he had found enough for the day, and all the others were busy digging in 
the sand for money.

In December, 1888, Dick Cook was assisting in digging a well on the Edick farm 
near Ferney and while dropping a section of wooden curbing that had become 
stuck, Dick added pressure to the curbing when it suddenly dropped and Dick 
dropped into the 45 ft. well. Luckily Dick only received a sprained ankle and a 
good shaking up.

Andrew Tollefson owned the first steam threshing rig in the Township in the 
early 80's and this engine was often used to operate the Verdon feed mill when 
not used for threshing. Samuel Feller, a little later, in partnership with 
William Wagner of Groton owned a steam thresher also.

While threshing one day sometime in the 1890's Andrew Tollefson's pocket watch 
went through the separator and except for a slightly jammed case was still in 
good running order for many years. Mr. Tollefson's son George P. now of Nampa, 
Idaho, tells that it may have occurred about 1897 and that part of the Garden 
Prairie Band worked with the threshing machine and they had their horns and 
drums in the tent and would play evenings and rainy days. They were Will 
Holiday, John Emrio, George Holder, Joe Donavan, Chauncy Haywood and Audley 
Painter the snare drummer. Mrs. Frank Cooley was the cook in the cook car that 
year. The steering gears on the steam engine broke that year

[P69]

and a tongue was fastened to the front of the engine and this was also attached 
to the front running gears of a wagon. A man or young boy would walk ahead of 
the wagon wheels and hold the tongue and steer the wagon wheels and therefore 
steer the engine. A boy by the name of Jackson usually did this steering. Frank 
Hanson bucked the straw away from in back of the separator. John Emrio, Will 
Holiday and Fred Stevens were hand feeders. A Mr. Bendickson always had the job 
of sacking the grain. One bundle wagon was pulled by a yoke of oxen.

Verdon, located in the south west corner of east Garden Prairie was a very busy 
prosperous village in the early days. It had a newspaper "Verdon Times", five 
grain elevators, a lumber yard, some grocery stores, a furniture store, a 
harness store, hardware store, two banks, a Hotel, a livery barn, a feed mill, 
creamery and barber shop. The C&NW Railroad reached Verdon from Doland about 
1885 and was extended on to Groton, in 1887.

In the summer of the late 90's, Alvin Feller had been hit in the face with a gun 
shot and his face was paralyzed and he was not able to play a cornet. Sometime 
later on a trip to Groton with team and buggy and with his mother Mrs. S. J. 
Feller, they pulled in at a vacant farm, with only a barn and cook car standing, 
some four miles S. E. of Groton, to get protection from a bad wind and 
electrical storm. Standing in the door of the barn during the storm, Alvin was 
real close to lightning and in a miraculous way he was never bothered with 
paralysis after that. The cook car was rolled over in the storm.

PIONEER DAYS IN DAKOTA TERRITORY
by Ethel Nemeyer

After their marriage in 1882 my parents, Catharine Amelia and Herman Lewis 
Nemeyer, moved from Iowa to Dakota Territory and homesteaded what is described 
in the land grant issued to them by President Benjamin Harrison as, "the 
northeast quarter of section seventeen in township one hundred and twenty north 
of range sixty west of the Fifth Principal Meridian in Dakota Territory 
containing one hundred and sixty acres." After proving up on their claim, they 
moved to Verdon a short time prior to 1890, where Father engaged in the hardware 
and furniture business until 1904, when we moved to Groton.

The first winter or two on the homestead must have been morale testers for those 
early day settlers who came with the barest necessities for farming, plus a 
great deal of much needed determination to win a living in this new country.

Because they had neither a place to buy fuel nor money with which to buy it, my 
people burned prairie hay that first winter in their tar papered shack. This was 
a tall tough stemmed coarse variety of grass and Father built a large stack of 
it near the door of the house. Evenings were spent twisting and tying handfuls 
of these stems into hard knots, which were then tamped into a large wash boiler 
until it was packed tight. The front lids were removed from the little Topsy 
stove and this boilerful of knots inverted over the opening. It lasted 
surprisingly well and supplied plenty of heat for the room and for cooking. 
Father had made a drum oven which was installed in the stove pipe and that was 
where the baking was done. Fat salt pork and corn bread were staple foods until 
a garden could be raised. Once in a while a neighbor who had chickens would 
bring over a few eggs and Mother would share some dried fruit with her.

It was here that the first baby, Irene, died at birth in 1884. The nearest 
doctor was in Groton, forty miles away, so the only help to be had was this 
neighbor lady who came and did all she could for them.

After the second little daughter came late in 1885, my Mother was terrified 
every time the Indians came through on one of their trips to visit another 
reservation. The squaws were very much interested in the little white baby and 
her homemade cradle. They loved to rock it. Mother would give them anything they 
wanted in an effort to keep them friendly, and she bought little beaded 
moccasins from them for Inez. I do not know that they ever harmed anything. In 
1887, I was the third addition to the family on the farm which by this time had 
a better house. Claude was born in Verdon in 1890.

After proving up on the claim in 1889 my people moved to Verdon where my father 
started a hardware and a furniture store. We were still on the trail between 
Indian reservations. I remember one Indian family traveling through in a rather 
ornate hearse that some one had sold them. The man wore the traditional blanket 
and moccasins, topped off with a silk hat. We children thought it would be fun 
to travel in a hearse, our conveyance being only a "surrey with fringe on the 
top". We still have beadwork and a tomahawk peace pipe beautifully carved from 
red pipestone that was bought from them.

The blizzards were terrible--men used to string ropes or make fences from the 
house to the barn so they had something to hang onto to find their way back to 
the house after making the necessary trip out to feed the stock. The cold which 
followed these storms was so intense that every one had to dress for protection 
until the clothing donned was a burden. Frozen noses, cars, and fingers were so 
common a sight in the schoolroom that it didn't create much diversion when a 
child came in with a white nose. The teacher would send someone out for a basin 
of snow and appoint others to hold snow on the frozen places until they thawed 
out, while she went ahead with the classes. We had large schools with all grades 
in one room in those days.

The winter of the "big snow", Main Street was drifted full. Merchants tunneled 
out under the porches of their stores and big kerosene lamps suspended from the 
ceiling of the buildings furnished the only light during the day until the snow 
melted off in the spring. School children had a toboggan slide from the top of 
my Father's store down Main Street. One day as school was about to be dismissed 
for the noon hour, Father and a neighbor came in a bob-sled to take the school 
for a sleigh ride. There

[P70]

were fur robes and sleigh bells, of course, and it was fun until we met a sleigh 
coming into town. Then we had to pile out in the snow while the sleds passed 
each other. The tracks had been pounded down by travel and frozen until they 
were hard, while the snow on either side and in the middle of the road was soft. 
It took some work on the part of man and beast to get the sleds passed and up on 
the tracks again. When a chinook came in the spring those tracks stood up in the 
roads for some time after the softer snow melted away. Water came down from the 
hills east of town and every one put on boots and went to the depot to watch the 
wave come tumbling along the track from the south--not very deep by the time it 
reached Verdon, but still rather forceful.

When Father decided to try putting in the crop himself that next spring, Mother 
and Claude stayed in the store, and one of us girls went out to cook for Dad. At 
harvest time no help was available so we went out with a "kid crew", Father 
rigged up a rope net sling which he nailed to the low side of the headerbox. The 
loose ends of the ropes were fastened to a big iron ring which was thrown back 
over the high side of the box. One of us drove the team and the other with a 
neighbor's boy tried to keep the grain pitched back. Luckily the straw wasn't 
heavy. When the box was full a team was taken from the header and hitched to the 
ring end of the sling, which had been thrown forward over the load. So it was 
pulled out and dumped on the ground. Then Father shaped it around for a stack 
and we had fun helping tramp it down. The horses were headstrong, and the 
drivers not very large, so more than once we nearly took the elevator off the 
header by barging into it with the headerbox.

The advent of the artesian well in Verdon brought the children of the community 
another pleasure, as well as being a convenience for the older people. Men and 
boys built a skating rink not far from the school house at the west edge of 
town. Every evening it was flooded over with water from the well and the next 
morning the surface was like glass. Children learned to skate before they were 
old enough to go to school. Some enterprising citizens built a long bench with a 
high back that came down to the ground, making an effective windbreak. It could 
be moved and placed with the back to the wind, and with fur coats, robes, and a 
camp fire in front of it made a comfortable place for parents to sit and enjoy 
hot coffee and doughnuts while the youngsters skated to harmonica music and sang 
loudly if not too well.

About this time, telephones were installed in Verdon, one of the first ones 
being in the hotel run by Mrs. Shadrach Evans. It was after we moved to Groton 
that we had our first ride in an automobile, a White Steamer owned by Mr. 
McKenzie. And so--pioneer days were done.

[Photo: Garden Prairie Band]

[P71]

VERDON, BROWN COUNTY, DAKOTA
by Reese A. Mathieu

[Photo: Main Street, Verdon Village]

The "big news" of 1895 that interested the occupants of the sod houses, tar-
papered shacks and an occasional dugout dotting the famous James River Valley 
was that the Chicago and Northwestern R. R. was surveying for a railroad that 
would come approximately due north from Doland to Groton. In 1886 the townsites 
were purchased and Eli Smith who homesteaded on Section 31-121-60, sold the S. 
W. 1/4 of the section to the Western Town Lot Co. for the town of Verdon, which 
was platted on that date and is recorded at Aberdeen, S. D. The S. W. 1/4 was 
not a part of the homestead but was bought for $1.25 an acre in 1895 and copy of 
the legal receipt is also on file in Aberdeen. Steel rails were laid as far as 
Conde in 1886 and completed to Groton in 1887.

Ferney, Verdon, Conde and Turton, the four new towns were named by the French 
wife of a railroad official in memory of her native country. Why she substituted 
an "o" for "u" in Verdon is not known. As soon as lots were for sale the town 
was a busy place with named business places on both sides of Main Street with 
living quarters either in the rear or upstairs. Few settlers of the early 1880's 
tried the new business ventures but relatives and friends from "back east" 
comprised most of the village census. Soon there were three general stores, 
hotel, livery stable, hardware, butcher shop, machine dealer, barber shop, and 
empty buildings waiting for their new trade stocks. Until the railroad was 
completed the shelf stock had to be hauled from Aberdeen to open business, and 
that was two days driving for a round trip. Business was good and many times the 
dry goods and groceries would all be sold out before a replacement trip could be 
made. More businesses started after train service was established and with it 
telegraph service which was the wonder of the times. Main Street was filled for 
solid blocks on both sides and elevators that could be seen for miles were soon 
on the horizon. No longer was it necessary to haul grain to Groton.

The school was not built until the next year so the story of the "Big Blizzard" 
of Jan. 12, 1888 was an impressive memory for the town children who were 
stranded 3/4 mile north of town in the school house near the new railroad. A 
rescue party from the livery stable followed the rails until they reached the 
section line crossing and then via rope to the school. The children were guided 
to the sled with its box full of straw and blankets.

Names of early businesses were: Wm. R. Creese, builder--furniture and later 
undertaking; General Stores, Mathieu Bros., Wm., Frank and later Milton, N. H. 
Lamb and R. F. Wagner; Meat Market, Chas. Bahr; Barber Shop, Peter Mereness; 
Lincoln Hotel, Mrs. R. L. Wells; Post Office and Verdon Times Newspaper, Ezra 
Elliott; Hardware Store, H. L. Nemeyer; Livery Stable, J. F. Edwards; Lumber 
Yard and Elevator, Frank Flitner; Doctors, Kent Camerer and Frank Miller; 
Implements and Elevator, Chas. R. Dolan; Elevator, James Meharg; Elevator, 
Seward Allen; Real Estate and Commission Agent, Owen Edwards; and several 
others. Some businesses changed hands many times as some

[P72]

opened up shop only to sell at a profit and make a "quick buck".

Three churches were built to serve the community and four denominations were 
represented--Christian, Baptist, Lutheran and Catholic. The story is told of 
competitive revival services in two churches situated across the street from 
each other. One was singing "Will there be any stars in my crown?", while from 
across the street came the echo, "No, not one, no, not one."

Verdon proved to be one of the most prosperous towns as it grew to support two 
banks, five elevators, and one street grain buyer. Harvest time meant long lines 
of grain wagons waiting to be dumped as the trade territory reached to the James 
River on the west and up into the hills, to the east. Grains were marketed the 
year around by wagon and sled. Main Street hardly had room to accommodate all 
the empty wagons as man and beast took the noon hour off for food and rest. It 
was easy to tell if they came from the hills as the wagon was equipped with 
factory made brakes for the back wheels or carried chain and a post to lock the 
one back wheel so it would slide down the hill to level going. There was no 
excuse to have a squeaking wheel as axle grease was advertised, 6 boxes for a 
quarter.

The "Horse-Trader" was a going business and a judge of horse flesh that would 
find the spavins and cheek the teeth and wind but it was usually too late when 
he found it was a kicker, runaway or balky. He just looked for another trade. An 
occasional runaway horse or team would add to the excitement or concern of the 
village. The casualty could be man, horse or conveyance.

Entertainment was taken care of to the satisfaction of all when a dance hall was 
built onto the rear of the hotel and later a dance and lodge hall was completed 
across the street. A horse race track was built and graded south of town and 
also a ball diamond, where races and lively ball games added to the variety of 
wagers you could make on a horse or a ball team. Verdon had early 4th of July 
celebrations and authority tells me that the Conde band came up one 4th to 
furnish the music.

Famous in the early days was the "Bucket Shop" where current future grain prices 
were continuously posted on the big black board to tell the fate of those that 
dealt in "puts and calls" and bought and sold futures in grains. The telegraph 
was again the means of the latest prices from the grain pits.

Verdon seemed to be a complete business center except that it never had 
legalized liquor. Those who had the appetite had to go north or south to the 
next towns except when the "Blind Pig" winked (and that was pretty regular) or 
Doe filled prescriptions by pints or 1/2 pints.

The first child born in Verdon was a girl named Verdon Radits, whose father was 
the town cobbler.

Two town wells furnished most of the water via "the old oaken bucket and town 
pump style". A flowing artesian well drilled by Giesen & Tolvstad about the turn 
of the century solved the water problems of the village. A public watering tank 
was built and located on Main Street, a handy and needed service for cattle and 
horses. The one problem encountered was to keep the dogs from using it as a 
cooling tank when the mercury soared. A creamery was built about the same time 
but milking cows and delivering whole milk didn't seem to interest enough people 
so its existence was short. The town's milk was supplied by the family cow and 
the town's herdsman would gather them from barns each morning and return them 
each night as long as the grazing on the school section, which joined the 
townsite, was ample. The town also had a pound and a poundmaster to pick up 
trespassing stock and impound them until the fine and feeding was paid. I can 
assure you it started many verbal battles and sometimes a fast fist was thrown. 
I don't recall they ever picked up the few goats that used to run the town and 
climb up on top of the sheds and barns when the manure piles neared the low 
lean-to roofs.

Verdon continued to be about the best business center until the Minneapolis and 
St. Louis R. R. finally built its new line thru Conde and on to Aberdeen. Their 
first survey was through Verdon but the R. R. asked some bonus payment which 
didn't appeal to those approached and the farmers who would have had their farms 
cut by the new grade turned it down. Some Verdon businesses moved over to the 
new towns and the trade territory was cut nearly 50%. Verdon had passed its 
zenith and from then it couldn't survive the blows dealt to all small towns-
fires' deaths and automobile trade centers. Only the names of Frank and Henry 
Gabert, Frank Washnok, Reese A. and Hazel (Cleveland) Mathieu, Mayme (Cleveland) 
Easterby and Elmer Hanlon are still on the Verdon poll list to represent the 
territorial settlers.

Other prominent family names not heretofore mentioned in the early history of 
Verdon were: Dr. A. E. Holmes and wife Kate; Wm. B. Roby; G. N. Simmons; C. W. 
Osborn; Hurd Bros., Joe, Jess, Ina and George; Annie Evans; E. F. Nielan; Chas. 
E. Hite; Ed. Pembroke; O. N. Anderson; Bud and Fay Smith; Ludwig "Lute" 
Tolvstad; and Anton Giesen.


[P73]

BATH TOWNSHIP
by Charles Creed and W. H. Wenz

Theodore A. Chose, a trapper, was the first settler in what is now Bath 
Township, having made his headquarters a few miles down the river from Yorkville 
in 1878. He later filed and proved up on his land.

Bath Township was surveyed in July, August and September, 1879 by Thomas F. 
Marshall, who in 1896 was a member of congress from North Dakota. The southern 
boundary line was surveyed by H. J. Austin in June. Bath village was platted in 
the fall of 1880, the surveyor's certificate having been executed by F. L. 
Hildebrand on October 30, 1880, and the plat filed on January 3, 1881.

D. G. Stewart, who was in the southern part of the county twice during 1879, 
bought the first town lot in Bath. The deed was executed May 28, 1881, and was 
one of the very few warranty deeds given for town lots by Charles H. Prior.

Dr. A. Grant was in Rondell in 1880 but did not settle in Bath until the 
following year. John Helmka arrived in Columbia in the spring of 1880 and in 
August he filed his homestead in the township. His family arrived the next 
spring with Miss Ida Ellsworth. John and James Regan were here in 1880 and drove 
on to Bismarck, returned the next month and located. James spent the following 
winter at his old home in Iowa. John started to walk to Watertown February 19, 
1881, and was found dead on the river just a month later, a half-mile below 
Rondell. This was the first death to occur among Bath settlers. The first death 
in the township was that of Morris M. Jones, who died suddenly in the summer of 
1882 while at work on the house of William J. Hallock.

Robert M. Roberts made the first filing in the township, May 11, 1880, and filed 
on a tree claim two days later. It was filed at Fargo at the time. Peter Evans 
filed June 21, 1880, and David R. Hughes located at the same time. Henry and Ira 
Wilber arrived May 28, 1880. Their daughter, Estella, was the first child born 
in the township. This event took place April 29, 1881. John Chamberlain arrived 
July 4, 1880 and George Perry arrived in August, 1880.

The first home in the township, after Theodore Chose's cabin was built by John 
C. McChesney in July, 1880 on the southeast 3/4 23-123-63 and was built of 
lumber. Sylvanus H. Cook built a combination sod and board house in September, 
and August Knie built a sod house soon after. These men arrived in June. John 
Helmka built a sod house later in the summer.

The railroad grade reached Bath in the fall of 1880 and the track was laid in 
June, 1881, but no siding was put in until the road was completed to Aberdeen. 
The immigrant car of G. W. Hickman was the first car set off at Bath about the 
middle of July. T. T. Nickle was the first station agent and also the first 
wheat buyer in the first elevator which was built in the summer of 1882. That 
year the wheat crop tributary to Bath averaged 28 bushels per acre.

Before spring most of the settlers ran short of provisions. Nate and Len 
Loveless had raised some wheat near Columbia the year before and settlers bought 
wheat of them and ground it in coffee mills.

The season of 1880 was a wet one. Heavy snows came after the beginning of 
February, 1881. The season of 1881 was dry. There was a heavy storm on the night 
of Wednesday, August 24, at which time the sloughs were pretty well filled with 
water.

In March, 1881, J. D. Mason and Marshall Collver walked from Appleton, Minnesota 
to Watertown on snowshoes and filed on their land on the 27th without having 
seen it. Both got good quarters. P. C. Cavanaugh started a ferry across the Jim 
about a mile north of the railroad grade on May 28, 1881.

The approaches to the ferry at Yorkville had become almost impassable, almost 
every team coming to or leaving the ferry getting stuck in the mud. Mr. Kline 
was moving three carloads of immigrants' movables from Bristol and learned that 
Mr. Cavanaugh had a tight wagon box. He got Mr. Cavanaugh to help him ferry over 
his three carloads for which no charge was made. The next morning thirty teams 
and wagons were lined up waiting for a chance to get over. Mr. Cavanaugh helped 
them all over that day free of charge. Later he built a ferry boat which some of 
the neighbors ran, as he had a contract on the Milwaukee in Spink County and 
could not take care of the ferry.

The first wagon bridge in the vicinity was built across the Jim near W. E. 
Burton's by B. H. Randall in January, 1882. Funds for it had been raised by 
popular subscription.

Religious services were held as early as June, 1881, when Rev. H. B. Johnson, a 
Presbyterian clergyman from Watertown, who had located near Aberdeen, conducted 
meetings in Julius C. Raymo's hotel tent. Rev. C. M. Brown, a Methodist 
clergyman, came to this part of the country in August and remained three months. 
The first Sunday School in that area was organized in June, the same year in 
Raymo's hotel tent. John Chamberlain was elected superintendent. It is related 
that there not being enough seats to go around, boards were placed over beer 
kegs for seats. Sunday School has been kept up in Bath ever since (1952).

The first permanent building in the village was the hotel built by Angus 
McPherson in August, 1881. Salzer and Edward's store building, later changed to 
a dwelling, was erected soon after, as was the J. B. Stevens and Company 
building. Grant and Stewart's building went up in October and the depot was 
finished in November.

The first election in which Bath people were in-

[P74]

terested was the first one in the county, November 22, 1880, at which time the 
location of the county seat was voted upon. The county had been organized but a 
short time before. The first meeting of the county commissioners was held 
Tuesday, September 14, 1880, when county officers were appointed by the 
Territorial governor. The county was divided into three districts and at a 
meeting of the commissioners on October 7, N. M. Cole was appointed judge of 
election for the first district, Archie McKinnon for the second district, and 
Lewis Bowman for the third district. It was later moved, "that in view of the 
fact that the establishment of poling places at different places in the county 
for the election to be held November 22, 1880, would place the county under 
heavy expense caused by the employing of judges and clerks of election at each 
polling place; therefore, to save the county this expense and as Columbia is 
centrally located in the county, it is hereby designated as the place for 
polling votes on election day."

This motion, after much discussion on the part of the commissioners, was finally 
carried. The great expense saved the county by this was so well remembered that 
in the election a year later, with twice the number of polling places the 
settlers expected there would be in the county seat election, the expense to the 
county was about $95.00 for salaries of judges and clerks of election and for 
delivering ballot boxes.

There were 189 ballots cast at the one lone polling place, and in spite of the 
fact that most of the settlers were in the southern part of the county and the 
only polling place was on the northern fringe of the settlement, Bath was only 
one behind Columbia when the results were finally given out. Columbia got 83 
votes, Section 17, Bath 82, Ordway 11 and Junction, Aberdeen 13. Old timers in 
Bath stoutly maintained that they won by three votes notwithstanding their 
handicap. John Regan was elected County Superintendent of Schools, at this 
election but did not qualify. William B. York worked hard for Bath for county 
seat. The first Republican convention in the county was held at Columbia, 
October 25, 1881, when C. M. Cannon, great-grandfather of Carroll Willson 
Burckhard, Aberdeen, was nominated for county commissioner. The delegates who 
attended from Bath were C. M. Cannon, who was entitled to four votes, and 
Richard Williams. The election was held November 8. C. M. Cannon received 436 
votes and E. H. Alley, James Floyd, and W. T. Elliot each one. At that time Bath 
precinct No. 3 comprised townships 122, 123, and the south half of 124 in range 
62 and the east half of township 123, range 63. The judges of that election were 
C. M. Cannon, Angus McPherson, and Judson Burrows. The clerks were Frank J. 
Steven and M. J. Hersey, Jr.

Early in August, 1881, the following were doing business in Bath: Julius C. 
Raymo, hotel; William Williams, pumps; Garland and Randall, general store; Frank 
Stevens, lumber; Jumper and Bliss, general store, here about three weeks; and 
Salzer and Edwards, lumber. Angus McPherson was building his hotel at the time 
and his family arrived from Minnesota the latter part of the month. Miss Sarah 
Jones and Charles Slyfield were conducting a bakery and boarding house before 
the end of August.

Mr. Randall, of the firm of Garland and Randall, was the first postmaster. Frank 
Stevens next held the office and Angust McPherson received his commission as 
postmaster about the beginnning of February, 1882, and took charge of the office 
the latter part of the month.

Calvin M. Giddings and Miss Harriet Bland were the first couple married in 
Aberdeen. Rev. H. B. Johnson tied the knot on Sunday, July 31, 1881. Julius C. 
Raymo, of the Central House, Bath, and Miss Loveless were married several weeks 
later.

[Photo: McPherson Grocery and Mercantile Store]

Bath School District was organized January 19, 1882, at a meeting called for 
that purpose at the C. M. & St. Paul depot. Henry Perry was chosen chairman of 
the meeting and Thomas Edwards as clerk. Sylvanus H. Cook and Richard Williams 
were appointed tellers. On motion the tellers were requested to accept votes 
only from parties residing in the district. On the ballot for director, S. H. 
Cook received four votes, Henry Perry got five and H. C. Hyde, two. Mr. Cook was 
declared elected. On the

[P75]

[Photo: Bath School House]

formal ballot for district clerk W. G. Hickman received five votes and Henry 
Perry four and the former was declared elected. Thomas Edwards was elected 
treasurer on the fifth formal ballot when he received ten out of nineteen votes 
cast On February 17, it was decided to bond for $1,500 and build a schoolhouse. 
The first term of school was held in Edward's hall, commencing the first Monday 
in June, and lasting three months. Miss Ada L. Perry was the first teacher.

The schoolhouse was built in time to commence the fall term in it on September 
4th. The contract price of the building was $1,763.00 and it was put up by Mr. 
Darlington of Ordway.

At a school meeting held April 15, 1882, on motion of C. M. Cannon, it was 
decided to have nine months of school. In sub-district No. 4, school was held 
for twelve months in 1884. The township was reduced to its present size in May, 
1883 The civil township was organized on March 20, 1884, and was given the same 
boundaries as the school district.

A. C. Tuttle, who owned the Day County Reporter at Webster, started the James 
Valley Post at Bath in April, 1882. D. B. Worthington ran the paper from the 
beginning and bought the outfit in a few weeks. He ran it until December of the 
same year, when it was suspended on account of a snow blockade. The plant was 
sold to John H. Drake of the Dakota Pioneer at Aberdeen. The press consisted of 
two heavy pieces of iron--a platen and bed--which were thrown together by a 
lever which was made of gas pipe. The Post was a four column paper and the 
columns were printed at right angles to the columns of the patent insides. It 
was printed on the second floor of the depot. When the plant was brought to Bath 
it had only one case of body type, but some of the latter was soon secured. Mr. 
Worthington bought the plant for $75.00 wages due for work done on the Webster 
paper. The Bath Herald was started several years later.

In the spring of 1882 Rev. O. A. Phillips of Ordway organized a Methodist Church 
society. The church was built in 1886, the dedication taking place on Sunday, 
July 4th.

The first singing society was organized in Bath in the latter part of April, 
1882, and met every Saturday evening at 7:30. Thomas Edwards was president; Miss 
Ada Perry, secretary; Mrs. Charles Slyfield, treasurer; and G. W. Hickman, 
chorister.

In the fall of 1882 a literary society was organized and kept up every winter 
for a number of years. Perhaps this was the frontier at the time but the 
settlers knew how to entertain themselves. The community has been unable to 
scare up as good a literary in late years. Among those who took a prominent part 
in the meetings were: Reuben W. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Edwards, Mr. and Mrs. 
Henry Perry, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Hickman, R. K. Burton, J. M. Scharff, Miss 
Minnie Hart, Miss Ada Perry, Dr. A. Grant, A. G. Waterman, and later Professor 
Charles Hobe.

A census showed twenty-eight teachers and exteachers located in Bath and the 
Vicinity in the early days. Late in 1883 a very successful teachers' society was 
organized which met every two weeks for a number of years.

A brass band was organized in January, 1886.

[P76]

Frank Church ran the first steam threshing rig in the township, in the fall of 
1882. Stephen R. Jones and William Pritchard ran a horse power outfit the same 
fall.

In 1886 the town of Bath had a three story hotel, a large livery barn, and three 
general stores. Proprietors were McPherson, Runge, and Carpenter. Old Dr. Grant 
wore a shawl on his head and never washed his face. A good doctor though, they 
said. Fire destroyed the big hotel. Ralph Root threw a lamp out of a third story 
window and carried a bed tick downstairs. Buffalo bones with tendons still 
holding joints together were lying on the prairie. Our oxen, Buck and Bright 
swam the slough north of Bath, dragging the wagon after them. Camp meetings were 
at Everson's Grove. Dad (C. H. Creed, Sr.) was the instigator in the interest of 
the Populist Party. A girl named Pat Crowley strolled about the grounds-made me 
feel green and insufficient. I slept in a tent with Ignatius Donnelly. When he 
got back to Minnesota and his paper he devoted a column to describing how 
Charlie kicked so he couldn't sleep.

Mary Ellen Lease; Dr. Herron Mills, the socialist; Coin Harvey, of free silver 
fame; Sockless Jerry Simpson; and others were at the same grove. The place, 
crowded with tents and lighted within, presented an alluring moving picture in 
shadows after nightfall. Bryan, the silver tongued, and sharp tongued Carrie 
Nation and others came after. I carried Carrie's bag to the auditorium at Tacoma 
Park. She stopped, opened the bag, and gave me a small souvenir hatchet. Then 
she turned and harangued a crowd of hecklers. She snatched a cigarette from a 
fresh guy's face as we stood there.

The Christmas tree at Bath in 1886 was a big willow from the river east of town. 
It was decorated with colored paper streamers and wrappers and hung thickly with 
luscious red apples. At the close of the program, minister took the pulpit and 
asked that parents see that their children did not touch the apples since THEY 
WERE BORROWED for the occasion.

[Photo: Binding Grain]

A threshing machine was set up right in Bath and run by horse power of six 
teams. The first steam engines were hauled about by four horses strung out. They 
had a tongue in front for that purpose. Each thresher had two band cutters, one 
feeder, and a grain measurer. This latter had two half bushel measures. He 
dumped one into a sack held by a man while the other was filling. He counted 
each bushel by hand on a record before him.

The Bath elevator was run by horsepower. A blind horse was used. All grain was 
delivered in two bushel sacks which had to be lifted shoulder high and dumped 
into the hopper. Then giddap.

The old mill at Columbia stood stark alone with its great wheel and dam. The 
Columbia sidewalk extended under the railroad bridge and clear out to the 
cemetery. Sioux Indians travelled through with squaws and papooses. Bath people 
became alarmed when Indian troubles threatened. Sod houses were papered inside 
with old newspapers in lieu of something better. The Gooleys lived in a dugout 
west of Bath. All carpenters used square nails called cut nails. New round ones, 
called wire nails were coming into vogue. Carpenters doubted their efficiency.

There were many patent medicine shows. One sold Kickapoo Indian Sagwa. 
Entertainers told jokes on local people. Will Wenz criticized the show. The next 
night the clown told how he had seen Wenz hanging onto a cow's tail making her 
run around. The idea was that he was trying to get a free milk shake, a popular 
drink then.

Funerals used plain black boxes for coffins. There was no embalming.

Someone inspected the sidewalks daily and drove back nails which protruded a 
little. They caught the hems of the women's dresses and tore them. The first 
bicycles had a big wheel in front. Will Wenz had one. It has a broken hand grip. 
I was the one who broke it in taking what they call a header. The first "safety" 
bicycles weighed over a hundred pounds, had hard tires, and solid steel frames.

Wells had buckets instead of pumps. The first telephone poles were 2x4's bolted 
to a sharpened fence post. Dead prairie chickens and other birds strung along 
under the single wire.

Others who located claims in the vicinity of Bath in 1880, in addition to those 
already mentioned were: Hans C. Anderson, Fred T. Adams, in Bath and Cambria 
Twp., Andrew Bower, Charles L. Bean, George E. Brooks, James C. Boyles, David E. 
O. Bird, Edward N. Brann, C. H. Church, Frank Church, Thomas B. Close, Dennis P. 
Cummings, Frank Corel, Robert Dunlevy, Margaret Dunlevy, William Gourley, John 
M. Glover, Alanson A. Graves, Christopher Hanson, John Hart, George B. Hall, 
Charles M. Huey, John C. Hall, Neils J. Holum, Oliver Hughes, Reuben W. Jones, 
John O. Jones, Richard Jones, Ole J. Johnson, Martin Knie, Jr., Morris M. Jones 
and sons John J. and David C., Henry H. Jones, Herman Kreyer, William King, 
William Lamb, Eugene Lamb, Benjamin F. Long, Rudolph McChesney, Alexander S. 
McCutcheon, John Nelson, Samuel L. Norton, Thomas J. Owens, C. O. Peterson, 
Christian E. Prestegaard, Isaac Pary, Bennet Peterson, Henry Powers, Philander 
Powers, John Powers, Moses Roberts,, Morgan G. Roberts, William X. Roberts, 
William J. Rowlands, Robert J. Rowlands, Thurstain Richardston, Jacob M. 
Scharff, Jonathan Smith, Herman Schuermann, Peter Smith,

[P77]

C. W. Swift, O. S. Steele, Henry Salzer, John W. Shaw, William A. Stark, Edward 
L. William, Sr., A. G. Waterman, William Wilkinson, William H. Wood, Owen J. 
Williams, William E. Williams, Richard Williams, Dr. W. E. Williams, William 
Zaczewski, Charles W. Zimmerman.

The following were here the winter of 1880-1881: S. H. Cook and family, C. 6. 
Peterson and family, John Nelson, William Lamb, A. G. Waterman, Theodore A. 
Chose, George B. Hall, Martin Knie, Jr., August Knie and John C. McChesney. 
Billings H. Randall and William H. Wood spent the winter at Columbia, Eugene A. 
Conant at Watertown, and Morris Jones and sons at Ortonville. Others coming in 
the early eighties were: Charles and Harriet Bland, Thomas Crogan, Morgan E. 
Jones, David Griffiths, Sr., William W. Jones, Lawrence Freeman, G. Haley, 
Andrew Ballweg, A. Pecor, Levi Mable, John Anderson, B. C. Talbot, E. B. Holmes, 
William A. Payne, John W. Flemming, John A. Jones, Theodore C. Shuttleworth, 
Adolph Elsner, Allen T. Hammond, Julius Schnase, John H. Jones, Simon B. Bean, 
Miss Sarah J. Jones, William P. Stickney, Byron E. Hall, Reese W. Jones, 
Christian Wenz, William H. Pary, and Francis R. Collins.

[Photo: Andrew Ballweg and Mrs. Andrew Ballweg]

[Photo: William Fritz]

[P78]

BRAINARD TOWNSHIP
by J. B. Forsting, Frederick Free Press, Jubilee Edition, 1957

Brainard Township consists of all that part of Township 126, Range 62, and part 
of Township 126, Range 63. So Brainard is actually a township and a half. The 
land in this township was surveyed in 1879 and 1880, and was attested Feb. 27, 
1882 at Yankton by Cortez Fessenden, the Surveyor General. The area was then 
opened up by the government for settlement.

[Photo: Aurland Congregation outside the church in 1897. Charter members, right 
to left: Ole Holten, Ole Quam, Ivor Tveit, Andrew Thye, and John J. Buene.]

There were already "squatters" here then. They were James A. Wright, A. Johnson, 
Louis Kughee Young, J. H. Brown, James Hohensee, and Bern Dickinson.

A group of persons from Travel De Pass, now called Brown's Valley, visited this 
area before the squatters came. Father Alexander Ravoux headed this group and he 
told Father Robert Haire, who was the priest in the Frederick-Columbia Parish 
from 1882 to 1896, of his experience. Father Ravoux visited a Cuthead Indian 
village on the west side of Sand Lake and celebrated Holy Mass there. This was 
probably the first Christian service in Brown County. A bronze plaque has been 
placed in a public park on the west side of Sand Lake to memorialize this 
service.

Brainard was originally known as Pectoria. A townsite was laid out on Sand Lake 
where boats landed that made the trip on the James River from Columbia to Port 
Emma, Dakota Territory. A grade was built for the proposed railroad that was 
never built. Part of the grade is still visible.

On November 28, 1883, a meeting was held at the M. J. Sackreiter house. At this 
meeting those present voted to change the name Pectoria to Brainard. The group 
also decided to erect two school houses, and they named E. F. McCoy, clerk, and 
Thomas J. Quigg and Sackreiter members of the school board. The first teachers 
were Caroline Quigg, Anna Roney and Romon Johnson.

[Photo: Brainard Township School No. 5--Election Day]

Brainard Township was organized in the home of Alex G. Warren, another early 
settler in the township. Warren was later named the first sheriff of Brown 
County. At this meeting the men chosen the first supervisors of Brainard 
Township were M. J. Sackreiter, W. F. Sheridan, and Herbert Richmond. F. J. 
Hassett was elected clerk; Samuel Johnson, treasurer; and W. H. Davenport, 
assessor. These men, not already mentioned, settled here two and three years 
after the squatters came, or in 1882 and 1883. This township organizational 
meeting was held in 1883. The first assessment of Brainard was made in 1884, and 
already there was a total value of $54,750.00.

Florence Cole who married a man named Mahoney was the first white child born in 
the township.

Brainard Township does not brag, but we had the first Brown County sheriff, and 
we are proud of Senator Ed Thye of Minnesota for his brother lives here. There 
has never been a major crime in this township. The people, many of them 
descendants of the early settlers, are all good citizens and Christians, and 
have progressed along with the country.

In addition to those people mentioned in the story, territorial pioneers 
included: John J. Buene; Ingeborg E. Wangen, who married John Buene in 1883; Mr. 
and Mrs. Thomas O. Holten; Andrew A. Thye and his wife, Brita E. Wangen Thye, 
whose son, Edward, later became governor of Minnesota; Christian E. Wangen who 
came in 1882 and lived all but six weeks of a full century; Armund Hammer; Jack 
Wade; Vernon Gregory; Charles Christianson; Charles S. Wright; Ralph H. Wade; 
Olen Quam and Edward Hammer.

[Photo: John J. Buene and Ingeborg E. Wangen Buene, parents of Mrs. John Lukken, 
Mrs. Giles Anderson, Mrs. Virgil Thompson, Mrs. Ereka Tollefson, Anna Holten.]

[P79]

CAMBRIA TOWNSHIP
by C. W. Jones

The pioneers that settled in what is now Cambria Township in the year 1878 were 
John Everson, Ben Everson and Ole Everson and Bennett Peterson. They settled on 
the east side of the James River. Those that settled on the west side were John 
Chamberlain, Henry Williams, Joseph Thomas, David Griffiths, Powers Family, 
William Gifford, John Whitcoln, T. A. Jones, George B. Hall, O. S. Steele, R. D. 
Roberts, T. E. Williams, George H. Williams and many more.

Philip Rudsil was the assessor in the township for the year of 1887 and 1888.

In the year of 1887 the Great Northern Railroad was laid through Cambria 
Township. D. D. Jones built a store and the store was called Plana, Dakota 
Territory, which became quite a thriving little town.

The Everson Grove was the place for all picnics for several years. The year 1897 
Tacoma Park became very popular for all amusements.

The Welsh Church was built at Plana in the year 1887 as there were many Welsh 
settled around Plana.

[Photo: Welch Church at Plana]

Plana was originally named Hadley. It was changed to Plana because there was 
another village in the state by the name of Hadley.

There were three elevators built, Depot, community hall, barber shop and several 
houses.

Mr. and Mrs. Morgan E. Jones were both born in Wales, and came with their 
parents when about one year old. Mr. Jones was born in 1841 and Mrs. Jones in 
1842. They lived in Bangor, Wisconsin for a number of years and were married 
there on the 25th of December 1866. There were four children born while living 
in Bangor, Wisconsin. Their names were Abbie, Frank, John E. and Morgan, Jr. The 
family arrived in Watertown, South Dakota on May 15, 1881. Two children were 
born in South Dakota. They were Maine, born July, 1881 and Charles W. Jones, 
born December, 1883. Charles was born on the homestead and still lives there. 
Maine and Charles Jones are the only living children now.

[Photo: Charlie W. Jones home. The first in Cambria Township.]

TACOMA PARK - CAMBRIA TOWNSHIP
by Richard Dresselhuys

The site of Tacoma Park, South Dakota, was first homesteaded by an eccentric 
pioneer, Tom James. It is situated on what is probably the longest tolerably 
straight stretch in the entire course of the lazy James River in the center of 
Brown County.

Old settlers say that James named his wooded claim Tacoma Park after Tacoma, 
Washington, although no one else even considered it a park at the time. Its 
beauty was almost entirely hidden by vines and underbrush that wove in and 
around the thousands of trees, making the place almost inaccessible.

James soon lost the half section of land on which his park was located, and in 
1895 it was purchased from the new owners by the Farmers' Alliance, somewhat of 
a political organization, which later became the Tacoma Park Association. The 
association officially named the park Tacoma in accordance with the wishes of 
James, who still lived there.

[Photo: Tom James on his Tacoma Park Homestead.]

This was only a decade or so after the white settlers first took up claims in 
the great prairie region known as the Valley of the James River. In the early 
days, Tacoma Park was like an oasis on the then treeless plains because of its 
thick natural

[P80]

growth of tall ash trees. It soon became the summer play spot of the whole 
countryside.

Hundreds of tents housing Aberdeen and other northeastern South Dakota families 
could be found inhabiting the place each summer. At the height of the season 
excursions on the Great Northern Railroad every hour brought pleasure seeking 
thousands from Aberdeen to this place of amusement and haven of shade.

Those days have gone, however. With the advent of the automobile, Aberdeen and 
Brown County citizens began visiting distant lakes and resorts for week-ends and 
longer vacations. It is no longer an amusement park but a quiet summer resort 
made up of some 60 cottages, a few houses, store, postoffice and dance pavilion. 
Two large frame buildings, an auditorium and a restaurant have fallen into 
disuse and decay. The postoffice has also been discontinued.

[Photo: Mrs. Lena Peterson, Cambria Township's oldest resident. She lived to be 
102 years old.]

Tacoma Park has lost in glamour but not in beauty. The tall trees and the 
picturesque river have endeared it to the hearts of the summer residents, the 
greatest number of whom return season after season, and to the 60 or 70 souls 
who make it their year-around home.

TACOMA PARK - CAMBRIA TOWNSHIP
Taken From Andrea's Atlas

In the eighty's, 4th of July picnics with speeches, tug-of-war contests, greased 
pig chases and greased pole climbing were popular and drew large crowds, who 
came with horses and wagons. When the Populist Party was organized a group of 
interested men decided to have an encampment where they could have speeches 
every day, and other entertainment. At first it was only 2 days, then it was 
decided to hold it for a week and the last day to be the 4th of July.

Ben Everson's grove was chosen. The river was a big attraction for boating and 
fishing.

They had a large tent for shelter from the sun and rain and some of the women 
and children slept there. They called it the Alliance tent.

There were no automobiles then so people came with horses and wagons mostly. 
Some families had cook cars from threshing rigs but most of them had tents. They 
hauled their beds and necessary furniture and cooking things in the wagon and 
the horses were turned out to pasture for the week. Some families brought a cow 
which was kept in the pasture also.

A "stock company" would be engaged for the week to put on a play every night and 
sometimes a performance in the daytime. A professional quartet was hired 
sometimes. Entertainers were hired from regular chatauqua companies, readers and 
speakers on various topics. Some home talent was used. Don and Joe Meyers sang 
sometimes. Nellie Welsh gave readings.

After having the encampment at Everson's grove for several years, they decided 
to buy a grove. They found they could get Tom James' grove which he called 
Tacoma Park. That name still holds. They formed a Tacoma Park Association and 
had the land surveyed and platted and lots were leased on a 99 year basis. The 
cottages could be owned personally.

The Great Northern Railroad runs thru Tacoma Park. The railroad agreed to run a 
train from Aberdeen to the park every day if the association would guarantee 
$185.00 a day. They ran the train and nothing more was said about the guarantee, 
so it must have been a profitable deal. Johnnie Murphy was conductor on it. They 
gave him the job because his folks were camped there.

Every year there would be a merry-go-round and stands where candy, peanuts, 
lemonade and novelties, such as fans, etc., were sold.

There was Blanco, The Spanish Dodger, who would stick his head through a large 
canvas and people would throw balls at him at so much a throw. And there was a 
cane where you threw rings to get a cane.

In the evenings there was dancing on a floor built for that purpose with the 
trees for a roof and lighted with gasoline torches.

The shows and speeches were held in a large tent for the first few years. 
Finally an auditorium was built on the side of the hill. The stage was at the 
bottom of the hill and the seats arranged on the hillside. It was used a while 
without shingles but sometimes the show had to stop and everyone ran from the 
rain to their tents or top buggies or under
the stage.

Many people built cottages on their lots and some families lived there most of 
the summer or came for weekends.

One Sunday, Mrs. S. H. Cranmer brought Mr. LaVerne Wheeler out to look over the 
stage. They picniced with the George Daly family. The Asso-

[P81]

ciation hired Mr. Wheeler to make nice stage settings. He did the painting which 
was very nice.

The Aberdeen band under the leadership of Mr. Cason used to play nearly every 
day through chautauqua week.

One year in the early 90's a man had a gramophone set up in the park and you 
could pay a small price and put rubber tubes to your ears and hear music. A few 
years later, someone had a tent where they played a later-type of phonograph 
that had a large tin horn. We heard the popular songs that way. They may have 
sold phonograph records. They did have other penny-catching deals. One had a 
slot and a sign saying to put your hand under the tube and drop in a penny and 
get a beautiful souvenir ring. The penny caused a bell to ring.

Liquor was not sold on the grounds but there were "blind pigs" where those 
interested managed to buy it.

Many people saw their first automobile at the park. An Oldsmobile with a 
dashboard! Another was a Winston driven all the way from Aberdeen by R. L. 
Brown, a banker. A. Clark, banker in Hecla, came with his Mitchell with high 
wheels like a buggy.

You could put a horse in the pasture up on the hill, for twenty-five cents a 
day--much cheaper than parking a car now.

There was a ball diamond up on the hill. It had a good grandstand for those 
days. There were ball games every afternoon.

Speakers at various times were: W. J. Bryan Richmond Pierson Hobson, hero of the 
Spanish War; Eugene V. Dobbs, Socialist leader; Robert LaFollett, Mary Ellen 
Lease, Cain Harvey, Charles A. Town, Ignatius Donnelly, Carrie A. Nation, who 
even knocked cigars out of mouths of smokers with her umbrella, right there on 
the park grounds. She sold little hatchets for souvenirs.

CHURCH AT PLANA
Translated from Welsh to English by O. W. Rolands

Record of the first Welsh Sunday School and the organization of the Sunday 
School and the Welsh Calfrinistic Methodist Church in Brown County Dakota 
Territory from April 23, 1882, till February 27, 1890 which was written in Welsh 
by the late Robert Owen, Deacon.

April 23, 1882 at Morgan E. Jones home, which is the present home of Charles 
Jones, the first Sunday School was organized. Robert Owen was chosen to be 
Superintendent and John S. Thomas, Secretary. The first one was held April 30, 
1882, at R. D. Roberts home, near the North-Western R. R. near Hadley, the 
present town of Plana, on the N. W. 1/4 Section 32, Township 124, Range 62. 
William App Williams gave the devotional part at the beginning of this first 
Sunday School.

The Teachers were Robert S. Thomas, Edward L. Williams, Moses Roberts, and 
Robert L. Williams. Maim Spring, Cambria, Wisconsin, was teacher of the children 
for the few Sundays when here on his visit, also, he was the first to Catechise 
the children. There were 27 present at this first one. Prayer meeting was held 
after this Sunday School. Those who took part were Edward L. Williams, Robert S. 
Thomas, and Robert L. Williams, Cambria, Wisconsin. Many more came to attend the 
prayer meeting than the Sunday School.

May 7, 1882--The second Sunday School was held at the same place--44 present.

May 14, 1882--The third was held at the home of R. T. Roberts, N. E. of Section 
1, Township 123, Range 62--number present 49, and as I remember, this was the 
highest number present from the beginning till today February 27, 1890. After 
this Sunday School (The Third) Rev. Daniel L. Rowlands preached. Text Heb. 2, 
verse 3. This was the first sermon for us, and the longest too, an hour and 40 
minutes.

May 21, 1882--It was held at the same place, and was there till July 2, 1882. 
Then Morgan E. Jones made a motion and was seconded by Moses Roberts, "That the 
Sunday School and all meetings were to be held at Bath," and passed by the 
audience. Rev. Daniel T. Rowlands preached after this Sunday School. The 
collection for him was $3.02.

May 28, 1882--The second Welsh preacher came to our settlement--Rev. Daniel 
Williams, Grand Rapids, Dakota Territory (Known afterwards as Dr. Daniel 
Williams, Storm Lake, Iowa; and later of Minneapolis, Minnesota.)

June 11, 1882--A motion came before this Sunday School to organize a church, and 
Rev. Daniel Rowlands to be the Pastor, but the audience unanimously voted 
against.

July 9, 1882--We moved to the depot in Bath. This Sunday Rev. Sam Phillips, 
Dodgeville, Wisconsin and Rev. J. P. Williams, Racine, Wisconsin, preached for 
us. They were sent by the "Congregational Assembly of Wisconsin", to see if they 
could organize a Congregational Church here, but when they found that 2 out of 
every 10 was Calvinistic Methodist they never mentioned a word about the 
organizing, although we had a very pleasant Sunday with them.

August 6, 1882--Rev. Rees Evans, Cambria, Wisconsin was sent here by the "Welsh 
C. M. Assembly of Wisconsin", he preached in the morning on I Timothy 4, 8. In 
this meeting he put before the audience the matter of organizing a church, and a 
week's time for the community to think about it. At two o'clock in the afternoon 
he preached on Matt. 7:20. Rev. Evans was with us 12 days, and enjoyed his visit 
immensely, and the whole Welsh settlement also enjoyed him. No wonder, most all 
of us came from Wisconsin, and knew him, and those that didn't know him, heard 
of him. He was such a noted preacher among the Welsh Churches of Wisconsin.

August 13, 1882--The second Sunday for Rev. Evans amongst us; he preached in the 
morning on Phil. 2:5. In here I'll give a quotation of what he wrote to the 
"Drych", the Welsh newspaper published at Eutica, New York. "It was informed a

[P82]

week a head that vote of the congregation would be taken, whether to organize a 
church, or not, under the protection of the C. M. Assembly. Voting on it--all 
was united, and perfectly willing for the movement. The vote was taken at the 
end of our service, and 48 pleasantly came to sign their names to be members of 
this organization of the Welsh Church at Bath, Dakota Territory. Most all the 
members at this time were young, moral, and fairly well educated." Edward L. 
Williams was a great helper at this start, he was a noted deacon back East in 
Wisconsin, and his presence at this period among us was great help, to lead in 
the great cause to move along as well as we could under those early 
circumstances.

Rev. Evans preached in English at 2 o'clock this Sunday afternoon to a large 
audience, and at 7 o'clock at night in Welsh, and he testified afterwards that 
this sermon was the easiest to deliver for him in all his life, so far. In this 
meeting--for leaders, and caretakers of the church meetings they chose: Edward 
L. Williams, Robert Owen, and Rees Jones.

As announcer, William App Williams; secretary, Moses Roberts; treasurer, Morgan 
E. Jones; leader of the singing, Morgan E. Jones and Rees Jones.

Rev. Rees Evans didn't get anything from us for his honest and faithful work 
among us, but we know that the Assembly paid him for all expenses.

August 20, 1882--Rev. H. M. Pugh, Baugon, LaCrosse Wisconsin preached here 
twice. September 10, 1882, Rev. J. J. Vaughan preached to us his first sermon. 
We held our meetings at Bath Depot till fall of 1882, and next spring we moved 
to Bath School house.

May 24, 1883--Rev. Thomas R. Jones preached here and at this date the first 
"Society" (Prayer meetings as the Presbyterian call it). 14 were in the 
"Society" ("Seiat" in Welsh). Rev. Jones was with us for 3 Sundays, July 3, 
1883, Dr. David Saunders, of Swansea, S. Wales preached for us.

July 22, 1883--Rev. O. T. Williams, Dulgelly, Meirionethshire, N. W. preached 
and July 29, 1883 Rev. John S. Thomas preached his first sermon here. Text John 
15:1-8.

August 19, 1883--Rev. John C. Jones, Mankato, Minnesota preached, he was their 
young man who had just come from Wales. (And is known today as Dr. John C. 
Jones, Los Angeles, California.)

August 26, 1883--Rev. Thomas Job of Conevil South Wales preached here, and the 
Communion Service for the first time was held under his leadership for us as 
church members. After this date very little preaching was had for nearly a year, 
but Sunday School and prayer meetings were held often at Bath School house.

September, 1884--Rev. Thomas Foulkes, Randolph, Wisconsin visited with us, was 
sent by the "Assembly of Wisconsin", and also Rev. T. C. Davies, Pittsburg, Pa. 
with him. Rev. Foulkes was here two Sundays, and Rev. Davies one Sunday, both 
together on the second Sunday of September, 1884. Rev. Davies was Superintendent 
of the "Welsh Missionary Society" and he persuaded us to give him an application 
to the "Missionary Board" for help in money, and was allowed $50.00 a year. This 
visit of him and Rev. Foulkes gave us a new start.

November 22, 1884--Rev. J. W. Morgan of Foreston, Iowa preached, and in January, 
1885 we gave him a call, which was in connection with "Powell Church" in Edmunds 
County. His salary was $500.00 a year. He started with us the second Sunday in 
April, 1885.

June 25, 1887--Rev. Morgan gave us as a Church, 3 months notice, that his work 
as a minister would be at an end. (Rev. Morgan left Dakota Territory and took 
charge of the Welsh Church at Sugar Notch, Pa.)

Towards the end of 1884, and beginning of 1885, our meetings were held from one 
place to another, sometimes at Morgan E. Jones, School House, D. D. Jones home, 
and Robert Owens home--same back and forth all winter.

At the end of winter, in the spring, we passed to start again at Bath, and 
stayed at Bath till we went to the new Church which was built at Plana. August 
27, 1887. The first meetings were held at the new Church, Rev. J. W. Morgan 
preached on Philipians 3:20.

[P83]

CARLISLE TOWNSHIP
by Miss Helen Bergh

Carlisle Township, which was named for a Mr. Carlisle was organized in 1883. 
Among the first settlers were William Gernon, who with his three brothers came 
in 1882. They had adjoining quarters and built their claim shanty where the four 
corners met, thus fulfilling the law which specified that each homesteader had 
to live on his land. William kept his homestead for a time but the other 
brothers left and went to McPherson County. For many years William Gernon ran a 
store at Westport.

Louis and Joseph Lorber also homesteaded in the northwest corner of the township 
and later moved to Wetonka in McPherson County.

Matthew Moyle, a telegraph operator, came from Pennsylvania in 1883. Each fall 
he went back to Pennsylvania to work at his trade while his wife stayed here on 
the claim. He dug five surface wells in the creek bank and finally dug the 
deepest artesian well in Carlisle Township in order to provide water for his 
cattle. Some years later he moved from his original homestead to a quarter on 
Snake Creek.

Frank Peck came from Illinois in 1883, followed by his father-in-law, Hiram 
Cobb, who came from Michigan in 1884. A large group of the Dennison and Badgeley 
families came from Illinois in 1883 and settled in Brainard Township. One of the 
group, Mrs. Lydia Dennison, homesteaded in Carlisle Township.

The Henry Z. Murray family, which included a son, Charles, came from Wisconsin 
in 1883. Mr. Murray established an early post office on the northwest corner of 
his farm which was ten miles west of Westport. This post office, which was 
called Delhi, marked the halfway point between Aberdeen and Leola and was a 
station for stage coaches. Mrs. Murray served meals to the travelers. Several 
years later the post off ice was taken over by the VonEschen family, moved some 
distance east and renamed Bern. Still later, Ed Friel moved it to Wetonka.

The William Broadbent family, including a son George who is still living, also 
came from Illinois in 1883. Andrew Huettl and his family came from Wisconsin in 
1887. A son, Joseph, and George Broadbent were playmates. Joseph Huettl still 
lives on the old homestead.

The George Stone and Guy Inscho families also came from Wisconsin in 1887. The 
area was very rocky and so Mr. Stone built a stone house in a hillside.

About the year 1890, the Carlisle Ranch began its operation. The land, 
consisting of 3000 acres, was owned by Mr. C. F. Easton of Aberdeen and the 
manager was the same Mr. Carlisle for whom the township was named. It was the 
largest individually owned ranch east of the Missouri River. There were usually 
from 300 to 700 head of white faced Hereford cattle. When they were ready for 
market they were driven to Aberdeen and shipped to Sioux City by rail. About the 
turn of the century Mr. Easton sold the land to a Mr. Jergen Cook who operated 
it for the next decade. During this time it was known as the Cook Ranch.

[Photo: Gernon Drug Store in Westport, owned by the Gernons of Carlisle 
Township.]

[P84]

CLAREMONT TOWNSHIP
by Alex Daly

[Photo: Claremont in 1887]

To this day and age there seems to be no such thing as the above anywhere on 
record or set down on paper in black and white and if it's not done pretty soon 
it's going to be almost impossible.

For instance if someone came to Claremont Township when he was old enough to 
notice events and can remember them he should not be younger than 15 years, 
perhaps. And if he were here with his eyes and ears wide open when the city of 
Claremont was platted or laid out and the first building put up, which happened 
in 1886, he or she would be 92 years old now in 1963.

Claremont Township is in the northeast part of Brown County, bounded on the 
north by Detroit and Shelby, on the west by Columbia and the south by Riverside 
Township. On the east lies Marshall County.

In April 1884, the first town board met, quoting verbatim from the Clerk's 
record book we read, "Agreeable to the call by the County Clerk, the legal 
voters in Claremont township met in School House No. 1, April, 1884 when the 
following persons were duly elected, Viz: Supervisors were George D. Wood, 
Chairman, Richard Baker and James Leak. Clerk, J. H. Sargent. Treasurer, M. J. 
Stocking. Justices of the Peace, Elijah Coffren, J. H. Sargent. Constables, 
David A. Brentz, C. T. Ranney. Assessor, Will J. Carter. Overseer of Highways, 
William P. Barnes."

At the next meeting, June 3, 1884, the township was divided into seven road 
districts of about 8 sections each and an overseer was appointed for each 
district. No. I was in the northwest part and west of what is now State Highway 
No. 37. Overseer, Adelbert Dickerson. No. 2 was just south of that. Overseer, H. 
H. Sargent. No. 3 was in the southwest corner, Overseer, James Holland. No. 4 
was south and east of Huffton. Overseer, John Cain. No. 5 in the Southeast 
corner of two. Overseer, John Nelson. No. 6 just south of Claremont. Overseer 
William P. Barnes. No. 7 west of Claremont. Overseer John I. Johnson.

When the townships in the county were platted Claremont and Columbia cities had 
no idea when they would stop growing so in order to have plenty of room they 
split a township between them. The Big Slough, being the natural barrier and no 
bridges and lots of water those days, was the obvious dividing line. That way 
the township didn't have to get their Assessors' feet wet every spring.

It seems at this time according to the Clerk's minutes their biggest headache 
was to get a grade and bridge that didn't wash out every spring across the Big 
Slough so they could drive to Columbia, the County Seat. Columbia Township board 
was slow in cooperating on building their part of the grade.

The Mighty Dollar looked much bigger then than now. The Assessor Will J. Carter 
was paid $39.00 for 13 days of assessing that spring. Three dollars per day, 
apparently walking most of the time, as he had an additional bill for $6.00 for 
six days that lie had to use a horse.

On one page of the Clerk's record a bill was audited, allowed and ordered drawn 
on Treasurer for John Jacobs (some lumber man, likely) for plank for Slough 
Bridge, 4,285 feet at $18.00 per M.

On June 11, 1886, it was ordered by the Board that the law of 1885 known as the 
"Noxious Weed Act" be rigidly enforced etc., etc. We can't say since we still 
have noxious weeds, that they didn't start early enough.  Perhaps they didn't 
take it as seriously as we do now. And we still have a Noxious Weed Law and a 
wonderful variety of weeds they never heard of 75 years ago. The Russian thistle 
worried them a lot about that time, and sunflowers,

[P85]

they were sure to soon take the country. Mustard also was threatening.

The Railroad was completed through Claremont Township, in 1887. Coming down from 
Breckenridge it entered this townsite in Section 2 and that is where the village 
of Claremont was booming. It was platted only the year before in 1886, and 
George Krum took the plat to have it recorded wherever they had to go to get 
such things done those days. Columbia, the County Seat, or Bismarck, if he had 
to go to the Capitol of Dakota. Anyway he got it recorded and hurried back and 
built the first building in Claremont, which is still in use. Of late years it 
was known as Perkin's Confectionary. Mr. Krum used it for his Real Estate 
office, also the agency for bicycles, sewing machines and organs. We understand 
the carpenter that did the work was the Grandfather of General LaVern Saunders.

The town of Claremont comprised an area of one and a half miles square or 1440 
acres. It was incorporated April 20, 1903.

One thing everyone knows for miles around, and is well aware of, is that 
Claremont and vicinity develops outstanding athletes when it comes to Football 
and Baseball.

Huffton is another town in Claremont township, about 6 miles down the railroad 
track in Sec. 30 on David Huff's land, after whom the town was named. It once 
was a larger town than Claremont because the Milwaukee Road was heading that way 
from Groton and then on to the village of Detroit. They had a few miles of grade 
built north of Groton but then they changed their minds.

[Photo: The George E. Clark homestead southwest of Huffton.]

Elmer Cole, a well-known early settler in this township, whose place of 
residence was right down in the southwest corner, eleven miles as the crow flies 
from Claremont city, lived in Oregon, says he didn't recollect much early 
history as everyone was too busy those days trying to make ends meet. One thing 
he said that helped was picking up buffalo bones and shipping them east, to be 
made into fertilizer, and another thing that helped the fuel situation was the 
chips that were found in pastures when and if they had pastures. Some didn't, 
And while on that subject we might, add that livestock was sort of "let run" as 
they called it those days. They ran so much that they did damage, at least the 
neighbors seemed to think so. Therefore, they established two Pounds and 
appointed two Pound Masters whose duty it was to take up and care for livestock 
that was brought to them and notify the owner and charge him generally a pretty 
stiff fee before he could take them home. The first two Pound Masters were 
Howard Cole at the Fuller farm and Elam Willets in Claremont.

In those early days the Indians were somewhat on the rampage. Many of the 
homesteaders who had rifles used to meet at the Heman School House in Columbia 
Township, about two miles west of the Slough Bridge, and drill so if they came 
our way we could do something about it. After the Battle of Wounded Knee they 
didn't drill any more.

Quite often railroads are responsible for naming towns on a line through a new 
country. But the railroad got along too late to name Claremont because the 
township was named several years before any railroad came along and the village 
of Claremont was platted and recorded by that name the year before the railroad 
came through.

[Photo: The first Claremont grade school built in 1887.]

Huffton was the most central spot in the township and for a few years all 
township elections, meetings, etc. were held in what was known as School House 
No. 1 which was one half mile west. It was built in 1882.

There is a grave yard just north of Huffton, platted in the year of 1887 and 
known as the Rose Hill Cemetery. The first Sexton was J. W. Slater. He got $3.00 
per grave for digging and filling, paid to him by relatives of the dead when 
they could afford it, when not, the township paid him.

A few months later, in '82, the Stanley School was built on Sec. 8. Miss Sarah 
Cutler, sister of W. R. Cutler, came from Michigan and taught this school. I was 
in this school house the first Sunday School Superintendent.

Claremont township was settled in 1882 mostly by people from Michigan, who came 
as far as they could by railroad which was Groton then, and managed with their 
various items of freight and

[P86]

passengers via horse or ox team the rest of the way to the Promised Land in 
Claremont township.

[Photo: First house built in Claremont in 1887. The Methodist parsonage for many 
years.]

The first minister was Elder Boggs, and a man, W. H. Smith, who homesteaded near 
Tom Sullivan's way down in the southwest end was always known as "Deacon Smith" 
so probably another "first". The first doctor, as everyone knows, was Dr. 
Dinsmore. The first white child born was Lena Leak, daughter of James Leak.

[Photo: Mr. and Mrs. John R. Weaver. Mr. Weaver served in the state legislature 
from 1907 to 1911.]

George Pearson, a very well known farmer who lived and prospered and also raised 
a large family, also developed an outstanding type of Durham Wheat that took the 
country. It was known as Durham No. 999 or "The Pearson Wheat". It was 
nationally known for its several superior qualities. Mr. Pearson, we are proud 
to say, lived in Claremont Township on S. E. of Sec. 14 once, where Howard 
Cutler now lives and is also doing very well, too.

The Pearson No. 999 Durham Wheat is probably still doing alright in Macaroni 
wheat growing districts, but hard wheat seems to have taken over in South Dakota 
of late years.

It should be interesting to know who originally lived on some of the places that 
still exist so here are some of them starting with Section One:

Sec.	Original			Present
1 	J. C. Henrichs			Clarion Olson
1	R. Kennedy			W. J. Kelly
1	E. J. Mather			Percy Benedict
1	Ben Mather			Percy Benedict
1					Gunnar Carlson
2	Frank Brokaw			Elvert Swanson
3	G. W. Miller			Keith Cutler
5	Horace Birdsell			Clarence Burpo
5	G. H. Sheppard			Glen Carlson
6	Ellis Barnes			E. O. Barnes
7	Will Carter			Harlow Sanderson
10	Vic Terry			John Hinrichs
10	L. H. Willsey			Don Hinrichs
11	Joe Arness			Dale Stanley
12	John Weaver			Clarence Weaver
13	W. R. Cutler			W. R. Cutler
14	George Pierson			Howard Cutler
14	E. Wood				Fred McGee

[P87]

Sec.	Original 			Present
17	Dutton Stains			Lloyd Sanderson
18	George Richardson		George Anderson
19	George Bacon			Gus Davidson
20	John Cain			Frank Cutler
20	John Gibbs			Erick Davidson
21	Ivan Gibbs			Glen Olson
21	Otto Lilja			Hjalmer Lilja
22	Dan Holland			Ray Pulfrey
22	Ole Gustafson			Bill Gustafson
22	Charles Studt			Les Anderson
23	Charles Holt			Einer Johnson
24	Amos Bacon			Paul Dombrow
24	John Nelson			Alex Nelson
24	H. H. Sargent			Oscar Dombrow
25	Joe Wigdal			Joe Wigdal
26	Frank Lofgren			Raymond Anderson
27	Charles Allenson		Dean Cutler
27	Beatley				Harry Stanley
28	A. M. Holland			Max Hinrichs
29	Justin Gibbs			Ravine Featherhoff
30	Dave Huff			Ole Olson
32 	Elmer Cole			Vacant
32	Howard Cole			Eugene Libel
32	William Honey			William Honey
32	Thomas O'Sullivan		Frank Lowrie
33	Fred Kemp			Lampert Johnson
34	John Clark			J. R. Clark, Est.
34	Amos Haire			Mrs. Robert Haire
34	James Holland			Vacant
34	Pete Swenson			Carl Green
35	Carl Gross			Manley Green
35	John Wade			Dean Honey
35	Swedish Lutheran Church
36	Howard Brooks			Vern McCullough

[Photo: Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Cutler and daughters Pearl and Mae.]

[Photo: Mr. and Mrs. George Miller. Mr. Miller served in the Dakota Territorial 
Legislative body helping organize the territory into two states.]

Father Haire, Amos and Elias Haire came from Freedom, Michigan in 1880. They 
settled in the southwest part of Claremont Township.

C. Cramer accompanied by his sister, Mary, came to Dakota Territory in 1881.

Amos Haire and Mary Cramer had a prairie wedding and made their home on the 
Haire tree claim until 1913 when they moved to Kent, Minn.

Six children were a part of their family. Robert and Jerome now deceased; Mrs. 
Florence Blansburd, Council Bluff, Iowa; Mrs. Ernest Musheh of Kent, Minn.; Mrs. 
Cora Hammer of Alaska and Miss Elinor Haire of Eagle Butte, S. Dak.

George Clark and his brother William came from Canada and settled on a homestead 
in 1882 in the southern part of Claremont Township. John and Ray operated the 
large farm until their passing in 1965. It is now operated by John Clark, Jr., 
and the Jay Swisher family.

The above early history was gathered by Alex Daly with the help of the following 
Pioneers who were here early: W. R.  Cutler, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Carlson, Mrs. 
Clarence Weaver, Mrs. Charles Olson, Mrs. Howard Brooks, John Worthy, Mrs. Bert 
Luce, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cooley, Mrs. Joe Wigdal, Ellis Barnes and others.

Mr. W. J. Kelly owned and operated the first nursery in this area. His daughter, 
Mae, is the author of several books.

[P88]

DETROIT TOWNSHIP
by Fred Fetherhuff

During the winter of 1882 and 1883, news began to filter through to Illinois 
concerning the unlimited possibilities of Dakota Territory. We were told that 
one could obtain a homestead by merely living on the land. It was then my 
father, Mr. Fetherhuff, and my mother decided to leave the rented farm in 
Illinois and pioneer in a new land. Three of my sisters had already married in 
Illinois and remained there, but my folks ventured to Dakota Territory with 
their six younger children namely: Lyda, 18; Lew, 13; myself, (Fred) 11; Ida, 7; 
Frank, 4; and Ed, 1 year old.

Our family did not make the trip alone. We were accompanied by my uncle, Robert 
Dinger, his wife and five children, Annie, Lew and Will Baker, and Maude and 
Fred Dinger. Robert Dinger and my father had two carloads of cows, horses, 
machinery, and household goods. Lew and Will Baker came with these cars while 
the rest of our party came by passenger train.

When we got as far as Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, it was blizzarding hard and we were 
snowbound there for ten days. We slept on the floor in the depot. My brother Lew 
and I had just gotten some new skates and we had lots of fun skating up and down 
the ditches. Our immigrant cars were held at Winona, Minnesota, because of the 
snow.

On March 4, 1883, we arrived at Columbia, Dakota Territory, which was the end of 
the railroad. Uncle Bob, my Dad, Lew, Maude Dinger, Annie Baker, Lyda and I 
started out to walk from Columbia to Polycarp Dinger's farm which was located 
approximately ten miles northeast of Columbia. We left the rest of the party to 
wait in the train until someone came for them. We walked about three or four 
miles and met Joe Dinger, Polycarp's son, coming to meet us. We told him to go 
after the rest of the party and we would go on. We soon came to a sod house 
where a man by the name of Hart lived. Being cold we stopped and warmed up a 
little and then resumed our walk. Joe picked us up shortly after we left Mr. 
Hart's farm. The night was spent at Polycarp's place. There were seventeen in 
our party and Polycarp had nine in his family--it was pretty crowded.

Polycarp, who had come to Dakota Territory the fall before, had made 
arrangements for us to stay with John Snyder who lived in a sod house with a 
dirt floor. We moved in and kept our horses and cows with another man by the 
name of Bartlett who lived about eighty rods from Snyder's. We stayed there 
about six weeks until we got our house built up on the claim, the description 
which is now known as the N. E. 1/4, Section 32, Township 127, Range 60. 
However, at that time, the land was not surveyed. I believe the surveying was 
done the following May. We dug a well on our place and built a sod barn and 
chicken house. Our house was a frame structure.

That summer we planted about twelve acres of wheat near Columbia. My father 
cradled it and Lew and Lyda raked and bound it. We did some breaking on our 
claim that summer but the wheat was all the grain we sowed. That winter my 
father died leaving mother with six children out on the prairies of Dakota 
Territory.

Shortly before father died he bought three oxen. The following summer Lew and I 
did some breaking for a man by the name of Spencer to pay for the oxen. We 
batched in a little shack which was about eight miles from home. He paid us 
$3.00 per acre and we earned $175.00. Lew was fourteen and I was twelve.

Not long after coming to this area, a township was formed and as a number of the 
settlers had come from Detroit, Michigan, it was given the name of Detroit 
Township. Detroit was also the name of the inland town that sprang up. This was 
located on what is now the dividing line between the north and the south 
townships of Detroit or six miles north and one-half mile west of what is now 
Claremont, South Dakota.

We attended our first school at Detroit with Mr. Tuck as our teacher. There were 
only three months of school each year and I was not able to attend all of that. 
Later we went to the Dinger School which in later years has been called the 
Heinemann School. Our first teacher there was George Hibner and then Charlie 
Ferguson taught. He was our teacher at the time of the big blizzard on January 
12, 1888. Six schools were built in Detroit Township.

The homesteaders who owned these quarters donated the original townsite area. 
They were Charles Harmon who later owned a bank in Columbia; C. C. Hedger, later 
an Aberdeen real estate man; Sam Hedger, and a man named A. K. Bush.

The town was organized in May, 1884, at a time when it was expected that the 
Chicago and Northwestern Railroad would go that way from Columbia.

I recall when I went to school in Detroit, there was a general store, drug 
store, hotel, newspaper office, livery barn, Methodist Church, and school house. 
Alex Daly, another pioneer, also mentioned a blacksmith shop and a big dance 
hall (later moved to the Zickrick farm southwest of Claremont). Henry Hamilton 
ran the general store and Prather Hedger, father of C. C. Hedger, Frank Hedger 
and Sam C. Hedger, was pastor of the Methodist Church. The newspaper was edited 
by a man named Wilson. It was "The Brown County Sentinel."

When the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad went to Houghton instead of Detroit, 
the village began to disappear. Now (1959) there is nothing left except a 
cemetery.

Some early town board members, recalled by Fred Dinger, were Bill Stout, C. 
Wright Couch and Henry Hamilton. Sam Hedger was clerk and Fred Smith was the 
first justice of the peace.

[P89]

Among the earliest settlers in Detroit Township were: Robert Dinger, father of 
Fred, Will and Albert; John Freeland, father of Roy, Ray and Myrtle; Jim and 
Morris Cooley; Sam Buckmaster; John Henry; Louis Bonzar; Dell Smith; Lou 
Stevens; Polycarp Dinger and John Snyder. A Mr. Hart, Mr. Bartlett, and the 
Charles Swane family were also among the early settlers.

Frank Sander hauled the mail and express from Columbia three times a week with 
team and buckboard.

The morning of January 12, 1888, I had stayed home to help butcher a beef. It 
was a beautiful morning--no wind, very calm and balmy. The hired man took Lew, 
Ida, Frank and Ed to school. The blizzard struck when they were about one and 
one quarter miles on the way. It was so bad they could not see anything and 
drove one of the horses in an open well that was just being dug. It was a good 
thing it happened for in that way they found a place of  shelter. It was at the 
home of Charlie Smith. They worked a good part of the day to get the horse out 
of the well but all in vain to save its life.

Mother, Lyda and I were the only ones at home and about the middle of the 
afternoon I went to the barn to do the chores because the storm was so bad I 
felt I should not wait longer. The snow was coming in all the cracks of the 
doors in the sod barn and after getting the chores done, I began plugging up the 
cracks. I must have been there quite a while for soon Lyda came after me. Mother 
was worried I had been gone so long so we started back to the house at once. We 
couldn't even see our hand in front of our face and the snow was biting cold. 
After we had gone some distance, I realized we had missed the house so turned 
back. We tried to find the house several times but every time we missed it. 
Somehow we could always find our way back to the barn. After several trips, Lyda 
was so cold she climbed in with the pigs to get warm. We tried it again and 
realizing we had gone far enough, turned to go back when we saw a faint glimmer 
of light from a lamp mother had put in the window--WE HAD MISSED THE HOUSE ONLY 
BY INCHES! When we got in the house mother already had her wraps on to go in 
search of us. That was the worst storm I ever witnessed.

Times were hard in the 80's. I remember one time when mother had to write a 
business letter and didn't have a stamp to mail it or the money to buy one. We 
borrowed one from Uncle Robert Dinger. In the winter we would wrap our feet in 
gunny sacks to keep our feet warm and the snow out--we had nothing else. Sugar 
was always absent from our table. There were a number of dry years during the 
80's and several years we did not even get our seed back. Everybody who could, 
left and went back to their former homes, but those of us who couldn't go had to 
stay.

I remember one 4th of July very distinctly. Lew and I wanted to go to the 
celebration at Detroit so mother gave us twenty-five cents to spend--it was all 
she had. We had the time of our lives and came back with ten cents.

HISTORY OF OLD DINGER SCHOOL IN NORTH DETROIT
Taken from Hecla's Diamond Jubilee Edition of the Hecla Independent, June 2, 
1961.

The North Detroit Township hall (Heinemann School) now used for meetings, built 
in 1884 has a history that should be remembered.

It was in this school house that the children spent the night during the 
blizzard of 1888 without any coal. They burned desks and the stage to keep warm. 
The reason for no coal was due to a horse falling in a well.

George Godfrey was hauling the Fetherhuff children to school and one of his 
horses caved into a well in the Charlie Smith yard where Donald Dinger now 
lives.

Will Dinger was finishing his trip to the school with the coal and stopped to 
help with the horse, when the storm struck and prevented him from delivering the 
coal.

Some of the children and the teacher, Charlie Ferguson, were determined to go 
home but the late Fred Dinger, being a large boy for his age and wise to Dakota 
storms barred the door and prevented them from leaving.

No one remembers which of these two Racheal Smith or Charlie Titus was the first 
teacher in this school.

Some of the early teachers were Fred Smith, Bertha Stevens, Susie Skimmerhorne, 
Grace King, Nina Varian, Luella Hayes, George Hibner and Grace Dinger.

Some of the early families that attended the school are the Dingers, Wamplers, 
Smiths, Nortens, Millers, Titus's, Stevens, Fetherhuffs, Grafs, Deweys, 
Burgess's, Moores, Heinemanns and Shilhaneks.

Submitted by Floyd Smith, as told to him by Old Timers.

[P90]

ONEOTA AND FRANKLIN TOWNSHIPS
by J. F. Howard

According to the memory of J. F. Howard during the summer of 1881, a foreigner 
named Wm. Clabbotts dug a hole in the bank near the Elm river and broke about 30 
acres. He lived in the dug out, using a squatters right to settle on the land 
and hold it until it was surveyed and became subject to entry. This was the 
first improvement in Township 126, Range 64 of Brown County, Dakota Territory 
made by a white man.

In the fall of 1881 the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul R. R. Co. graded a road 
bed north from Aberdeen through the east side of 126-64 to a point a little 
north of where Ellendale was afterward built.

When surveyors came in the fall of 1881 it was found that Mr. Clabbotts' dug out 
(as the hole in the bank was called) was on the northwest corner of Section 3 
and the breaking was on the northeast quarter of Section 4, Twp. 126, Range 64 
of Brown County. On February 25, 1882, Edson Muzzy filed a timber claim on the 
SE of Section I and J. F. Howard filed a homestead on the E of Section 12 and a 
timber claim on the NW of 12 all of Township 126. All three of these claims were 
filed at the same hour of the same day in the land off ice at Watertown, S. D., 
where we had to go to file claims at that time. These were the first claims 
filed in this township.

On Feb. 28, J. F. Howard purchased his first load of lumber of Eastern and 
Dillie at Aberdeen, to build a small barn in 126-65. This was the first 
improvement made in that township by a white man.

On March 21, 1884 the county commissioners, J. D. Leavin and Cannon organized 
township 126-64 and 126-65 in one town and named it Oneota.

On April 24, 1884 the first town meeting in Oneota was held at the House of C. 
M. Bingham on the NW 1/4 of Section 9 near where the house of J. W. Jensen now 
stands. Officers elected were James G. Vincent, Moses Gamble and O. F. Kelly 
supervisors; J. C. Jensen, clerk; Wm. Dennis, assessor; and S. J. Cutris, 
treasurer.

On Nov. 11, 1890, Oneota Twp. was divided, the east one-half or Twp. 126-64 
retained the name of Oneota while the west one-half or Twp. 126, Range 65, was 
given the name of Franklin in honor of Jason Franklin Howard, the first settler 
in that township. The County Commissioners W. J. Steere, E. H. Alley, J. W. 
Tower and S. A. Kennedy.

Notices were posted for, and a school election was held on June 22, 1883 at the 
house of S. S. Kimball on the SW 1/4 of 20-126-64. Officers elected were James 
G. Vincent, chairman; E. E. Denison, treasurer; and S. S. Kimball, clerk. This 
election covered Township 126-64 and 126-65 of Brown County, Dakota Territory. 
Some time in the spring of 1884 the County Supt. of School, R. S. Jones, 
appointed J. F. Howard, school clerk to succeed S. S. Kimball, who had moved 
away. That year we hired Mrs. Hampsher and Miss Drum to teach two schools for 
two months each. They received $25 per month and were very glad to get that 
much.

The schools were taught in claim shanties. One on the NW 1/4 of Section 8 and 
one on the SE1/4 of Section 1, both in 126-64. In the spring of 1885 we received 
$252.00 from M. P. Stroupe, the Co. Treasurer, and with this sum we proceeded to 
build five school houses with the understanding that the patrons of each school 
should have the material and build the school houses and furnish table and 
chairs for their children free of charge. These schools were 14 feet by 16 feet 
with 8 foot posts. They were shingled and covered with tarred paper but were not 
sided. A good pine floor was laid in each house. One school house was built on 
the NE1/4 of nine, procured the land from Mrs. John Wilkinson. One on the NE 
corner of Sec. 23, procured the land from D. C. Vaughan. Both of these were in 
Twp. 126-R64.

One near the southeast corner of Sec. 13, 126-65, purchased the land of E. W. 
Gamble. One on the southeast corner of Sec. 28-126-65, purchased the land of S. 
D. Denison and one on the southeast corner of Sec. 30-126-65, purchased the land 
of H. G. Siemann.

In the summer of 1885 we purchased double desks and seats of Van Meter and Tobin 
of Ellendale, N. D., for these five school houses, paying Meter and Tobin $2.70 
to $3.00 each. In the spring of 1886 we built three more school houses and 
bought seats and desks for them. One school house was built near the southwest 
corner of Section 20 and one near the northeast corner of Sec. 35 Twp. 126-64, 
purchased the land of S. S. Kimball for Section 20 and the land on Section 35 
from Geo. W. Pontnu.

One school house was built on the NE corner of NW 1/4 of 8-126-65. Land was 
purchased of Dow Bros., owners of the Bank of Frederick at that time. We had to 
pay $1.00 for this land it was the only school site we were obliged to pay for.

Many of these school houses were moved to different locations and finally better 
houses were erected in Franklin Township. One of the new buildings was built on 
NE corner of the NW 1/4 of Section 8; one on NE corner of Section 12; one on the 
SE corner of Section 14, and notably one on the SW corner of Sec. 22, which was 
built in the year of 1922 at a cost of $6500.00 including the building and 
equipment. The District was bonded for $5,000 and on March 27, 1930, the 
district still owed $2,500. There was also a notable school house built on the 
SE corner of Sec. 19-126-65. The district was bonded for $4,500.00. One school 
house built on the NE of Sec. 17 one on the east side of Section 11, one on the 
NE corner of Section 31 and one near the NE corner of 35. All four of the above 
were in Oneota Township.

The Barnard Consolidated District was organized in 1920.

[P91]

During the summer of 1888 a Methodist Church was built on the east side of the 
NE quarter of 12-126-65 in Franklin Township. This church was sold afterwards 
for a church near Forbes, N. D. W. G. Preston, afterwards agent of the Milwaukee 
at Frederick, was the carpenter. Rev. W. B. Deeble was the first minister. On 
Dec. 24, 1900 John D. Cooker deeded a tract of land containing about five acres 
in the SW corner of the SE1/4 of 7-126-65 to John M. Mansfield, E. E. Crowe and 
Austin Baker and their successors in office, as trustees of the German Baptist 
Brethren Church. A church was erected soon afterward. Wm. Horning was the first 
preacher.

The first white child born in Oneota was Floyd Harvey Keeler, son of Mr. and 
Mrs. E. J. Keeler, born May 13, 1883 and died Dec. 9, 1909.

The first white child born in Franklin was Katherine Callaghan, daughter of Mr. 
and Mrs. P. Callaghan. Born Sept. 6, 1883, died May 21, 1908.

The first white person who died in Oneota was a step son of Wm. Clabbotts, who 
was shot and killed while hunting with Milton Hubble in the summer of 1883 or 
1884.

BRIDGES ACROSS THE ELM

Bridge No. 177, a wooden structure was built in the year of 1885 across the Elm 
River between sections five and eight and is known as the Jensen bridge. This 
bridge was washed out by highwater and a few years later was replaced by a steel 
structure. J. D. Lavin, R. R. Hulbert and Cannon were the County Commissioners 
when it was built (the 1st bridge).

In the year 1910 a bridge No. 76, a steel and concrete bridge was built between 
Sections 8 and 17. This bridge is known as the Howard bridge.

Bridge No. 174 across the Elm river between Section 20 and 29 in Oneota is a 
wood and steel structure 100 feet long. It was first built of wood in 1903 and 
rebuilt in 1929 and is known as the Keeler bridge. A bridge across the Elm river 
between Oneota and Westport was commenced in the year 1925 and completed in 
1926. This bridge is called a steel viaduct and is known as the Callaghan Bridge 
and is No. 312.

A wooden bridge was built across Willow creek, between Oneota and Franklin in 
1885 and has been rebuilt twice since. A steel bridge was built across Willow 
Creek between Section 23, 24, 25 and 26, Franklin, in 1917.

A steel bridge was constructed across Willow Creek between Section 22 and 27 of 
Franklin in 1896. The wooden bridge between Section 33 and 34 was built in 1925.

A wooden bridge was built in Franklin between Sections 30 and 31 before 1900 and 
rebuilt in 1921. In 1916 the county built a bridge across the dry run between 
Secs. 14 and 23, Franklin.

In the year 1917 the county also built a steel bridge across the dry run in 
Franklin, between Sections 11 and 14.

On April 1, 1909 the first rural mail route started from Frederick. The route 
took in the northwest part of Oneota and the north one-half of Franklin 
Township. The mail came only three times a week at first. The same carrier 
delivered the mail on the route east of Frederick, the other three days of the 
week. Clarence Colby was the first carrier. His mother a widow, was his 
substitute. The mail came in good condition and the patrons were highly pleased.

E. W. Gamble, E. J. Keeler, J. B. Opdycke and J. F. Howard were the chief 
instigators in getting the route which was the first one in the northwest part 
of the county.

The first telephone line was built from McPherson County into Franklin to the 
house of E. W. Gamble. A telephone line was built from E. W. Gambles, east 
through the middle of six Oneota to the NE corner of Sec. 23-126-64 where it 
connected with a line running to Westport. Later this line was extended to 
Barnard and Frederick and connected with the Dakota Central at both of these 
places.

On August 20, 1883 a cyclone appeared on Section 13-126-65. It tore down the 
buildings of Richard, Wm. and Richard Collins, Jr. in the center of 13. Then it 
circled around and tore down a double claim shanty near the Elm River on the 
line between Sections 17 and 20, then it went in a south westerly direction and 
tore down the house of S. S. Kimball of 20-126-64; then it went nearly east to 
the NE 1/4 of Section 23-126-64 where it tore down the buildings of Geo. Tooker, 
a house and granary, I think.

On July 21, 1891 a bad storm came into Franklin and passed in an easterly 
direction ruining the crops on a strip from one to two miles wide. At P. 
Callaghan's house on the NE of 26-126-65, four of these hail stones weighed 
three pounds.

Another bad storm on July 2, 1921 tore down the barn on the SW 1/4 of 4-126-65 
belonging to Frank Bishop, also the barn on Section 18 and the silo on Section 
14 and the Silo on Section 22, all in Franklin Township.

[P92]

FREDERICK TOWNSHIP
by Mrs. George Tessin

The latter part of 1879 and early 1880's saw the coming of a colony of 
Michiganites from Capac and Imlay City, Michigan, to what was then known as the 
"Dakota Territory". They settled in Frederick Township, Brown County, Dakota 
Territory.

The first of these settlers was my Uncle Peter Coutts and family in 1879. Uncle 
Peter wanted the land known as the Olie Everson Farm, southeast of Columbia, but 
when the two men ran a race to the County Seat to claim the land, Olie Everson's 
horse was faster than my uncle's and Uncle lost out. He then settled on a claim 
southwest of Frederick along the Elm River, Section 31, Township 127, Range 64. 
Uncle Peter's wife, Ida, and my mother were sisters.

[Photo: Willard Deneen]

Next was my Uncle Willard Deneen and family in 1880, who settled on a claim 
joining Uncle Peter's on the north, this being northwest quarter of Section 31, 
Township 127, North of Range 64, and west of the Fifth Prime Meridian, lying 
south of the main channel of the Elm River. Mr. J. W. Sleeper came out about 
this time and worked around as a carpenter. Uncle Willard died in 1883 and Mr. 
Sleeper married his widow. They had one son, Carl Sleeper, who in 1950 was one 
of the few old timers left around Frederick and vicinity. He now (1950) owns a 
very fine grocery store in Frederick.

In 1881 the James Fluke family arrived, settling on a claim just north of the 
Coutts' farm and west of the Deneen land and a few rods south of where the 
Indian Monument now stands. Later he moved one mile east along the Elm River and 
built his home in the side of a hill, and after every big snow storm, father 
would have to dig them out. Later he moved away from the hill into a frame 
house.

In the fall of 1882 the writer's father, James P. Hubbell, and grandfather, 
Phylander Smith Hubbell, came and took up claims. My father's land joined Uncle 
Peter Coutts' and Uncle Willard Deneen's farms on the east and south, and my 
grandfather's claim joined ours on the south. After they had taken up their 
claims they returned to Michigan to prepare for the move in the spring, and on 
March 18, 1883, grandfather and grandmother, and our family loaded all our 
earthly possessions and traveled seven days by immigrant train, arriving in 
Ordway on March 25, 1883. We unloaded our goods and traveled over barren country 
trails, a distance of about thirty miles, to the Coutts' house. Our land was in 
Township 127, North of Range 64-W.

[Photo: The James P. Hubbell family in 1883.]

At this time there were a number of frozen water holes which were hard to cross 
as the horses were not shod, and father would have to take an ax and chop the 
ice to make it rough for the horses to travel over.

We stayed with Uncle Peter until father could get our house built, which was the 
latter part of April. Of course the house was not completely finished until 
fall. We purchased the lumber from C. O. Reed of Frederick. Mr. Sleeper helped 
build it.

This country then was a wild barren country, with Indians passing from Fort 
Pierre to Fort Sisseton, crossing one corner of our land as they went to and 
fro, begging for food which we gladly gave them to escape being scalped.

Buffalo roamed the prairie, but were not too

[P93]

plentiful as this was the home of the Indians and buffalo was their main food. 
Wolves and coyotes were also seen occasionally. Grouse and prairie chicken were 
plentiful. There was an abundance of wild plum, choke cherry and grapes.

Our land was very stony, and it took a lot of hard labor to remove the rock 
before the land could be farmed. I think father farmed only thirty acres the 
first year, and this crop he cut in the fall with a hand scythe or cradle. It 
was threshed with a horse power machine owned by a man by the name of Archie 
McKenzie, who lived northwest of us.

Our weather was ideal in the spring and fall, but summers were hot, dry and 
windy, and our winters were long and severe with lots of snow and blizzards. We 
would usually get a blizzard every month and it would last three days leaving 
snow three and four feet deep on the level, and much deeper in low places. After 
every storm the neighbors would go together with teams and shovels to clear the 
roads so they could get to Frederick, a distance of seven and one-half miles to 
buy fuel and groceries. On three different occasions my oldest brother went to 
town on snow shoes to get the necessary groceries to tide us over until the 
neighbors could shovel through.

On January 12, 1888, we had one of the worst blizzards this country has ever 
known. It came about 8:30 o'clock in the morning and with such a wind velocity 
that my father could hardly find his way from the house to the barn, a distance 
of one hundred feet. We children were just ready to go to school and had we 
started we never could have made it, and would have been lost and frozen.

A neighbor, Mr. J. F. Howard, was caught in the storm and he unhitched his team 
from the sled and turned the sled up-side-down over him with his blankets until 
the storm cleared away so he could find his way home. Many neighbors tied ropes 
to their door knobs and would follow this to their barns and back.

[Photo: Baseball Team, 1887]

Our first school was in a claim shanty, one mile south of us, in 1883. Mrs. 
Hampshire was our teacher. This was a three months term. Then in 1884, school 
was held in the Fluke claim shanty, a few rods south of where the old Indian 
monument now stands. Warren Hicks was our teacher. In 1885, a new school house 
was built in our district known as Hicks' school. Mr. Hicks was on the school 
board. There was an enrollment of ten pupils and our teacher was Addie Reeves. 
Following her were Mrs. R. E. Kenyon, Jennie Schraudenback, Mabel Schraudenback, 
Emma Biddlecom, Mr. Martin, Hugh McClane and Will Harris.

Our first church in Oneota Township was built by the Methodists in 1888. Rev. 
Deeble was our first pastor; James Evans the Sunday School superintendent, Ezra 
Gamble, J. F. Howard and Mrs. Howard were Sunday School teachers, and Annabelle 
Gamble, organist.

A bridge was built across the Elm River, north of us between Section 31 and 32, 
in Township 127, Range 64, on June 4, 1886.

In 1890, Mr. J. P. Hubbell put in a bid to grade down the Hubbell Hill. His bid 
was accepted and he received $75.00 for his work.

Our amusements consisted of school programs and dances in the home. On Memorial 
Day and the Fourth of July we really had big celebrations, with speeches, ball 
games, and dances. Everyone took a basket of good food and had a picnic dinner 
together. The children had from fifteen cents up to twenty five cents to spend, 
and we had fun. It must not be forgotten we had no automobiles at that time but 
rode in a lumber wagon, a spring seat for father and mother and board seats for 
us children. What a contrast from then to 1950!

[Photo: John C. Simmons]

In 1883 most of the dwellings were sod, although our house was a frame building. 
Our barns were

[P94]

sod. The ox team was used by many, as also were Indian ponies, in 1883.

Our neighbors were, Pete Coutts, Willard Deneen, James Fluke, Joe Hansen, 
William Butzow, the Clabbits, James Evans, C. W. Bingham, O. F. Kelley, Chris 
Jensen, J. F. Howard, the Nelsons and Manoors. Other early settlers were J. B. 
Frink and J. C. Simmons for whom Frederick Park is named. He was in the banking 
and real estate business.

My father was road overseer for several years. He also served in the Civil War, 
having served all four years with only one slight wound in his arm. He fought in 
the Battle of Gettysburg, Sherman's March to the Sea, and many other prominent 
battles from 1861 to 1865.

Frederick was our postoffice, and was built in 1881 with Mr. P. G. Woodward, 
postmaster. The first newspaper, the Frederick Free Press was edited by Mr. E. 
L. Spence and was started on March 11, 1882.

[Photo: Frederick flour mill and Geisler Bros. Elevator.]

The first Fourth of July was celebrated in 1883. The first really big enterprise 
to be started in Frederick was the flour mill by E. Schraudenback in 1887. It 
was a 200 barrel capacity mill. I can remember my father taking wheat to the 
mill and bringing back flour, enough to last for the year.

Father raised quite a herd of cattle, and mother made and sold butter to the 
stores and hotels in Frederick. She was an excellent butter maker and received 
twelve to fifteen cents per pound for it, "top price". Quite a difference from 
our prices of today, 1950.

When we came to Dakota, I believe Frederick was larger than it is now. There 
were two grocery stores, one run by John and Tom Phylpaa, the other by C. C. 
Cook. The drug store was run by Pittingil and Newton. The doctors were Dr. 
Pittingil and Dr. C. E. Bergof. The hardware store was managed by Hauze and Dam 
and George Drum, machinery by William Drum. The hotels--Schonic and Maple Valley 
Hotels run by Schonic and M. T. Light. The bankers were J. T. Dow and J. L. Dow, 
later Simmons and Doty. The blacksmith shop was run by Mat Gorder, and there was 
also the J. E. Jeffers shop. The attorney was C. C. Holland. There were two 
lumber yards, one run by Salzer and Edwards and the C. O. Reed Lumber and Coal 
Company.

The first train arrived in Frederick, September 12, 1881. The agent at the time 
was S. D. Cone.

[Photo: Milwaukee Depot, 1881. Frederick's first depot.]

[Photo: Early Section Crew]

When we came to Dakota my family consisted of five children, but a son was born 
in 1885 and in 1887 twins were born, a boy and a girl. They were among the first 
sets of twins to be born in Brown County. However, they lived about five months, 
having contracted cholera morbus, a prevailing disease at that time, and died. I 
am the only one left in South Dakota of my people, or relatives, except one son 
W. E. Smalley from previous marriage. (Mr. Smalley died in March, 1964.) I have 
gone to other places many times with the intention of moving away but always 
came back and I am satisfied now to remain here. My mother's brother, Bryon 
Deneen and family, came to Dakota in 1885 and settled on a claim two and one-
half miles north of our home but was called back to Michigan in 1893 because of 
his father's illness and did not return.

The old Indian Monument was erected in 1922 in honor of the first white 
settlement in Brown County

[P95]

which was called Colin Campbell's Fur Post, and was dedicated June 20, 1926. 
This Monument is but a few rods north of the James Fluke homestead along the Elm 
River, and a little west of the J. W. Sleeper home.

There are some of the Campbells living in Frederick. Mrs. Campbell is Librarian, 
and has a very fine collection of books and material on the early history. I was 
fortunate in being able to gather so much from her. There are some of the 
Pomplum boys left around Frederick, and Theodore Pomplum lives here in Aberdeen.

Mrs. George Tessin came with her parents from Capac, Michigan in 1883 and 
settled on a claim seven and one-half miles southwest of Frederick.

Their first school was held in a granary. Their first teacher was a neighbor, 
Warren Hicks, who rode horseback to school. Mrs. Tessin tells of Mr. Hicks who 
has spent more than three quarters of a century in educational work.

Born in River Junction, Michigan in 1865, he graduated from Eastern Michigan 
University in 1887 and a year or two ago received a diamond award as the 
school's oldest alumnus.

After teaching in rural schools he advanced to the position of Superintendent of 
Schools at Fargo, N. D. In 1899 Mr. Hicks helped to found the first public 
supported vocational school in the United States. He became its first director. 
In 1905 he became assistant superintendent in Cleveland, Ohio, where he became 
especially interested in spelling and published "THE NEW CHAMPION SPELLING 
BOOK". Royalties from this book put his five children through the University of 
Wisconsin. In 1912 he became assistant state superintendent in Wisconsin and set 
up a vocational school system for that state.

Mr. Hicks has received honorary degrees from many institutions for his work. 
Now, within a few days of reaching his one hundredth birthday, October 9, 1965, 
Mr. Hicks is still working as an assistant to his oldest son. To use his own 
words, "The work is not very strenuous; I work in a casual way, but still, I 
help."

[Photo: Frederick's Main Street in early 1900's.]

[Photo: George P. Winston Home]
	
[P96]

GARDEN PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP
by Mrs. William Wage and Reese A. Mathieu

Frank Griefenhagen, Sr., came to Dakota in 1880 to learn of the opportunity it 
offered and to see the prairies of the James River Valley where land could be 
filed on. The railroads were running only a few miles past Bigstone, so by hired 
teams and walking he reached the land of promise. He liked the land, so in 1881 
he staked his claim on SE 1/4 of Sec. 24 in Rondell and built a sod shack. He 
walked to Watertown to file the papers at the land office and continued on to 
Wisconsin. In 1882 he loaded an immigrant car, and with his wife, Mary and his 
son Frank, Jr., returned to Dakota. Frank also filed on a tree claim in N. W. 
1/4 of Sec. 29 in Garden Prairie and later built a home there with lumber hauled 
from Groton, and help received from his neighbor, Joe Mathieu. Two children were 
born in Dakota, John and Mary. Mary Griefenhagen King, the only living member of 
the family, still lives on the tree claim (1964) farm and prizes the well 
preserved wagon that was brought from Wisconsin.

In early days the shortage of well water forced them to haul water by stone-boat 
from creeks. Problems were many but answers were found by hard work and the 
cooperation of friendly neighbors who always shared and helped a needy friend. 
There are tracks of an old stage coach trail visible on some of the land owned 
by Mrs. King.

[Photo: The August Erdmann family of Verdon.]

William and Ferdinand Erdmann, who filed two claims on Sec. 9, arrived from 
Wisconsin in the fall of 1882. Other Erdmann boys followed them to Dakota, and 
in 1886 August Erdmann, Sr., decided it was a land of promise, so with his 
family he came and located on Sec. 35. Soon the Erdmann boys had taken root over 
the township and Brown County with their own ventures. The family consisted of 
eight sons and four daughters, Augusta, Emilia, Lena, and Martha, the daughters; 
Will, Albert, Ferd, August, Jr., Carl, Henry, Fred, Emil, the sons. All married 
except Martha, the youngest, who became a nurse. Two daughters left the state 
with their husbands but nine raised their families on the prairies. The Erdmann 
farm near Verdon was active with community services and the good neighbor policy 
was practiced by all. They owned and operated one of the first steam engine 
threshers, fired with straw, and a separator equipped with a straw carrier (no 
blowers). The engine was used the balance of the year to power a community feed 
mill. No money changed hands when the mill was used. The grain was brought in 
sacks, dumped into the hoppered mill and the empty sacks were filled with the 
ground grain; the overrage being the compensation for the service. It was the 
customer's privilege to shake and pack all the feed he could get into the bags 
but--they were supposed to be tied again. The Erdmann farm had frequent callers 
with mechanical and various troubles but the willingness and skill of father and 
sons cured the troubles, and bid them 

[P97]

"bye, come again". August, Jr., and wife, Anna raised their family on the home 
farm and two sons, Gottlieb and Gerhardt still operate the farm. One house was 
added to the buildings so they now have two homes.

[Photo: Early day threshing scene.]

M. D. (Mike) Saunders filed on his homestead in 1882, coming from Iowa. Mike who 
was a carpenter by trade, erected many school houses in the community. He also 
built some of the elevators and other buildings in Groton. Brig. Gen. LaVerne G. 
Saunders, who now lives in Aberdeen, is a grandson of Mike Saunders.

Henry Stange and brother William arrived here from Wisconsin in 1883. The 
William Stange's both lived to a ripe old age, celebrating over seventy years of 
married life.

Ferdinand Wage also came from Wisconsin. He arrived in 1887. Two years later he 
went back to Wisconsin for his wife Annie, and they, together with Robert Kimmel 
and his wife, shipped out to Verdon, Dakota, in an immigrant car, each using 
one-half of the car for household goods and livestock. The Kimmels settled near 
Verdon and the Wages near Ferney, South Dakota. All the Wage children were born 
here and the farm is still owned by a son William. An older son, Chester, was 
interested in aviation, and at one time was known as "The Flying Banker from 
Ferney".

Charles Rossow came from Wisconsin. He first worked in Texas and New Mexico as a 
cowboy. He arrived in 1882, buying a relinquishment to the N. W. 1/4 of Sec. 3. 
On this he built a shanty which was both barn and dwelling. He batched with his 
brother for three years. In 1886 he was married. His grandson, Duane Rossow, and 
family live on this farm at present. In 1896 and 1897 hail destroyed the crops 
so he together with several others went to the Klondike prospecting for gold. 
Leaving for Alaska in February and returning in October, 1898, they brought 
samples of gold with them, although it was never known for certain whether there 
had been a real strike.

No history of this community would be complete without a mention of Edmund 
Harry, the "Grand Old Man of Ferney". Though he did not arrive there until 1904, 
he still resides above the store that he came to run "for a few weeks". Every 
year the whole community celebrates his birthday which is February 9. He now 
(1964) is over ninety years old and still gives part time assistance to his sons 
who operate the store and business. He married Alma Bahr, daughter of another 
old settler, Fred W. Bahr. Ed's colorful yarns about the olden days have 
enlightened many an evening for his friends. The whole town of Ferney will again 
be waiting for Ed's birthday celebration.

Fred Clocksene, who came from Wisconsin in 1898 is just a few months younger 
than Ed Harry. He and his wife still reside on the farm, now being operated by 
two of his sons, Darrel and Donald Clocksene, who live in Groton. Mr. and Mrs. 
Clocksene celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary several years ago.

George Saunders and wife Sarah, with five of their children came to Dakota 
Territory in 1881 by covered wagon from Carroll, Iowa. The oldest son, Judson, 
followed the covered wagon with a team of oxen on a spring wagon with various 
belongings, but his prize cargo was a crate with twelve hens and one rooster, a 
source of fresh eggs enroute and brood stock on the new farm. George changed his 
name to Sanders, as another George Saunders, a relative, also lived in Garden 
Prairie. The Sanders name was used by all the children as the number was 
increased to seven by two born on the new farm. They are now all deceased and 
were: Luella, Mrs. John Klumph of Canada; Judson, "Arab Jud"; and May, Mrs. Jay 
Face of the Stratford and Randolph area; Bernice, Mrs. Parke Benson of Verdon; 
Katy, Mrs. George Geidel; and Roy, who lived and raised his family on the 
homestead but spent his last years at Great Falls, Montana. Living descendants 
in the area are, Marie Ellingson, Sadie Stoltenberg, Arnold Sanders, Lester 
Sanders, Vieva Wheelock, Lloyd and George Face. A sister and brother-in-law of 
George came to Dakota in 1882, Fred Sheffler and "Kate". Grandma Sheffler was a 
part of the community for many years after her husband died.

Herman and Martha Bartz started their Dakota home in a sod house on N. W. 1/4-
12-121-61 in March, 1882. Herman had come earlier to select the land and to dig 
the well. A cousin, Fred Shear, helped them to establish their new home. Seven 
children were reared on the farm--Anna, Mrs. Chris Jensen;

[P98]

Ida, Mrs. Ott Schinkel; Mary, Mrs. Philip Radke; Agusta, Mrs. John Radke; 
August, Otto, and Charles. Charles was killed by lightning while cutting grain. 
The Bartz family came from Germany and lived a few years in Watertown, Wisconsin 
before coming to Dakota Territory. The farm is now owned and operated by August 
C. Bartz.

Shadrach Evans came to Dakota Territory in June, 1882 and filed on land where 
Randolph now stands. His abode was a dugout and in 1884 he brought his bride, 
Annie Cross, from Wisconsin to share the humble home. Their son, Benjamin, first 
saw the light of day in the dugout in 1886 and still humorously claims to be a 
groundhog. Soon thereafter lumber was hauled from Groton by oxen for a new house 
but the sod barn still sheltered the oxen and a new team of horses he purchased. 
Drought and other adversities in the early 90's discouraged him so he quit; but 
his pioneer spirit fired him again before a year had lapsed and he was working 
the lands again. Bennie and wife (Esther Markham) and two of their sons, Cyril 
and Layle Evans live and farm in the nearby area. Because the pioneer spirit and 
courage did not die, the Evans name is prominently listed as residents and 
tillers of the soil of the James River Valley.

[Photo: Benson Family]

Lester M. Benson, a widower with his two sons' Leon and Parke, came from 
Minnesota, with his brother-in-law, L. J. Fargo in 1882 and they filed on 
adjoining farms in Section 19. The following year his twin daughters, Grace and 
Faith, came to Dakota with their grandparents, Alpheus and Rebecca Fargo. The 
grandparents went to live with their son Leon and the girls joined the family in 
the new home. Soon it was one big circle of pioneer families within walking 
distance--Halls, Messers, Gaberts, Griefenhagens, Sanders, and others. Music was 
a hobby of the family and soon the Benson's furnished music for gatherings and 
dances. It carried on through that generation as the piano replaced the 
dulcimer--and by the next generation for several years. Lester Benson was 
elected by the Populist party to represent this area in the Pierre Legislature 
during the middle 90's. Leon married Stella Alberts in 1893. She was also a 
territorial pioneer. Parke married Bernice Sanders. Their farming years were 
spent in Garden Prairie and later their sons, Leslie and Cecil carried on the 
farming. Leslie still resides on the homestead and Allen Benson, Cecil's son is 
in California. Grace Benson Mathieu still lives in Brentford, S. D.

Albert Schley came from Wisconsin and lived with his uncle John in Gem Township 
until he met his future bride, Amelia Dobberpuhl, who also came to Dakota with 
her family from Wisconsin in 1886. They were married in 1889 and homesteaded on 
a farm bought in Garden Prairie, Sec. 6. Their first home was built of lumber 
brought from Wisconsin where the two oldest children were born, Alex and Della 
(Mrs. Otto Gerharter). In about 1892 a new home was built and the first house 
was made into a granary. Other children were, Edwin (deceased), Bernhard, Rosa 
(Mrs. Edwin Soberg), and Helena (Mrs. Emrickson). Bernhard occupied the farm 
after his father until moving to Aberdeen with his family in 1946.

Robert Ball and wife (Mary Clark) came to Dakota from Wisconsin in 1882 and 
homesteaded northeast of Groton. He and a brother-in-law agreed on a land trade 
and the Ball family located on Sec. 7-121-60. The children were born there, 
namely, Frank, Mattie (Mrs. Ed Hofer, deceased), Kate (Mrs. George Tollefson), 
and Myrtle (Mrs. Dan Clemensen). Tragedy befell the family in 1892 with the 
death of the mother by grippe. The father was determined to keep the family 
together and filled the mother's place with the help of the older children and 
the neighbors. He broke the farm by oxen and the yoke is still displayed with 
the antiques in Groton. He followed the seeder on foot and harvested the grain 
with a cradle. The bundles he made and tied with straw. First thresher was 
powered by horses in the flesh and you count the horses going round and round to 
verify the horsepower. The family progressed and solved their problems of water 
shortage and storms. Schooling was taken care of by a school house just across 
the road to the east. Neighbors lived on the other two corners of the 
intersection and they boasted of the only plastered school house in the area. 
Stella Alberts was teacher for two years and later married Leon Benson. Frank 
Ball carried on the farming after his father and married Bertha Quandahl to whom 
were born three sons and one daughter. After about a half century on the farm 
they moved to Groton where they still reside. Robert, the youngest son, is now 
living on and operating the farm homestead. Henry farms and lives one and one-
half mile south.

[P99]

GARLAND TOWNSHIP
by Mr. & Mrs. Merriel Olson, Joe Huettl, Mrs. Walter Kepke

This township was named after Hamlin Garland, a novelist who lived in this area 
with his pioneer parents, Mr. and Mrs, Richard Garland. The land south and west 
of Columbia to Ordway and Westport was immortalized by this writer in "Among The 
Corn Rows", and "A Son Of The Middle Border".

[Photo: Hamlin Garland, author, Dakota Territory resident of Ordway, Dakota 
Territory.]

Today, Garland Township is a prosperous land, with many fine sets of farm 
buildings. But there were hard times in the 80's and 90's and some homesteaders 
traded their land for a good team of horses and a wagon that they might load 
their meager belongings and go East again. Homesteaders who stayed were rewarded 
later with good crops, and plenty of grass and hay for their cattle. From the 
earliest pioneer times, there were more cattle in this area, than east and 
south, where the land was more level.

The western part of the township was rolling, while the east part was flat, and 
conducive to level farming. When the homesteaders first came to this wide, 
sunny, windy country, the sky seemed so big, and the horizon line so low and so 
far away, there was a majesty to the landscape, regardless.

[Photo: Memorial to Hamlin Garland on the site of the pioneer R. H. Garland 
home. Left to right: Mrs. Lawrence, Mrs. R. M. Van Winkle and Mrs. J. E. Kelly.]

Garland Township was an inland township with no railroad, no town, not even a 
creek. However, there were early settlers.

Records show that Elof Fredell filed on a homestead here in 1882, and a year 
later the following settlers came: Jason B. Roots, John H. Miller, Herman 
Schliebe, F. G. Logan, L. J. Lawson and George Crock and their families. S. G. 
Johnson and W. W. McDonald and their wives arrived later. Abigail Mason also 
came here. Many of the early homesteaders in Garland Township came from Michigan 
or Iowa. By 1887, a number of families of German descent had taken up homesteads 
here.

As is true of all the pioneers in Brown County, when the settlers had their 
claim shanties built, wells dug, and their first 10 acres plowed, they thought 
of their children's schooling. And soon a school house was built in each corner 
of the township. At the present time, none of these early school houses are 
running. Children go to either Westport or the Columbia schools.

Books used for texts in these early day schools included the McGuffey readers, 
the Mitchell geography, and the Ray arithmetic books. Every boy and girl had a 
slate on which to do his sums. Since schools were in session only two to six 
months, there was no time for the frills of education, such as art, handcraft, 
music, poetry, etc. Teachers had to be most resourceful in their lesson plans. 
Probably never in all the years since, has "spelling" been so interestingly 
given as it was in early "spelldowns".

[P100]

In many social affairs, adults participated in this type of thing, too.

These early school houses on the prairies had not a leaf for shade in the 
summer, nor a branch to break the wind in the winter. They were small, 
rectangular "boxes" painted white, with a door at one end, and three windows on 
each side. These barren buildings were also community centers for the pioneers.

After the German residents came they built a church in the northeast corner of 
the township. This was about 1887. However there were services in the homes 
before the church (St. John's Lutheran Church) was built. The little cemetery 
still stands, but the building itself was torn down, and the parsonage was moved 
to Columbia in 1939. Residents now attend church in nearby towns.

Most of the residents now of Garland Township are third generation persons from 
the pioneers.

In this short history of the land, we hope no pioneers have been omitted.

[Photo: A Typical Pioneer Homestead Shanty.]

[P101]

EAST GEM TOWNSHIP
by Mrs. A. J. Radke

As much as West Gem was Norwegian so East Gem became German. The two townships 
were settled the same year, but in the beginning East Gem had settlers of 
several nationalities. During the hard winters and lean years it was the staunch 
Germans who stuck it out and prospered.

Carl Paepke was the first white settler in East Gem. He left his, home and small 
family at Middleton, Wise. for the wide open spaces in search for better farming 
land. In the late fall of 1879 with his brother Herman, and Herman's brothers-
in-law, Martin and August Knie, they left by train for Dakota Territory. The 
Knie brothers and Herman did "railroading"--working on the Milwaukee tracks 
leading to Bath. Paepke was a trapper. In the winter of '79 he trapped along the 
James River. He just carried a knapsack, bed roll and traps. When he was short 
of traps, he dug holes in blocks of wood and filled them with strychnine mixed 
with grease. The hungry animals licked the poison and died. Paepke warned the 
Indians about the poison, so they would not lose their dogs. He also put up 
"poison" signs. He made friends with local Indians and traded furs for a gun. 
They invited him to sleep with them in their dug-out on the bank of the river, 
just 1 1/2 miles west of where he later settled. One of the Indians died, Paepke 
helped bury him.

In the spring Paepke returned to Wisconsin with glowing accounts of Dakota 
Territory and a pack of fine furs to sell. His prize catch was a beautiful prime 
black fox which he sold for $5.00. In the late fall he again returned to this 
area. This time he had a trunk and a barrel of provisions shipped to Bath. 
During the winter he slept in the barrel with his feet sticking out, only a 
blanket to protect them from cold and snow. He decided on his home site, the N. 
W. 1/4 of Sec. 1, Twp. 122, R. 62. He staked his claim in the spring of 1881 and 
built a small shack. One day when he returned from trapping he found a strange 
white man in his home. Carl beat up on him and threw him out in the cold. This 
was some one who intended to establish claim and contest Carl's ownership.

In Feb., 1882 Paepke shipped an immigrant. car from Madison, Wisc. In the car 
was food, clothing, wagon, plow, other farm implements, a cow and two horses. 
This came to Watertown, Dakota. Loading his possessions on the wagon, he and the 
cow walked alongside the wagon to his homestead some eighty miles distance. On 
April 27, his wife and daughter, Emma, age 6, arrived by train at Bath. Carl 
went horseback to meet them. The girl rode while the folks walked home. In the 
summer of '82 Carl built a 12 by 16 frame house and dug a well by hand. He cut 
willows at the river flats from which he made a ladder to carry up the dirt from 
the deepening well. He finished the well with circular curbing of green willows. 
Before this he had carried water 1 1/2 miles from the river. Next he erected a 
sod barn for his livestock.  Carl plowed the slough east of his home that first 
summer; there was a good rain and he had a fine flax crop. When his plow shares 
needed sharpening he walked to Columbia, leaving his horses to rest and get a 
good feed on prairie grass. He swam the river with the plow shares and his 
clothes tied on his head and the shot gun held high in the air with one hand. He 
shot three wild geese which he traded for a slice of bread--flour was hard to 
get.

Carl Paepke prospered, so with money in his pouch he went back to Wisconsin and 
bought a car load of "heaved" horses for $5.00 a head. He shipped them to 
Columbia, put them on the virgin prairie and soon the effect of the moldy and 
dusty, Wisconsin fodder was gone. Paepke was a shrewd man; many of the pioneers 
needed some more pulling power. Some had only the slow oxen so Paepke sold these 
horses at a great profit.

The first child born in East Gem was a son, William, to Carl Paepke on June 8, 
1883. Carl's close friend, Friedrich Sueltz was the sponsor. William Paepke 
still resides on the original Paepke homestead.

Paepke's return visits to Wisconsin brought out his relatives and friends. His 
brother Herman and Hilbert Schnase whose wives were sisters of the Knie 
brothers, who railroaded on the Milwaukee, and August and Martin Knie all chose 
claims in East Gem.

Joe Little, who was Carl Paepke's first neighbor, and the first white man Paepke 
saw here, settled "on the hill" in the N. W. 1/4 of Sec. 12 in 1882. One evening 
the two men walked to Davis's place in the N. E. 1/4 of Sec. 1. (Davis later 
jumped his claim and Robert McCordic, with a large family, took it up). Being a 
cloudy night they set a lantern in Paepke's window to guide them home. It rained 
so hard the slough was filled with water and they missed the shack. The men 
wandered on, much confused. Joe prayed, Carl swore, but it didn't help. 
Eventually they came to the river. Here Paepke got his bearings, knowing there 
was a trail through the river bottom to his place; he searched in the inky 
darkness until he found the trail. On his hands and knees he crawled, feeling 
the tracks so he would not lose his way, and he made his way back to the shack. 
The next morning Joe returned from his wanderings along the river, having gone 
as far as Tacoma Park. Joe was still praying--now for the safety of his friend 
and neighbor.

When Joe Little married, the pioneers gathered for a chavivari. When the 
newlyweds wouldn't come out after considerable noisemaking, Paepke, Davis and 
Sueltz took Little's 300 pound sow and threw her through the window into the 
house. This brought out the newlyweds!

Joe Little's youngest sister-in-law stayed with the Littles. A young bachelor, 
named Wilbur came a-courting. He had a buggy but no horse. He pulled the buggy 
to Little's expecting to use Joe's horse to take the girl to a dance. But Joe 
said,

[P102]

"No". So Wilbur pulled the buggy with the girl two miles to the dance. Pioneer 
spirit could not be daunted!

Frederick Sueltz, a German immigrant from Stegers, W. Prussia came to America to 
avoid conscription. After several years of farm labor around Ortonville, Minn., 
he decided to go west in search of a homestead. In the fall of 1881 he came to 
Groton, struck out on foot and met up with Carl Paepke. At once they became 
bosom friends because they were German "Landsmann". Sueltz liked the virgin 
prairie and the rich deep soil underneath. He located close to Paepke, choosing 
the N. E. 1/4 of Sec. 11.

Since Watertown, Dakota Territory had the U. S. land filing office Sueltz walked 
there to make his claim. Back to Ortonville he went and with his savings and 
inheritance he purchased provisions, equipment and farm machinery, a cow and two 
horses. These he loaded into an immigrant car along with his precious dowry 
chest which his mother had filled with hand woven linens, a feather tick, and 
hand woven linen under wear to last a life time. But in America they wore 
"store-bought" under wear so the under wear was later made into towels and wash 
cloths.

Fred Sueltz spent the next two years building up his homestead. He hauled stones 
for the foundation of the house from the hills beyond Ferney. He replaced his 
claim shack with a 14 by 16 frame house. The granary was a lean-to on the back 
of the house, and he set up a sturdy shed for his livestock. He hand dug a well 
curbing it with rough boards. Each year he plowed more land. He bought one of 
Paepke's cured "heaved" horses. Three horses on the walking plow; that was 
progress! Paepke and Sueltz in partnership purchased the first binder in this 
area.

Now at the age of 29 Sueltz was ready for family life. So on June 15, 1884 he 
took his brother, August, and friend Carl Paepke to meet his intended bride, 
Caroline Zuehlke. She came by train from Ortonville, Minn., where she had worked 
several years as a domestic, after immigrating from Pomerania, Germany. Heinrich 
Blum, Lutheran pastor in Aberdeen performed the ceremony to which the two above 
named men were witnesses. Fred Sueltz was the first bachelor in the community to 
be married. When his first child, Louise, was born he planted a tree in the 
center of the four stakes marking the section corners--This he told Paepke was 
to be "the sparking tree" for Carl's son and Fred's daughter. But alas, when 
roads along section lines were started the tree was in the center of the cross 
roads!

Sueltz wrote glowing accounts of Dakota Territory in free America to his 
relatives in Germany. Soon his brother, August, his sister with her husband and 
four children, the Carl Krahns and Sueltz's cousins, Carl and Fritz Boem came in 
rapid succession; each living with the Sueltz's until their new home was 
established.

[Photo: August Sueltz wearing coat made from Dakota buffalo.]

August Sueltz, a baker by trade in Germany, joined his brother in Dakota in 
1883. August staked his first claim in Section 9, in the river bottom. He put up 
a claim shanty, a barn and well. The well was only five feet deep with two feet 
of water in it. He plowed twenty acres, it flooded; he cut hay in the water with 
a hand scythe. The next year he moved to the up-land and established his 
homestead in the N. W. 1/4 of Sec. 11. At the Elm River he got seedlings and 
seed for box elder and cottonwood. He planted three rows one-half mile long 
which qualified him for a tree-claim. With his brother Fred, they planted trees 
on both places. August used Fred's machinery until he was able to buy his own. 
August chose a local girl for his bride. On July 15, 1887 he was married to Anna 
Jaeschke at Bath by Pastor Preu, the missionary circuit rider. His youngest son, 
Alfred now owns and farms August's homestead.

Hans Schott came in 1879 from Winona, Minn., looking for land for four sons. 
Three sons settled later in Gem Township. On Aug. 1, 1883, William filed on the 
S. W. 1/4 of Sec. 1 and Hans filed on the N. E. 1/4 of Sec. 2 for Adolph, who 
was not old enough to stake a claim. The two brothers built their claim shack 
and started farming. When Adolph was 21 he bought the farm from his father for 
$2000. Lean years came and it took him a long, long time to pay the debt; 
consequently he did not marry until he was 30 years old. The lumber for his home 
was southern pine, cut and fit in Minn., and shipped to Groton, which was the 
end of the Milwaukee in 1881. It was a 14 by 20 one story dwelling which is 
still in use as part of his son Roy's home.

Albert Schott, a younger brother, came in 1886 when he was old enough to file on 
land. He settled two miles south and married a Dakota girl, Caroline Adler.

Henry Jaeschke, a carpenter by trade, came from Wisconsin with his family in the 
fall of 1881. He settled on the N. E. 1/2 of Sec. 12. Later he bought the 
Schnase homestead for $2100. While his two sons, Charles and William did the 
farm work, Henry did carpentering. Many of the pioneer's frame homes were his 
work.

[P103]

[Photo: Henry Jaeschke farm showing 1881 lumber wagon.]

Carl F. Paepke, a cousin of Carl Paepke, the first settler, was a baker by 
trade. To differentiate the two Carls, Carl F. was called "Baker Paepke". He had 
tried farming in Wisconsin with no success so came here and settled in Sec. 23.

James Schlict, a blacksmith from New Ulm, Minnesota, settled northeast of 
Stratford in 1886. Hostile Indians attacked the settlers there and the Schlick 
family survived the terrible night in a hollow log. When he tried to escape with 
a little boy under each arm the Indians shot him and he lost one boy which the 
Indians captured. No one ever heard of the boy again.

C. M. Giddings, a schemer, homesteaded several quarters. Besides his own, he had 
some in his mother's name and some in other relatives names. He dumped ashes and 
garbage outside each claim shack to show proof there was a claimant living 
there.

Alvin Ellithorpe, with a family of twelve girls and two boys settled in Sec. 13, 
but didn't make it during the dry years. In 1962 at the age of 90, he returned 
to this area and enjoyed a good visit with Wm. Paepke.

Other early settlers were Fred Haker and Warren Fifield with his family of six 
children, who it made it" through the lean years. John Reber, an immigrant from 
Switzerland, came in 1887. His family joined him the next year and they bought 
land in Sec. 13.

The Rapp brothers, Casper and Frank, were early settlers. Frank drowned in the 
James River when he was fishing with Carmine and Herman Paepke. He dove in for a 
swim and never came up. His companions tried to rescue him but finally had to 
get the expert swimmer, Carl Paepke, who brought Frank "up by the hair."

Walter McFarlane came and settled just east of the James River. Others included, 
Morris Beckler, the Bonsness family, Earl and Joe Brown, Will Burke and sons, 
the Canning, Christianson, Elliot, Halvorson, Ellingson, Haker, Itland, Atly, 
Sanford Lund, John Morin, Jonas and Peter Larson, Swenson, Tolstad, Wager, 
Walgren, and Westby families. The James Carmines came in 1883. Their homestead 
was directly east of the James River. The family consisted of three sons, 
Chester, Dean, and Raleigh. Both Mr. and Mrs. Carmine spent much time and energy 
in improving and aiding civic projects.

Esther Hoeft Smith, one of eight Hoeft children, tells this story of her father. 
Herman Hoeft, tired of the struggle with stumps and stones, came via boxcar and 
foot in 1896. He worked for the Schley and Fred Stange families. He walked to 
Seneca, didn't like the stones there so he walked back. Lacking a convenient 
bridge, he piled his clothes into a bundle tied on his head with his belt, and 
swam the Jim River. He figured the land east of the river was best for farming 
anyway. The next year he bought the Otto Gunderson farm. This area has very 
little, if any rock, so he used to haul wagon loads of stone from east of Ferney 
to use in making foundations and floors for his farm buildings. Mr. Hoeft was 
the first person to deliver a load of wheat to the Stratford elevator.

The first church services were held in the pioneers' homes. Lutheran Missionary, 
Pastor Preu, was a circuit rider who lived at Scatterwood and served Warner, 
Aberdeen, and Gem. He came from Aberdeen on a stone-boat, which was a rudely 
constructed contraption of rough boards nailed across two runners made of logs. 
On this was nailed a box in which he stood. One horse pulled this outfit. In 
1883 Pastor Preu conducted Bible school which the Paepke, Krahn, and Jaeschke 
children attended.

The pioneers built a wooden shack for their first church on the hill just west 
of the river bridge where the Gem cemetery still stands. This was of the Iowa 
synod and Germans as far away as Bath and west of there attended. When the Gem 
School No. 1 was built services and Bible school were held there. In 1882 when 
the Missouri Synod organized The James Church the Gem Township Germans 
affiliated with them.

[Photo: The first school in East Gem Township. Pupils are Dora Schatt Treml at 
left and the McCordic girls at the right.]

The first school was held in the winter of 1882 in the partially completed 
Casper Rapp home. In the summer of 1883, the pioneers with their carpenter, 
Henry Jaeschke, built a fine large school house, which served until 1926. The 
first teachers were Maggie Cudmore and then Dora Holland. The first pupils were 
Will, Ned, Adeline and Lillian Fifield; Ina, Clarence and Elwin Ellithorpe; 
Bruce, Raleigh, Lathrop, Herbert and Horace McCordic; Amelia and Johanna Paepke; 
Charles, Anna and William Jaeschke.

The year of the big snow, 1880, brought great

[P104]

hardships. The snow was far too deep for horses to wade through, and it didn't 
freeze or harden enough to carry the horses. The men solved the problem of 
travel by tying boards to their boots like snow shoes, thus they went for mail, 
groceries and visits. One day Carl Paepke and Joe Little went scouting to the 
south, at E. S. Nelson's they found Ole Mogen and Halsten Docken with Nelson 
skinning antelope. These three had come upon a herd of 20 antelope below the 
river bank fenced in with a wall of snow too high for the antelope to jump. Now 
they had enough meat for all summer.

In the big blizzard of Jan. 12, 1888, the teacher and pupils expected to be 
marooned for the night and possibly longer. Fred Sueltz, with whom the teacher 
and Fred Krahn boarded, braved the blizzard by following the fence around his 
land to the southeast corner where the school house stood. He instructed the 
teacher to take the lead, the children following and Sueltz bringing up the 
rear, with all of them hanging on to the fence as they forced their way back to 
the Sueltz home against the terrific wind and blinding blizzard.

"Hallowe'ening" was a stunt played on bachelors. Paepke was the ring leader. The 
men carried huge chunks of coal to the bachelor's shack, in the dead of night; 
suddenly the door opened and "the black devil" came crashing and thundering 
across the floor. If the startled bachelor had courage to look out he would have 
seen dark forms hurrying across the prairie to the next bachelor.

The spring of 1882 was like a grand opening of Gem Township. Many settlers came; 
tar paper shacks sprang up on every quarter of land. Contestants were numerous, 
and frequently a little 6 by 8 shack would appear on the opposite corner of the 
claimant's quarter. Then the claimant would appeal to Paepke, Sueltz and Little 
and in the dead of night the contestant's little shack would be pulled with a 
log chain on to the school section "to squat until they rot."

[Photo: Early pioneer living room.]

[P105]

WEST GEM TOWNSHIP
by Helen J. Bergh

Gem Township is somewhat unique in its manner of settlement. Nils Hundstad left 
Norway in 1878 and came to Dakota Territory to seek a new home. Following his 
return to Norway the entire Hunstad family decided to dispose of their property 
in Royse, a district of Ringerike, Norway, and migrate to America. Accordingly, 
in the early spring of 1880, Mr. and Mrs. Ole Hundstad, their sons Edward and 
Nels, their daughter Inger and her husband Jens Svarstad, with their families 
arrived in Watertown. The three younger men rode northwest toward Waubay and 
then west to the James River. The land, river, and trees looked like home and 
they each marked places on a map and returned to the land office at Watertown to 
file their claims. They found all their chosen places had already been taken, so 
they filed sight unseen, on the triangular area between the James River and 
Mocassin Creek and set out together with their families. In the meantime, Edward 
O. Hundstad with his yoke of oxen was left alone while the others returned to 
Watertown. A storm came up one night and lightning struck and killed one of the 
oxen. The following day some Indians moving from the Sisseton Reservation to 
another reservation near Pierre came by and noticed the dead oxen so they 
immediately helped themselves to the carcass. Edward did not argue with them. He 
was glad to retain his scalp in exchange for the dead animal.

During the first winter of 1880-1881 Edward O. Hundstad and his brother Nels 
made two trips on skiis to Watertown for provisions. They pulled a hand sled 
between them on which the necessary items were fastened. They knew the art of 
skiing and had courage, stamina and willingness to grapple with whatever the 
winter elements had to offer. You say, "How fool-hardy?" No, they trusted the 
good Lord would see them through.

Mr. and Mrs. Svarstad raised seven children. Edward Hundstad married Mathea 
Fjeld in Gem Township. There were six children: Olaf, Emil, Carl, Karine 
Swenson, Esther Orton, and Eleda Liedell. This branch of the family has retained 
the original spelling of the name. The Nels Hunstads had twelve children: Ole, 
Peder, Marie, Nora, Lena, Berger, Mabel, Viola, Louise, Karen, Thelma, and 
Ingvald (Ed).

During that first year here, Ole E. Hundstad thought of the many acres of wheat 
there would be to thresh and so he made plans to buy a threshing machine. He 
sent a picture of it home to Norway and the newspaper there printed a long story 
about it. In several cases members of this family are still on the original 
land.

Another 1878 arrival was a Mr. William Anderson who came from Clinton, Ontario, 
Canada. In 1882 he returned to Canada to get married. There were three children, 
Louis, Charles H. and Alfred. Louis and Charles' first teacher was Elizabeth 
Hazzard, later Mrs. George Slater. Miss Sarah Fewins was Alfred's first teacher. 
Charles H. Anderson now lives between Andover and Pierpont. Louis Anderson lives 
at Huron.

In the spring of 1879 Stenner Gullickson, in company with Halsten Docken, Tom 
Kittleson, Rior Halvorson, Ole Tanberg, and Ole Moland traveled by horse-drawn 
covered wagon into the territory. They returned to Minnesota in the fall and Mr. 
Gullickson drove the first mail coach from Canby, Minnesota to Brookings. In the 
spring of 1880 he returned to Dakota with Halsten Docken, Ole Mogen, Erick S. 
Nelson, Otto Gunderson, Ole Tanberg, and Ole Moland. They filed at the land 
office at Watertown, bought supplies and headed west. When they got as far as 
Frankfort they noticed a band of Indians coming north. They detoured to avoid 
them and came unexpectedly upon a white family living in a dugout. The head of 
the family was building a dam in the river with the intention of putting up a 
mill. Traveling northwest they reached Foster City, known as Armadale Island 
where they found a large Sioux Indian encampment of tepees. They proceeded to 
what is now known as Rondell and met Jim Humphrey who guided them north to where 
Stratford now stands for a dollar apiece.

Mr. Gullickson built a two room sod house. In 1884 he married Kjerste Erickson 
in the Nelson School. They had a family of eleven children and lived to 
celebrate their sixtieth anniversary. Among the children surviving are Mrs. 
Marie Docken, Sandford, Charry and Mabel.

Mrs. Marie Docken gives the following account of her family: "My first home was 
a two-room sod house. The furniture consisted of a cook stove, two chairs, a 
home-made table and a bed with rope strung criss cross for springs. The tick was 
filled with hay and later, when they had corn, they filled it with fresh husks 
each fall. Flat irons or bricks kept on the back of the stove all day, and 
wrapped in old blankets made foot warmers.

The first Christmas tree was a branch covered with fringed green wrapping paper. 
Children made paper rings and strung popcorn for decorations.

Butchering was a big event of the year. Usually in December two or three 
neighbors got together. Water was heated to boiling and poured into barrels for 
scalding of hogs. Then came sausage making with tubs of meat cut up for the meat 
grinder.

The medicine cabinet contained turpentine, camphor, and sulphur. Molasses and 
sulphur was the regular spring tonic for the family.

The same year, 1880, Ole Gunderson and his wife came from Minnesota, Peder 
Erickson came from Wisconsin. He lived in a dug out in the bank of the Mocassin 
Creek for a year. He raised his family, Holger, Herman, Aksel, Alma and Oliver. 
At about the same time Mr. and Mrs. Engebreth Bunsness and their six children, 
Hans, Eliza, John, Mathea, Amelia and Peter came from Oslo, Norway, Later, 
Grandma Bunsness walked four miles to Bath

[P106]

with two dozen eggs to exchange foe a pound of coffee. Other homesteaders 
included E. O. Peterson, John Vaaler, Andrew Thorson and A. C. Hanson. Erick 
Nelson, always an active participant in public affairs, helped to organize Brown 
County with the county seat at Columbia.

Hans Gustafson came from Sweden in 1865, fired Mississippi River steamer boilers 
from St. Paul to St. Louis for several years, returned to Sweden, came back to 
Minnesota in 1878, and to Gem Township in 1880. Ida S. Erickson came to 
Watertown in the fall of 1881. They were married in October and their wedding 
trip was a four day covered-wagon journey to the homestead. Sleeping under the 
wagon with a sack of potatoes for a pillow was quite an experience for a girl 
who had never been out of the city. There were four children, Mrs. Sophia 
Fellers, Mrs. Marie Pinkerton, Mrs. Clara Erickson and Carl Gustafson. Jerry 
Brooks, a great grandson of the Hans Gustafson, Nels Hunstad and Andrew Brooks 
families, tells this story. Seeding was done broadcast and later with a shotgun 
seeder fastened to a wagon wheel. Harvesting was done with the scythe. There was 
no twine, so wheat straws, heads and all were twisted together to tie the 
bundles.

In 1880 the snow was so deep that horses couldn't be used so sacks of wheat were 
loaded on a hand sled and pulled to a grist mill at York's Landing near Rondell. 
He tells of skating parties on the Jim when huge bonfires were built, of his 
great-uncle, John Holum, walking fourteen miles every Saturday for confirmation 
classes at the minister's house, of hanging fresh meat in the well so it would 
not spoil, of making primost cheese by boiling buttermilk, of making hominy out 
of corn by soaking it in lye water, of grinding corn for cornmeal, of roasting 
barley to substitute for coffee. Thistles blew into trees and were stomped flat 
and burned in the stove. Some settlers piled up huge piles of brush to burn as a 
warning if Indian troubles threatened.

October 5, 1881, the Saint James congregation was organized in the sod house of 
A. C. Hanson. Pastor J. E. Bergh of Renville, Minnesota helped in the 
organization. Later the congregation took the name of Scandinavia. That same 
fall two acres of land were purchased for a cemetery. Peder Erickson had charge 
of it for many years.

That same winter the Gem Township school district was organized and the Nelson 
school house built, with the school officers, O. J. Tanberg, E. S. Nelson, and 
O. H. Mogen doing the carpenter work. The school opened in the fall of 1882 with 
Miss Clara Amley as teacher. Among the first pupils were Mathilda Hansen, her 
two sisters and her brother. They had come with their parents, the Hans J. 
Hansens. The Vaaler and Hunstad Schools were built very soon after the Nelson 
School. They were used for church services and in summer parochial school was 
held for two weeks in each one. Mrs. Anna Cairns and her sister, Mrs. Emma 
Svarstad tell this story of their mother, Mrs. Ole Tanberg. She was very 
religious and sent her children to the two-week term in all of the schools. When 
the Jim River was in flood stage, she simply put her little brood into a small 
boat and rowed them across. Many of the Gem residents used this same means of 
getting to church in the spring. This strong religious conviction was shared by 
the entire community which started out with people from three synods but 
eventually united into one church.

Gem Township was formally organized in March, 1884. On April 24, 1884, an 
election was held at School House No. 2. The following officers were elected: 
Chairman, O. T. Tanberg; Supervisors, John Burke and Anders C. Hanson; Clerk, 
John Vaaler; Treasurer, Peder Erickson; Assessor, O. H. Mogen; Justices of the 
Peace, William Johnson and Robert McCordic; Constables, S. T. Gullickson and 
Andrew A. Solberg; Road Overseer, Peter Halvorson.

The next year brought the Ever Johnson, Locken and Lee families, Butler Lee in 
1883, his brother Christian in 1885 and brother John in 1886. Ingeborg 
Gullickson, (later Mrs. Tanberg), homesteaded and remained there until her 
death. For many years Betul Johnson gave the opening prayer at church and led 
the singing. His children live in various parts of the U. S. and Canada.

In the spring of 1885 Hans S. Locken left his wife and baby daughter in Norway 
and headed westward. The ocean journey was a hazardous one. The ship's power 
failed and for several days the vessel drifted completely without direction. 
After arriving in Gem Township, he worked for Halsten Docken to obtain money for 
a ticket for his little family. A most trustworthy hired man he proved to be, 
for the boss set him to watching the other hired man, (who later became an 
Aberdeen merchant) to see that he didn't waste too much time resting. They 
didn't visit much for neither understood the other, so the acreage of trees was 
planted in nice straight rows.

[Photo: Mr. and Mrs. Hans S. Locken and daughters Ida and Carrie in 1887.]

Mr. Locken's brother, Sivert and his sister, Mrs. Sivert Lund, came a few years 
later. The Hans Lockens were parents of eleven children. Three are living, Mrs. 
Lydia Tolvstad of Mellette, S. D. and their twin sons Elmer and George in Brown 
County.

[P107]

These are the first twins born in Gem Township. The old home is still in the 
Locken family.

[Photo: Gem Township's first post office in the home of E. S. Nelson. The 
Picture also shows harvesting with header and header boxes.]

Hans Christian Hansen came to America as a fifteen year old boy. He shoveled 
coal to pay for his passage. In 1886 he married Mathilda Hansen. They were 
parents of Mrs. Bernt Kringen, Mrs. Arnold Krueger, Mrs. Ed Bunsness, Mrs. 
George Burke, Hans, Herman, and George still living.

The Peder Hafnors with their family of eight, Andreas, Nils, Gulbrand, Marthe, 
Anna and Olborg arrived in 1888 and stayed for a time with Mr. Hafnor's sister, 
Mrs. Ole Hunstad. Anna Hafnor and her sister were early teachers.

The Samuel Iversons came the same year and later moved to Ravinia Township. 
Miles, Silas, Mabel, and Clarence still live.

The first post office was established in the home of E. S. Nelson on February 
26, 1883. In 1890 Christian Hansen became postmaster, Elizabeth Rapp in 1891, 
Hans J. Hansen also in 1891 and Carl Paepke in 1898. The first rural mail 
delivery began in June 1900 as a result of efforts of E. S. Nelson. He had 
encountered much ridicule as some settlers thought it would cost a great deal. 
His son, Arthur and Melvin survive.

West of the Scandinavian settlement there was a mixture of nationalities with 
Germans predominating. Compulsory military training was the rule in Germany.

In 1870 the Fred Wolter family with its three boys decided to come to America to 
avoid this training for war. They spent some time in Minnesota with the D. G. 
Luke family. There, a little girl, Mary Matilda was born. After a decade of 
battling drouth and chinch bugs, the Fred Wolter, William Bengs and William Glau 
families came to Dakota early in May of 1881, where they were told all they had 
to do was plow the rich soil and plant. It sounded good after all the years of 
felling trees and grubbing roots. Williams F. Bengs, nephew of the original 
William Bengs and cousin of the late Herman C. Bengs, tells the story of their 
coming. Years later William F. Bengs married Ida Bengs and farmed in Aberdeen 
Township for nearly fifty years.

Bristol was the end of the rails. They unloaded the immigrant car onto the 
ground, loaded three wagons and started for Aberdeen. There were no bridges so 
they used a ferry at the James River and forded the smaller streams. It was hard 
to find Aberdeen, so William Wolter went ahead to see if he could find it. He 
soon returned to the other travelers with a lantern. There were two sod hotels, 
a sod livery barn, and a little frame shanty. After finding the homesteads the 
older men went back to Watertown to the land office and to Bristol for the rest 
of their belongings.

Mary grew up and when she was fourteen she worked as a waitress in the sod hotel 
in Aberdeen. Later she married Gustav Werth of Rondell Township. Two members of 
the Wolter family are still living (1964), Albert in Aberdeen and Mrs. Ida 
Bachman in California. A great-grandchild, Elaine Theil, daughter of Carl 
Wolter, lives with her husband and boys on the Wolter homestead. The Werth and 
Wolter families held church at the school house and at the Wolter farm. Men sat 
on one side of the aisle, women on the other. Living in the same neighborhood 
were the Zech and James Hickenbotham families. Myrtle Zech Hill recalls the 
winter fun at the old school, the debates and mock trials. Her father, Carl Zech 
came to Dakota in 1881 and filed south of Groton. Helen Zech Collins' son, 
Wesley, came from Washington state to a meeting of the pioneers a few years ago.

Early teachers were, Miss Murray, Miss Churchill, Mr. Bissel, Ida Kittleson 
(Mrs. Gulik Gullickson), Miss Sarah Fewins, Elizabeth Philbrick, Ida Creed 
(Glau), Miss Bonsness, June Copeland and Margaret Coulter.

In 1880, Mr. Hickenbotham, with a group of land seekers walked from Watertown. 
He tested soil until he found a spot where it was flat, black and deep. 1881 
found him back again with his wife, Edith Polly Hayden, a Wisconsin schoolma'am. 
They plowed ten acres and sowed oats, cross-marked and planted ten acres of ash 
and box elder trees with a two-handed corn planter, which entitled him to a 
tree-claim. For more than fifty years Aberdeen churches and other groups enjoyed 
the shade and

[P108]

the sweet cold water from the sixty foot well. Two of the five children still 
remain, Alice Snyder of Valley City, N. D. and Walter of Aberdeen. Mr. 
Hickenbotham, along with countless others, had an unforgettable experience in 
the blizzard of 1888. He got lost and after his feet got numb, he crawled most 
of the night, bumped into a deserted shack and got inside but was unable to 
light a fire. He kept crawling around until daylight showed snow up to the roof. 
He clawed his way out, blinded by the sun and yelled for help until the Amley 
brothers three miles southeast of Warner heard his call and went with a hand 
sled. They carried him to their shanty and thawed his feet with kerosene, 
wrapped him in buffalo robes, and took him home in the sleigh. The only 
permanent bad effect was the loss of part of each big toe. Another more amusing 
story is that of the little Hickenbothams building a toy farm while their mother 
was out doing chores. They used little Walter's curls for hay. Their fun had an 
abrupt ending when mama came in.

George Hasse lived east of Warner. John H. Lathrop came to Bath in 1888 and 
moved to Gem Township in 1898 to the Jack Culbert farm where Nahon now stands. 
There were four girls, Lydia and Meda Neill, Myrtle Rogers, and Mildred 
Morthland.

Mamie Dixon (Wright) of Fairfax, Oklahoma, remembers the buffalo wallows, the 
winter of 1885-86 when Agnes Dixon walked two and one-half miles to teach the 
Vaaler School, an election at the school house where a woman circulated a 
petition to vote for Women's Suffrage. A pompous man, unable to read, asked her 
to read it. After hearing it he said, "No, I won't vote for them. They are too 
ignorant." She remembers thistles piling up against the wire fence so the 
staples pulled out and the wire blew away with the thistles. She remembers 
hiding in the tall grass so Indians wouldn't see her, and she recalls the 
beautiful prairie grasses and flowers.

Louis Rahskopf, a wagon maker, came from Canada, to Wisconsin, to Dakota, in 
1881. Mr. Knie came from New York. A daughter, Minnie, married John Rahskopf. 
Edwin Rietz; came to Gem Township in 1899. He married Anna Kalbow whose parents, 
the Louis Kalbows had come in 1885. They had four children, John, Edna, Elmer 
and Esther.

A history of this era would not be complete without some reference to everyday 
living. Fuel included wood hauled from Rondell. Much wheat was hauled to 
Columbia to the grist mill. Clothing was strictly homemade. Cattle were often 
picketed or herded for there were no fences at first. Water was drawn by the 
bucket from hand dug wells. When there was sickness the neighbors came. When 
there was death the neighbors came instead of the mortician. Mrs. Cairns tells 
of taking the metal rings from bridles and stringing rope through them to lower 
caskets into the grave. Everyone stayed at the cemetery until the last shovel of 
earth was replaced.

The little one-room rural school with its many functions was truly a community 
center. People had their fun too. The gentle art of visiting was highly 
developed. They used all the talent within their own community as well as that 
of outsiders. The deeply religious background, the bonds of a common nationality 
and relationship, and common needs have created a feeling of togetherness not 
found in many neighborhoods.

[Photo: Gem Pioneers have reunion at picnic, July 22, 1945.]

[P109]

LIBERTY AND GREENFIELD TOWNSHIPS
by Hattie Glover (Frederick Free Press Jubilee Edition, July, 1957)

In the original survey both Liberty and Greenfield were a township and a half. 
Liberty still retains the extra half township, but the township of Richland 
absorbed the extra half of Greenfield with a half township from Frederick.

The settlers named the townships at their organizational meetings. The name 
Greenfield was suggested by W. J. Bartlett at a meeting at the Kronschnabel 
home, and kept. At a meeting at the Bell home, Liberty was named just that. 
Before the organization of the areas, an assessment of the communities was done 
by a man from Bath. The assessing job at first was let out by contract by the 
County Commissioners, each assessor hired having a certain area.

In 1882, Ordway was the northern terminal of the Chicago Northwestern Railroad. 
The immigrant cars came to Ordway, or Westport on the Milwaukee Railroad. People 
coming in drove from one of these towns until they found open land. Many were 
obliged to become "squatters" until the land "came into market". That means when 
the government opened up the land for homesteading.

The first settler in Greenfield was a man named Murray. Following Murray were 
these men: Wooding, Morgans, Waldo, the Bartlett Brothers, Glover, Guild, Ward, 
Mrs. Eldrid and son, N. Eldrid, Dickenson, Plen and sons, Michalis, Flint and 
son, Westphal, Preston, Mahoney, Donnell, Zimmerman, Jacob Henry Kronschnabel 
and sons, King, Wein, and Sandell. Mrs. Wooding was the first woman settler and 
Mrs. Vet Ward, the second.

The official survey was made in July, 1882, to see if any two settlers were 
"squatting" on the same quarter. William Bartlett had made a preliminary survey 
and was certain no settlers were on the same land. It was November of that year 
before the government opened up land for filing in Greenfield, but it was March 
of 1883 before Liberty was ready to be assigned to homesteaders. In the meantime 
the land office was moved from Watertown to Aberdeen.

The first settlers in Liberty Township were Walter Bell and his four sons and 
two sons-in-law and their wives. Other early settlers in Liberty Township were 
the Shippeys, the Ward Brothers, the Bruns Brothers, Mrs. Jane Harp and sons, 
Stearns, Wilmsen, Zeller, Lowen, Yunkers and sons, Adam Kehl, Eygabroad, 
Siefkes, Parks, Countryman, Oshers, Boundy, Russell, Johnson Brothers, Cummings, 
Mabbott, Gilberts, Kaufman, Whiting, Geiken and W. J. Ross.

Mrs. Edwin Stensland tells of the first Greenfield Township board meeting with 
the following officers chosen: Dewitt Morgans, J. W. Guild, B. M. Dickinson, 
August Pein, Paul J. Spilde, Casper Kronschnable, W. J. Bartell, M. Machalis, W. 
T. Ross, S. P. Flint, Frank Feleo and A. E. Bartell. The area was divided into 
road districts. Other early pioneers included S. Comstock, W. T. Glover, Ole 
Stensland, Fred Padelford, Fred King, William Bryant, Daniel Brown, Nathan 
Stout, Clark Clanton, Regel Backman, Frank Miller, William Heckelsmiller, Samuel 
Johnson, John Archabald, Carl, Frederick, and Gustav Pfutzenreuter, Andrew 
Stensland, M. Nygaard and a Mr. Branch.

The two school houses in Greenfield Township, known as the Johnston and 
Kronschnabel Schools were built a couple of years after the homesteaders came. 
The first two school houses in Liberty were the Bell School and the Osher 
School. Liberty's first school board was Meino Bruns, chairman, Charles 
Eygabroad, clerk; and Stephen Captain Yunkers, Sr., treasurer.

Community gatherings included dances, socials, picnics, school programs, ball 
games, and political meetings. Dances were often held in the home of William 
Machalis. Yunker Brothers furnished the music.

Religious services were held in the homes before 1887, but not until that year 
are there definite places and times remembered. Evangelical services were held 
in Liberty homes, usually at Achens. The first Lutheran service in Liberty 
Township was held in the Bell school house on May 11, 1887, with holy baptism by 
the Rev. C. C. Metz of Groton. Later, Lutheran services were held in the Wilmsen 
School. Not until 1901 was a church built. Occasional services by the Methodist 
denomination were held in 1886, at the Bell school house. Some of the families 
attending services lived in Greenfield Township driving some distance to 
worship.

In the summer of 1887 the first church service was held in Greenfield Township 
at the Johnston school house. A homesteader, Mr. Westphal did the preaching. At 
the first meeting a Sunday School was organized with Benjamin Cummings who lived 
in Brainard Township named superintendent. The families of the superintendent, 
John Archabald George Archabald and Amos Mahoney comprised the membership, but 
the Sunday School grew as the years went by. A minister from Frederick preached 
several times that year.

Ministers often were paid in produce instead of cash in pioneer days. At a 
donation party for this Frederick pastor, a cake baked by Mrs. Bern Dickenson 
for the dinner never reached its destination. Charles Sidman and a friend who 
were to deliver the cake to the school house decided to stop on the way and eat 
it, which they did. The young men went on to the gathering and ate more cake. It 
was sometime later before the story was known. There was an abundance of food, 
so the cake wasn't needed.

In 1889 Rev. H. Mundt became resident pastor of Sand Lake Congregation. He also 
took charge and organized the Peace Lutheran Church in the Liberty Township 
area. On October 13, 1889 a constitution was unanimously adopted and signed. 
Services were held in a school house opposite the farm known as

[P110]

the Alevyn Herther place. A small community cemetery was also established. In 
1901 their church was built. It was destroyed by a tornado in 1912 and rebuilt a 
few months later.

[Photo: Peace Lutheran Church Today]

A Literary and Debating Society was organized in Liberty Township at the 
Johnston School, meeting weekly during the winter months. At the meetings were 
programs of readings, songs, and a debate. A Literary Society was also organized 
in Greenfield, but it became the Farmer's Alliance. The two societies had 
debates together. These were in the early 80's.

Hanging out a lighted lantern, when anyone in the family wasn't home by dark, 
became customary among the prairie homesteaders. Roads were laid out on the 
section lines but no one traveled them. You took a direct route across the flat 
vast prairie to the place you wished to go. Some of these trails became main 
traveled roads, as they neared school houses or towns. It was ideal to take 
short cuts in the day time, but dangerous at night, when very dark. Many of the 
early homesteaders camped on the prairies, often not far from home, completely 
lost. The ease in getting lost led to the lantern signal. The story has been 
told so often about William Bruns, Dick Geiken, and Charles Johnson, going to 
Frederick afoot for needed groceries. The roads were impassable for teams 
because of the deep snow. On the way home, a snowstorm and darkness overtook the 
three men, and becoming exhausted Johnson gave up and said he could not go on. 
The other men waited for him to rest, and ate sugar from their groceries to 
satisfy their hunger. While still resting a light appear not far away, and they 
all walked toward it, and soon they were at the Geiken claim shanty. Mrs. Geiken 
had hung out the lantern.

Another pioneer story of this community is that told of the Bruns Brothers and 
their potatoes. The brothers had a fine field of potatoes, but the potato bugs 
were very bad, and it looked as if the bugs would destroy the crops. Money was 
hard to come by and often the farmers had no money to buy "Paris Green" with 
which to spray the potatoes and kill the bugs. But one of the Bruns' boys had 
that extra quarter with which to buy the insecticide, and their crop was saved.

The first threshing rig in Greenfield was purchased by Bert Bartlett from Mrs. 
Arthur and son of Ordway. The engine could furnish power for threshing, but 
could not pull itself or the separator. Horses had to do the pulling. Wilmsen 
and Cummings tended the separator alternating in feeding the grain in, by hand. 
Blackman was the engineer. The farmers worked together, exchanging work, and 
wherever the threshers were the farmer's wife got the meals.

Mrs. Stensland tells of her father, Gustav A. Pfutzenreuter and her uncle Fred 
coming in 1881 and building sod houses near the Jim River near the present site 
of Hecla. They made friends with the Indians who fished and hunted and gave 
vegetables to them. An Indian Chief, Kick-Hole-in-the-Sky gave her father a 
hatchet and pipe combination hewn out of rock in appreciation for his kindness. 
Gustav Pfutzenreuter returned to Norway but the call of the prairie was so 
powerful he came back to South Dakota in 1909.

The settlers went through some very hard times in making a community out of the 
prairie, yet in retrospect, all the hardships seem so worthwhile.

[P111]

GROTON TOWNSHIP
by Miss Pearl Frommel, Mrs. Lydia Jones, Mrs. Lulu Hughes

On May 10, 1883, the Brown County commissioners declared the area around Groton, 
the Groton School District. The first school teacher was Miss Jessie Warner, who 
later became the wife of D. B. Johns.

In March, 1884, a petition was presented to the Brown County commissioners and 
Groton area was formed into a civil township and a township election was held in 
the railroad depot. The first officers elected were: supervisors, A. M. Soreus, 
D. B. Johns, H. W. Jewett; clerk, W. J. Moore; assessor, E. Bacon; justice of 
the peace, W. C. Allen and C. F. Robinson; constable, H. W. Palmer. Groton was 
divided into 6 road districts with a road supervisor to each district, these 
supervisors were: Geo. F. Reynolds, Wesley Sullivan, H. W. Palmer, John F. 
Voight, Adam Frommel, and Chas. Rathburn. The following judges were appointed: 
U. S. Hackett, J. W. Eppard and E. Bacon.

Among the first to file on land around Groton were: A. W. Krueger who came to 
Dakota Territory in search of a homestead, filed on a claim one mile west of 
Groton and also took a tree claim adjoining his homestead. John Voight who came 
with Mr. Krueger filed on a homestead adjoining Mr. Krueger's.

In June, 1881, Miss Augusta Erdmann came out from Wisconsin and filed on land 
which joined Mr. Krueger's. They were married in Wisconsin in Sept., 1881, and 
then came out to their home here. Several years later, Mr. Voight sold his land 
to Mr. Krueger.

There were five Krueger children, three sons, Paul, Arthur, Fred and two 
daughters, Bertha and Lydia. Paul, the eldest son, still owns his father's and 
mother's homestead's.

Spencer S. Mellen came from Retreat, Wisconsin in 1881 and filed on a homestead 
one and one-half miles straight east of Groton. A Mr. Newton came with him and 
filed on a claim south of Groton which is now the Groton City dump ground. Mr. 
Newton sold his homestead and went back to Wisconsin where he continued to run a 
shoe store.

Mrs. Mellen came to Groton, March 15, 1882 with two children, a son, Binone and 
Susan Lulu, who was born August 30, 1881 in Wisconsin, a son, Forest, was born 
at Groton on the homestead.

Mr. Mellen traded his land when he had proved up on it for lumber to build his 
home in Groton. This house is still being used by their daughter Lulu Hughes. 
The dining room and kitchen were part of the homestead, house.

Mr. Mellen had the first blacksmith shop in Groton.

J. B. Quiggle came to Groton and filed on a homestead north of Groton in 1880. 
He took a very active part in community affairs and was treasurer of the 
township board and served very faithfully as it's clerk for many, many years. 
Three sons were born on the homestead, Guy, Ernest and Milo. The eldest son, 
Guy, raised his family on this farm and since Guy went to Montana to live, the 
farm has been operated by his son Wayne and family. Wayne is now clerk of the 
Groton Township Board.

Seven members of the Blair family filed on land in this community--five 
brothers: John, James, Thomas, William and Sam; two sisters: Jen Blair Wilson 
and Emma Blair Harris.

John W. Blair filed on his homestead in 1881 living there until he passed away. 
The homestead is operated by his son William and two grandsons James and John. 
There are two daughters, Edna Blair Rix and Margaret Blair Rogers, who still 
hold farming interests in this community.

In the Thomas Blair family there were two sons, Frank, who is an attorney at 
Virginia City, Montana, Edward, who lives in Groton, and one daughter, Jennie, 
who lives in Texas.

Christian Weihrauch came to Groton in 1880 filing on a homestead in the 
northwest part of the present Groton Township. He also filed on a tree claim, 
which is the home of their younger daughter, Christina, who married Elliott 
Mallett. There were two other children, Harry, who passed away at the age of 27 
years, and Elizabeth who is now Mrs. Harlan Whisman and lives in Minneapolis, 
Minn.

Mr. and Mrs. C. Weihrauch came to Dakota Territory from Wisconsin.

Severt Osman came to Dakota Territory in 1881 and filed on a homestead in Groton 
Township just east of Groton. There were 10 children in this family: Joseph, 
Lillie, Marshall, Pearl, Mary, Tena, Austin, Hattie and Clara. Lillie being the 
member who still lives in Groton, the other having moved to other places or have 
passed away.

Adam Frommel was born in Washington County, Wisconsin in 1851. In the spring of 
1881, he and a younger brother, Nick, came to Dakota Territory and filed on 
homestead claims southeast of Groton. Adam's quarter had Mud Creek running 
through the southeast corner of it and Nick's quarter joined it on the north. 
Nick was not married and he sold his claim and returned to Wisconsin.

Their father was drowned when Adam was 14 years old, he remained to help with 
the farm work, his father having been a farmer. His mother remarried and when 
Adam was 21 years old, he purchased a business in Fox Lake, which he conducted 6 
1/2 years.

While on his mother's farm he had worked winters with S. Y. Sanborne, who had a 
contract with Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad running a wood saw and 
while there he became interested in coming west where the railroad was being 
built and much of the lumber was being sent.

His carload was on the first train to reach

[P112]

Andover from where he hauled his goods. He started farming with 3 horses, a 
wagon and a plow. He built a 12 x 16 shanty with lumber he brought from 
Wisconsin and erected a sod barn for the horses.

The first summer Mr. Frommel did some breaking and went to North Dakota to help 
in the harvest there.

He had married Sophia Smith June 5, 1875, who was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. 
Fred Smith. She was born in Attica, N. Y. and her parents had moved to Fox Lake 
where our subjects met. In March, 1882, Mrs. Frommel came to Dakota Territory 
with their 3 children: Katherine, John, and Fred who was born August 22, 1881 in 
Fox Lake, to make their home on the homestead of her husband.

In 1886 eighteen stacks of grain were torn down by wind and there were many hard 
years from hail, prairie fires and drought. Despite these discouragements they 
persevered and by hard work were considered successful pioneers. Mr. Frommel 
took an active part in public affairs and was township supervisor for many 
years, also a member of the Groton Independent School which he helped organize. 
The children of Groton Independent District went to Groton school as there had 
never been a school building south of Groton.

There were 6 more children born on this homestead: Albert, Emma, Eva, Pearl, Irl 
and Geo. Dewey, who joined Kate, John and Fred born in Wisconsin, making a 
family of nine children.

This farm is still owned by members of the family.

Wm. Koepsel was born in Dodge County, Wise. and came to Groton in 1882 and took 
up a homestead southeast of Groton. He erected a shanty, 12 x 14, which was 
later destroyed by prairie fire. During the summer of 1882 he worked at Big 
Stone City as a carpenter, the following year he purchased horses, machinery, 
etc. and started farming. He was married in March, 1883 to Bertha Wangerine, a 
native of Wisconsin, who passed away in 1885 leaving an infant son Edward. Mr. 
Koepsell married Adaline Wegner in 1888. Three daughters were born to this 
union: Emma, Frieda and Lydia.

Mr. Koepsel took an active part in public affairs in his community and was 
township assessor for a number of years. He lived in Groton for a number of 
years before moving to California where he remained for the rest of his life. 
One daughter, Liddia Hope, still lives in California.

Abraham Palmer was born in Lancashire County, England. His mother's cousin, Wm. 
Slatter was in the house of Lords in England. At the age of 12 he left home to 
work out at farm work and received seven dollars and a half for six months' work 
and his board. When 20 years of age he came to America and visited relatives in 
Canada. He then came to Michigan and worked in the iron mines. From Michigan he 
came to Minneapolis, Minn. and worked in the flour mills. In the spring of 1882 
he came to Groton and took as a pre-emption claim, N. E. 1/4 Sec. 5, Twp. 123, 
Range 60, and later he filed on a homestead claim where he erected an 8 x 12 
shanty. He started the first barber shop in Groton and continued it until 1888 
when he disposed of it and has engaged in farming since.

He married Katherine J. Hackett, June 25, 1894, a native of Michigan, and a 
daughter of U. S. Hackett. He has made a success in his adopted land and 
entirely through his own energetic efforts, he may truly be classed as a self 
made man, as he had nothing when he came to Groton. In 1892 he lost 100 acres of 
wheat by hail, but he was not discouraged and by perseverance became one of the 
most substantial men in Groton Township. Abe is remembered by those who knew him 
for his fine tenor voice where he sang in the choir at Trinity Episcopal Church 
in Groton.

Mr. and Mrs. Palmer raised Mildred Saunders, a niece, who was an infant when her 
mother, Mrs. Larry Saunders passed away. Mrs. Saunders was a sister of Mrs. 
Palmer. Mildred graduated from Groton High School, was married to Robert Ward in 
the Episcopal Church at Groton and has lived in California for many years. Mr. 
Ward passed away a number of years ago.

Frank Stevens came to Dakota Territory and took S. W. 1/4 Sec. 29, Twp. 123, 
Range 60 for a homestead in the very early eighties. His wife filed on S. E. 1/4 
Sec. 30, Twp. 123, Range 60 as a tree claim, making their home on the homestead, 
later building a large 2 1/2 story house, which was one of the best homes in the 
community at that time. After farming for some years they started an eating 
place in Groton City. Later Mr. Steven became a salesman of machinery.

The family lived at Aberdeen for a number of years and later moved to Redfield 
where Miss Florence Stevens still lives in the Steven's home there.

There were 4 children born to this union namely: Louis, Herbert, Florence and 
Earl. Louis passed away when a young man. Herbert became a dentist and practiced 
in Aberdeen for many years. Miss Florence taught school and at one time taught 
in Alaska. Earl was in business in Montana, where he passed away. Dr. Herbert 
and Mrs. Steven's son Robbin was killed in the Second World War, their daughter 
Eileen is the wife of Ernest Gunderson, a former mayor of Aberdeen and who now 
holds a judgeship position and he and his family now live in Rapid City.

Both Dr. and Mrs. Steven now lie at rest in the Groton Union Cemetery as do his 
parents and grand parents.

Samuel J. Griffin homesteaded on S. W. 1/4 Sec. 31, Twp. 123, Range 60 where 
they lived for a number of years, building a large two story home. Later they 
moved to Groton City where they celebrated their 50th anniversary. They had one 
daughter Mabel, who married Samuel Lloyd Hartranft, who was Supt. of the Groton 
City Schools for many years and later became Brown County Supt. of Schools.

The Hartranft's had one son, Lloyd, and they moved to California, where Mrs. 
Hartranft and son still reside, the father having passed away.

Priscilla Jones owns this homestead where the

[P113]

Henry Jones' family made their home before retiring to live in Groton. The 
Orville Huffman's bought a small acreage and the buildings and live there now.

Ulysses S. Hackett was one of the most colorful men who came to Groton Township 
from Michigan in the very early 1880's. He was very well educated and had done 
some writing which was published.

We found no record of the year he came, but his name is in the township record 
book as a voter from the year 1886. Those who remember them say the family lived 
in the house where the Maurice Olson family live at the present time. Their 
daughter Katherine married Abraham Palmer. It is thought that they went back to 
Michigan to live. A second daughter, Mildred, mother of Mildred Saunder, married 
Larry Saunder.

John Flynn came to Groton Township where he filed on a homestead and took a tree 
claim N. E. of Groton, farming it until he became ill, when he sent for his 
sister Ann, as he was a bachelor. Ann had married Mike Mulligan in Flint, 
Michigan. When they came to Groton they had 4 daughters and Lizzie, the youngest 
was a baby in her mother's arms, Sadie married a Mr. Zick and lived on a farm 
near Aberdeen. The twins, Nana and Mollie, became Mrs. Nana Reid, wife of Matt 
Reid of Groton, and Mollie Peterson, wife of Jack Peterson of Groton. Lizzie 
married W. Noltner of rural Aberdeen.

Mike Mulligan was a very interesting and witty Irishman whose rules of life 
were: no medicine, no operations and no hospital. When he passed away at age of 
89 years he had never been in a hospital.

Mr. Mulligan is very well remembered as being seen driving a white horse, 
hitched to a buggy and his faithful dog following behind him.

Among the settlers who came in the early 80's and stayed and took part in the 
building and developing of the Groton community were Mr. and Mrs. Marshall M. 
Brown. They were neighbors of the J. B. Quiggles, living three miles north of 
Groton. They had four children, two sons, Howard and Hugh, and two daughters, 
Nina and Lucy. Both sons have passed away; Nina now lives in Longmont, Colorado, 
and Lucy lives in Montana.

William Rix came to Groton from Spring Valley, Minn., in 1882, and settled on a 
homestead two miles north of Groton. He married a Minnesota girl two years 
later, and when they returned, they made their home in Riverside Township, now 
Putney. His first wife died, and Mr. Rix married Miss Grace Robinson. There were 
9 children in the family, seven sons and three daughters, namely: Wilbur, 
Foster, James, Arthur, Otho, Arden, Bryan, Mabel, Jessie and Ruth. Several of 
the sons are successful farmers in the area.

[Photo: Among early pioneer edifices which no longer exist except in the 
memories of the few remaining pioneers of Brown County is the Groton Collegiate 
Institute, pictured above. Established by the Presbyterians, it consisted of a 
chapel, which was originally erected by the Congregational Church Society, and 
two buildings like the large one above. One burned, the other was demolished, 
and the chapel was sold to the German Lutheran Church Society and moved to 
downtown Groton.]

[P114]

GROTON CITY
by W. R. Veitch

Groton is one of South Dakota's towns that came into being by reason of a 
railroad's extension, and so its beginnings are pretty clear cut as to time and 
so forth as against the towns that just happened.

Groton is so close to Mud Creek which flows into the James River down at 
Armadale, or what was called the Dirt Lodges, that one can be reasonably sure 
that it was on or close to an Indian Trail long before white men came into the 
Country. There is no record of white men in this area to tie to until the 
surveyors came. The first one into the area was M. T. Wooley, who surveyed the 
east line of what became Brown County in 1872. Six years later, Horace J. Austin 
came into the area and surveyed the interior lines of the 4 eastern townships in 
the lower tier of the County. The next year, 1879, he got into the second tier, 
but previous to his advent, Thomas F. Marshall started in on July 5th to survey 
Township 123, Range 60, where Groton is largely located. On the 9th it appears 
that his crew did the west second line which is the road just west of the 
Athletic Park, so we do have a record of a white man in Groton on that date, and 
it is quite possible that the lead chainman was the first man to set foot in 
Groton. His name was J. C. Rutan, and for what it is worth, he was the first man 
in. A historian will use a pretty fine comb to get at some really non-essential 
fact like that. Of course, we know before that, that LeBlanc in 1835 had a trade 
post over near Rondell and might have come close to Groton to reach it, but the 
chances are good that he passed Groton by about ten miles in going to and from 
this post from the east. In 1877 a party starting out near Ft. Pierre came into 
Brown County from the southwest. At that time there was sort of a military trail 
that led from Ft. Sully N. E. and crossed the Jim River at what later became 
known as the Yorkville Ford, and onto Ft. Sisseton. These people took claims on 
the East side of the James a few miles north by squatters rights. They were 
there when Ole and Ben Everson came in from the Southeast and took claims. The 
Eversons could have passed by Groton. When Thomas F. Marshall got there to 
survey in 1879, he found Ole Everson on the S. W. of 12 and Ben on the N. E. of 
11. Township 124, Range 62. W. R. York also came up in 1879 and established a 
community that was called Yorkville. There were enough people around, that by 
July 30th, they got a Post Office. The first in Brown County.

In those days, waterpower was a fabulous factor in the establishment of 
communities. Some folks had spotted what looked like a good waterpower near what 
is now Columbia. They came in with some Lake Pepin Half Breed script and took 
the land where Columbia now is located. They had bought the script from a woman 
named Julia La Frambois and that location by that script was the first 
instrument filed in Brown County.

But we should go back aways. After Marshall surveyed the Township lines in 1872, 
there was something to tie a county to up in this area and the 1872 territorial 
legislature indulged in an orgy of County creating. Never again were so many 
counties created. Before that, what is Brown County had been a part of a 
tremendous Hanson County that started down where Alexandria now is, and went up 
to the 46th parallel and east to the present west line of Brookings County 
extended North. But in 1873, the legislature decided to honor everyone in 
Dakota, and they set up about where Brown County now is two counties. Beadle in 
the north half and Mills in the South half, and so they remained until 1879, 
when they both were made into Brown County which was named for Alfred Brown of 
Hutchinson County, whose home address was Scotland and who never acquired any 
other fame. It was September, 1880 before they got around to organizing the 
County. With the population then east of the Jim River and Columbia with a 
waterpower, it was not hard for them to get the County seat. Once they got it, 
they clung tenaciously through elections and court contests until July 29, 1887, 
when having lost a spring election they finally gave it up.

Maybe you would like to know more about Groton and I am coming to that. The 
railroad from the East had got out to Webster by October, 1880. Then in an early 
season blizzard, that certainly was the longest lasting shut in, that ever 
occured in South Dakota and perhaps, the greatest snow fall statewide that ever 
occured, all activities pretty well stopped. No trains moved and mighty little 
other traffic.

When the snow went off in the spring of 1881, the Jim River was a lake from 
North Dakota to its mouth and a great deal of the track that had been laid in 
1880 was in no shape for trains for a long time. So it not until June 18th, that 
the track reached Groton, it was July 6th when it got through to Aberdeen.

It does not appear that there were any "sooners", folks who came in ahead of the 
surveys, right around Groton when W. R. York came down from Yorkville and built 
himself a little store north of the railroad track. Groton got its name supplied 
by the railroad, who usually set the "townsite" point and whose subsidiary 
company figured on making a nice thing out of the lot sales. The Railroad 
Company was not overlooking any bets at Groton, and had acquired such title as 
Henry Ulrich had to the land, to plat its townsite. By July 13, Charles E. 
Henry, who had come into the area in 1880, was named Postmaster. It wasn't long 
before M. V. B. Scribner and J. D. Reeves arrived on the scene to set up rival 
newspapers. Scribner got his first issue of the Groton News out on September 
7th, while Reeves could not get his type set and into print for the Mirror until 
the 9th of September, two days later to his great chagrin. We have those first 
issues of the Mirror, and as I read its columns during that first six months, I 
am very interested in getting them, if there are any in the community, one or 
more copies of the News--for obviously the two

[P115]

editors--had no love for each other, and if Scribner was saying as mean things 
about Reeves as Reeves was about Scribner, I would like to see the files.

Unless you can get hold of somebody's well kept diary, there is nothing to 
compare to a newspaper to tell you what was going on in a community. The Mirror, 
as run by Reeves, was a good little newspaper and there were not so many people 
around that much was overlooked. Going back to that first issue, the advertisers 
were: J. M. Bennett & Co., wholesale jobbers on the side; E. H. Stockman, 
lumber; J. F. Brown & Co., supply store; Egbert and Johns, Hardware; Giles & 
Company, feed and coal; W. J. Moore, realtor and notary public, as was H. W. 
Campbell. There were two blacksmiths, S. B. Rowe and S. S. Mellen. W. R. York 
ran the hotel; J. C. Dow was a contractor and builder and W. E. Bickworth was 
the purveyor of "liquid hardware".

Reeves sort of apologized for his first paper as he said he only had four 
working days to get set up and the paper published.

[Photo: The first house in Groton.]

There was still no Depot in Groton, but anticipating another long, cold, hard 
winter, they had a coal house down by the tracks and the Depot was being raised. 
Giles, who was the station agent was happy to have a place to house his 
passengers. Despite the fact that Groton was two months old, there "was not the 
sign of a sign" in town and a sign painter was wanted. C. H. Sheldon had gone 
off to purchase a stock for a store and it sounded like it was Hutton's store 
that was going to get the stock. That issuer of Mirror said that a Presbyterian 
Church had been organized on August 28th by a Rev. George Lindsey, but 
subsequently, the paper said it was a Congregational Church.

Up north in Township 124, they had organized a school district and were starting 
a school, the first in Brown County. Mr. John H. Drake, the editor of the Dakota 
Pioneer at Aberdeen, who had got started in early August to the disgust of the 
Groton editor, was claiming all out doors for Aberdeen including the County seat 
and Territorial Capital. By the 16th of September, the sign painting business 
was solved when John Voight, who had a claim lap North came into town for the 
winter and he could paint signs.

A vagrant full of "goat pizen" which sounds a good deal like whiskey was taken 
by the citizenry, as there was no Marshall or organization, and deposited in a 
box car. To this treatment we are told he submitted with "the grace of a greased 
pickerel" which would indicate that he may not have been a willing depositee. 
There was a train each way each day. Aberdeen was clamoring for a fall election 
on the County seat issue, but Reeves opined that they would get beat as they had 
very few citizens with nine months residence in the Territory, while the area 
east of the Jim had a good many. He also was of the opinion that Groton badly 
needed a Constable and a Justice of the Peace. He used a term I have never heard 
before. He advocated that cattle producers let their "cattle ripen", as the 
market was good for well fattened animals. By the 23rd, the Depot crew had the 
Depot done and had left for Bath to build one there. Groton had a firm of 
Lawyers. Alger & Alger, who were if the paper is to be believed, identical twins 
resulting in frequent mix ups. Groton had a rather large citizen, one Sam 
Marshall, who fished at Yorkville and sold his catch at Groton by the cartload. 
There was a rumor that the railroad would not run trains during the winter which 
Reeves thought would certainly ruin all immigration. J. W. Gordon and E. P. 
Story, a doctor, were fresh arrivals.

Walter Cole, who lived up North died of typhoid fever, the first death noted in 
the area. A good many men were in late September going back east for the winter, 
planning to return in the spring with their families. Among them was J. M. 
Bennett, the storekeeper. York and Sam Marshall heard rumors of a coal field 75 
miles N. W. and made a trip but found no coal. Aberdeen was making such a fuss 
about the County seat that the Mirror opined that it should be made a separate 
county and thus have what they wanted. He used some highly tinted grammar which 
is worth quoting:

"Aberdeen would arise on the electric wings of the Aurora Borealis to an 
imminence of glory, the dazzling and irredescense and splendor of which would 
reach and touch the uttermost parts of the baitable world and travel on through 
space until the eternal fixedness of the North Star would be changed in order to 
'give more attention to this great oasis and center of the universe fixed at 
Aberdeen . . . "

There was no school at Groton and the Mirror thought a district should be 
organized. The Mirror was sure if an election was ordered that. Groton had a 
much better chance than any other town to get the County seat. During this time 
President Garfield, who had been shot was lying at death's door and finally 
passed on in early October. York was about to open the social season with a 
dance at his hotel. W. F. Giles had a new stable, while the Snider orchestra 
from Groton furnished the music for a dance at Aberdeen.

The Post Office in two months had sold over $50.00 worth of stamps and a daily 
passenger train was to be put on.

Ralph Drew had bought Bickford's Saloon which had gone out of business and he 
was to start a bank. The railroad company was still working on a well, but had 
to bring a tank of water daily from the Jim River. Groton had a town well, 
apparently only one (location not stated) and "At early dawn the musi-

[P116]

cal sound of the town well is heard for the benefit of the town folk. The early 
bird catches the water".

Aberdeen had sent 12 men out to get a petition to hold a county seat election, 
to the Mirror this looked like a "nigger in the woodpile" as he thought Aberdeen 
had no chance at all to get the necessary votes.

Tobias Belding had bought York's Hotel by October 1st and a petition was at J. 
W. Gordon's office to create a school district 6 miles long and two wide with 
Groton near its center. There was no bridge over the James and teams could pull 
empty wagons and could Ford at Yorkville. The closing of the saloon gratified 
some and filled many with regret. There was no stock yard as yet, but one was to 
be erected. By October Brown County could boast of 96 miles of railroad for both 
the Northwestern and Milwaukee were building up from the South and on North 
through Aberdeen.

The Mirror did not waste all its envy on Aberdeen as the Mirror stated that, 
"The famous waterpower at Columbia was a good place to drown cats". Ordway which 
is today a wide place in the road, was a twin for Groton the fall of 1881, as a 
visitor up there reported.

Finally the petitions for a county seat election reached the County 
Commissioners at Columbia. Aberdeen for, Ordway chiefly against. The 
commissioners voted 2 to 1 against an election. Campbell who was from Groton, 
and Johnson were agin, only Barnes was for such an election. Aberdeen threatened 
to take it to the Courts. They did set up 6 election precincts however. No. 2 
was the S. E. part of the County with the polling place being Alger & Algers 
Office at Groton. W. C. Allen, J. W. Gordon and Frank C. Alger were the judges. 
The matters at issue were: superintendent of schools for Brown County, Justice 
of the Peace at Groton and a Commissioner from the 3rd District.

The Mirror did not think it was getting a break on the County printing, but 
thought that the present commissioners were about as good as they were apt to 
get and so advocated no change. They carried a weekly column called "Bath 
Nuggets". The Mirror was sure that a bridge over the James was much more 
important than any change in the County seat.

The school up north ordered fine new desks, but the Groton school district was 
put off, as the County Superintendent did not like the area designated for the 
school district. The Mirror thought that the drawers of water at the town well 
before day break should oil the wheel to save waking up the entire town.

Groton recently had acquired a fine pair of hay scales and Mr. Reeves tantalized 
Aberdeen with their short comings. In this paper published in mid October 
appeared the first final proof notices and one notice of a homestead contest.

There was a county convention called for Columbia on the 25th of October. A pre-
convention caucus was held at York's Hotel with J. D. Reeves as Chairman and W. 
C. Allen; M. B. V. Scribner, the publisher of the News; M. Hayden; H. H. Wilson; 
F. D. Adams; F. James; C. Henry, postmaster and W. H. Johns were in attendance.

Mr. Reeves grew real earnest about the necessity for a school and in some 
scintillating language made unfavorable comparisons saying among other things 
that "If Groton was to amount to anything, its business men must not shiver like 
a rat tied to a piece of ice" in planning for the future. By November 11th, a 
Sunday School had been organized to meet at Giles Hotel. Supt. was C. H. 
Sheldon, who kept a store, the assistant superintendent was J. W. Gordon a real 
estate man, Secretary-Treasurer was W. H. Johns who was in the hardware business 
and J. P. Brown who was the librarian. The teachers were J. W. Gordon and Mrs. 
H. L. Wood.

Belding had taken over the Hotel. The Mirror moved to the Giles Building. 
William Burnham's wife and children arrived. The Mirror was certain that the 
route of the James Town stage that come up from the South and passed 5 miles 
west of Groton should be changed into Groton.

By December, the Michigan Hotel had a new register and on it a directory of 
Groton business, which was just about the same as in the September 9th issue. 
Rev. W. H. Thrall of Yale was splitting his time between the Groton and Webster 
churches, but it does not say whether Congregational or Presbyterian, although 
later he was head of the Congregational Conference for many years.

Groton was doing a little boasting about its coal consumption. It had bought 400 
tons while Bristol had only disposed of two tons. The water shortage was to be 
relieved, F. E. Chamlin had arrived with a well auger and had already put down 
wells for H. L. Wood and Giles & Company. W. D. Weeks had taken over the S. B. 
Rowe blacksmith shop. Sam Marshall was Groton's heaviest citizen, he must have 
been huge to merit so much comment, had started off for New Mexico to spend the 
winter. The Sunday school was to have a Christmas tree and the J. M. Bennett 
Company dissolved its Pioneer Store business with W. A. Beuflier taking over the 
management. It was about this time that W. R. York found that lending money was 
much less tiresome than running a store or a hotel, and if the Mirror columns 
are to be believed the rate of interest was serious. There were just two unsold 
lots in the business district on Main Street. J. W. Gordon was appointed a 
Deputy Sheriff, thus bringing some sort of a police power into the 5 months old 
Groton.

It was about then that a lot of people went back east to spend the winter. The 
Mirror says that "it was the principle population" of the James Valley that was 
departing. The daily train was reduced to one each alternate day. There was 
still no school, but the Mirror was hot in the argument that it was better for 
the District to get organized and to issue 10 years bonds rather than orders 
that had to be discounted by half to find a buyer. The Western Enterprise 
viewing the pages of the News and the Mirror said that it was apparent that the 
Brown County newspaper did not constitute a happy family. Reeves laid it all on 
Scribner, saying that "the Mirror had a strong desire for peace and happiness, 
but that the presence of a few (a strong word that can hardly be repeated here) 
in the Journalistic family thwart all our efforts to keep the peace". The last 
issue of the Mirror was on March 31, 1882 with No.

[P117]

XXX and Andreas 1884 Atlas which is usually quite accurate says, that the Mirror 
and the News merged on April 1, 1882 and called the new paper the Groton 
Advocate. They ran the Advocate until September, when Reeves sold it to Scribner 
who continued the Advocate. Just what became of the Advocate I am not aware, but 
J. D. Reeves was back in Groton on June 18, 1884. He then started the Groton 
Independent now in its 79th volume which indicates that they tack the Mirror and 
Advocate onto their chain of title, and which Reeves ran himself until June 15, 
1915 when his son, Jay Reeves, known to many of your people here in Groton took 
over as publisher.

[Photo: Groton in 1885. College center rear, old school extreme left.]

One can not help to wonder a bit just how well Scribner and Reeves got along. 
Reeves had called Scribner a 42 year old idiot in one of his stories.

I really only meant to cover the beginnings of Groton in that summer and fall of 
1881 and leave it there. However, a short time since, I got an inquiry about 
Groton Academy. All I could find out from the usual sources is that Groton 
Academy, Scotland Academy, and Pierre University, all Presbyterian institutions 
merged to become Huron College. A few inquiries of persons here did not indicate 
any knowledge of this institution, so I took occasion to look in the Groton 
papers and came up with some interesting details. The Groton papers are the 
chief source of knowledge. The Minutes of the Presbyterian Synod for. 1885 has a 
fine add of the Groton Collegiate Institute and lists seven members of the 
faculty. The report also states that it has two buildings, one formerly a 
church, a new dormitory at a cost of $7,000 and $16,000 in total assets. The 
paper reflects that it was doing rather well at its start. Classes were 
instituted on October 8, 1885. They speak of the buildings being on Upper Main 
Street. There were several benefits including concerts at Groton and Aberdeen, 
given after the college was opened. They had 45 students enrolled. The Groton 
public schools that fall had 40 students and the academy had a successful year 
1885-86. Trees were planted on the Campus on Arbor Day 1886. That fall the 
Groton papers say that it had three large buildings but the details were pretty 
scarce. They had no good correspondent from the college, as they had the 
preceding year. The costs were, including board and room, less than $40.00 per 
quarter. They opened up again in the fall of 1887. On October 28th, the 
Independent had a long editorial blasting the people over at Aberdeen for trying 
to get the College to move over there, but no detailed news of the College 
except that from time to time, there was some small item, indicating it was 
still operating. The last item, but I do not say that this by any means the 
final item, because it is easy to find when things start but awfully hard to 
find when they stop, that I was able to locate was on April 1, 1889, when the 
paper announced that the Spring term was about to start and that Tuition was 
$1.00 a week and Board $2.50.



GROTON CITY
by Mrs. Lydia Jones and Mrs. Calvin Kneff

Groton began with the coming of the railroad in 1881.

The water situation was one of the most vexing problems during Groton's early 
days. The surface wells were curbed with pine board, and as a result the water 
left a distasteful taste. Many of the wells went dry.

One well was dug in the middle of Main Street, between the site of the present 
post office and the Corner grocery store. As the season advanced there was less 
and less water, and so the old windless could be heard creaking at crack of 
dawn.

In the fall of 1881 a prairie fire burned over much of the present site of 
Groton. The fire department was called out. Its apparatus consisted of brooms, 
shovels, and anything which could be used to smother the fire.

[P118]

An Indian scare frightened many of the people of Groton. Someone had started a 
rumor that the Sisseton Indians were ugly. Some were truly frightened, but there 
was no more danger from Indians then, than has ever been since.

Groton had its first dance in the fall of 1881. It was held at the York Hotel. 
All the young ladies east of the river were there. It was said that there were 
enough present to dance one full set.

Two newspaper offices opened in Groton in 1881. M. V. Scribner edited the 
"Groton News" and J. D. Reeves the "Mirror". In the following years these papers 
merged, various other papers were published. They were the Gazette, The Leader, 
and The Independent. Finally there was just one paper. The Groton Independent, 
published by J. D. Reeves, who was one of the men who stayed to take an active 
part in making the dream of those early pioneers a beautiful reality.

The first depot agent in Groton was W. F. Giles. In addition to handling the 
station, he was a coal dealer, a dealer in oats and ground feed, a claim holder, 
and a farmer. W. C. Allen and Frank Stevens were in the lumber and harness and 
tin shop west of the post office.

C. E. Henry was the first post master, but tended strictly to his farming, while 
his deputy, Mr. Allen conducted the post office.

The former governor Sheldon was a former Groton man. In 1881 he resided on a 
claim northwest of Groton.

Col. W. A. Burnham was an 1881 resident. He did a rushing business in groceries 
and drugs, but he too had a tract of land to the north of Groton and was an 
enthusiastic farmer.

[Photo: St. Croix Lumber Yard, Groton 1884, property of R. A. Mather. Later the 
office of Guy Herron, Case Implement Dealer.]

J. C. Brooberg came in 1882 and his first venture was in the selling of farm 
machinery. In later years he owned one of the largest implement stores in 
Groton.

H. W. Cassels was one of the largest dealers in machinery. He was connected with 
various Groton businesses.

Other dealers in machinery were: J. F., Mike and Pat Bowler, Flinter, John 
Voight and J. W. Eppard.

J. F. Kurtz built the first bakery in Groton in 1883.

The first banker in Groton was L. H. Neff, and for a number of years he was 
president, cashier and bookkeeper. In 1884 W. B. Miller became associated with 
the Bank of Groton. The Bank of Groton started doing business in the building 
now occupied by the Paetznick Furniture Store. A year later it was moved into 
the building now used as the Groton Post Office. In 1905 the bank nationalized 
and became known as the First National Bank of Groton. In 1911, W. B. Miller 
built the brick building which still houses the First National Bank of Groton.

W. B. Miller was connected with the bank 46 years.

H. C. Funk was in the first harness business in Groton. He did a prosperous 
business and later he was succeeded by his son W. C. Funk. The firm of Funk and 
Bowden carried a line of wagons and buggies, in addition to their fully equipped 
harness business.

W. J. Rawson spent many years in the harness business in Groton.

The first law firm in Groton was Alger and Alger, who hung out their shingle in 
1881. There were no courts and no litigation, and they drifted with other 
business. There was also the firm of Basom and Alger which was later continued 
by N. S. Basom.

In February of 1882 a young German cobbler, F. H. Kuehnert, came with his shoe 
making kit and his concertina. His son, Ewald Kuehnert, followed in the same 
business.

S. S. Mellon was Groton's first blacksmith. Mrs. Henry Holz and Mrs. Leash were 
the first milliners.

The pioneer doctors were: Dr. Story and Dr. Smith, and the first dentist was Dr. 
H. S. Young.

Helmuth Paetznick established the first Funeral Home in Groton. This was in 
connection with a furniture store. His son Allie Paetznick continued the 
business until his death when Mrs. Allie Paetznick took over. It is now owned by 
Mrs. Allie Paetznick and Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Garness. This is the only 
establishment in Groton which is owned by the third generation.

John Townsend was an early resident of Groton, and he became one of the largest 
land owners in Brown County. He was an outstanding citizen and a great promoter 
of Groton.

The Ben and Ed Mather families were early pioneers. Ben was a banker in Groton 
for many years. Ed was an outstanding farmer who lived west of Groton. Mrs. 
Margaret Mather Lamont and her sister, Edith Gannon, now live in Aberdeen.

W. C. Allen came to Groton in 1881. His folks built the first frame house on the 
lot now occupied by the Blair Service Station. Mr. Allen's mother worked in the 
first post office at Yorkville on the James River. This was during the summer 
months. W. C. Allen was Editor and Publisher of the DAKOTA

[P119]

FARMER from 1911 to 1939.

[Photo: Paetznick Furniture Co., the only business establishment in Groton owned 
by the third generation.]

K. O. Lee had an early implement shop in Groton.

John Hall was also an early resident of Groton.

The Presbyterian was the first church organized in Groton. George Lindsey 
organized a group Aug. 28, 1881. For two years services were held in the waiting 
room of the Milwaukee Railroad. Rev. R. H. Hooke was an occasional preacher. The 
Rev. J. D. McLean came in 1883, and he built a church on the land in the 
northeast part of town where the Norma Chilton house is now located.

In 1885 the Presbyterians sponsored a college in the far north end of town. The 
college was coeducational, and was housed in two three-story buildings and a 
chapel. The campus consisted of 40 treeless acres.

The faculty consisted of five men professors and two women instructors in music 
and art. It offered courses leading to a Bachelor of Arts, and a one-year normal 
course for teachers.

The two buildings were called dormitories. In the men's dormitory the first 
floor had the class rooms, laboratory and reading room. The other two floors had 
accommodations for 56 boys. The women's dormitories had a dining room, library 
and music room on the first floor with 46 girls and the women teachers housed on 
the second and third floors.

Expenses were modest. Room rent, fuel, board and tuition were $35 for the fall 
and spring terms, but $38 for the winter term.

The College was plagued with debt throughout its history and it was finally 
closed in 1889.

Rev. Joseph Zimmerman was an early resident of Groton. His daughter, Emma, 
married John Corte in 1880 and later moved to a farm near Big Stone City.

Herman Wegner was one of the first blacksmiths in Groton. He was invited to 
Minneapolis, Minnesota where he was presented a golden horseshoe because he had 
shoed so many horses.

John Karnopp came in 1883. He lived in Groton and his occupation was farming.

Julius Wegner, the first mayor of the city of Groton, came in 1881.

[Photo: J. C. Wegner, Groton's first mayor.]

[P120]

EAST HANSON TOWNSHIP
by Charles W. Zech

[Photo: C. W. Zech]

Two young men were visiting at Cambria, Wisconsin one day as to what the 
prospects were for them as renters with their families at Cambria. Both were 
renters. The two men were Carl Zech, my father, and Charles Mielke. Land had 
gone up in price from $15.00 to $20.00 an acre, which at that time, was a high 
price for land. They had heard that free homesteads could be filed on in Dakota 
Territory. Spring was approaching and they decided that they would put in their 
crops and then go out to Dakota Territory to investigate.

This was early in the spring of 1882. They hurriedly seeded their crops and took 
the train to Dakota, arriving at Groton and went uptown to look for a bite to 
eat and met several men, among them were Mr. Funk and John Kindschi. They were 
told that all the land near Groton had been filed upon, but that five miles 
south, there was some good land still open for filing. They hurriedly walked 
south across the prairies as there were no roads as yet and the more they saw of 
the beautiful rolling prairies, the more enthusiastic they were. They chose two 
quarters across from each other so as to be neighbors and then hastened back to 
Groton to catch the night train for the land office, which was at Watertown. 
While waiting for the train, two men walked in and sat down across from them. 
One said to the other, "Well, shall we file on those quarters?", describing the 
identical quarters that Mr. Mielke and Father, Carl Zech, had chosen. Father 
heard them and whispered to his friend, "Did you hear that?" "Yes, well, we will 
have to beat them to the land office in Watertown and file first or lose out". 
Arriving at Webster, they hurried to the only livery barn in town and asked to 
hire a team. The livery man said, "Well, I am sorry, but two men have hired the 
only team I have and they are going to get them in the morning to drive to 
Watertown to file on some land." Father and Mr. Mielke stood for a moment 
crestfallen. Mr. Mielke and Father decided they would have to beat them to it 
and walk and run there across the prairie. They got a lunch and started out. Mr. 
Mielke, being a much heavier man than Father, soon tired out and said, "Carl, I 
cannot make it but you have to as we must beat them to Watertown." Assisting him 
to his feet, again they walked and then ran again and then rested. At sunrise 
they reached Watertown and hurried to the land office, which at that time, was 
on the corner of Kemp and Maple Street. They immediately gave the description 
and the papers were made out and signed. Just then in walked the men described 
before and stated their intention to file on the land describing the same. The 
Agent looked at Father and Mr. Mielke and said, "Those men have just filed on 
those quarters." The two gentlemen looked at Father and Mr. Mielke and asked, 
"How did you get here as we had the only livery team in Webster, and we saw you 
in Groton when we took the train to Webster?" Father answered, "We walked and 
ran here." For a moment, the men said nothing and then said, "Gentlemen, we just 
wish to say you certainly have earned it and are welcome to it."

Filled with joy, Father and Mr. Mielke hastened back to Wisconsin to tell their 
waiting families that they now had a home in Dakota they could call their very 
own. As soon as the harvest was over and threshing done, both of the Fathers 
loaded two railroad cars and what could not be put inside of the cars was tied 
on top of the railroad cars. Their families stayed with kind neighbors at 
Cambria. Upon arriving at Groton, the Fathers unloaded the goods and stored them 
in a vacant building and hurried to build two sod barns for the horses and 
lumber was hauled out for two claim shanties on the Homesteads, 16 x 24 and 10 
feet high. By this time, it was already September and fall breezes were making 
themselves felt. Their families, staying with kindly friends in Wisconsin, were 
getting restless and wished to be in their own homes. Not having heard from the 
men for some time, as they were too busy to write, Mother said to Mrs. Mielke, 
"I think we will take the train and go to our new home and surely we will find 
some place to stay until our homes are built." How little did those dear Mothers 
know how primitive the prairies were at that time. We arrived at Groton on a 
chilly cold morning in November. Father and Mr. Mielke had not known that we 
were coming as they had not taken time to drive to Groton to get their mail. On 
arriving, Mother said to me and Charles Mielke, Jr., "Go and find out where the 
Fathers are." We walked down toward town and saw a man milking a cow and asked 
him as to the whereabouts of our Fathers. It was Mr. Funk we asked. He looked up 
startled as he asked who we were. He came to the depot and when he saw the 
crowd, he stood a moment astonished, not knowing what to do. There were 13 of 
us. He said, "Come along," and he took all of us to his home and then went over 
to his neighbors and the whole crowd was fed by those kind folks. He hitched up 
his horse and drove out to see Father and Mr. Mielke and told them what had 
happened. That was one of the many problems that faced the early settlers.

[P121]

Mr. Funk had a claim shanty on his homestead 3 miles southeast of Groton and 
kindly permitted the two families to take possession of it for their home until 
our shanties would be completed. Thus for weeks 16 of us lived in the little 
claim shanty of Mr. Funk, which was 16 by 24 feet. It was crowded, but was a 
place to stay and we could keep warm. Finally our shanties were finished and 
they were both 16 by 24 feet and 10 feet high, covered with tar paper on the 
sides and roof with only a cook stove to furnish the heat. Winter came and the 
snow piled up. The greatest difficulty was that neither claim had water. That 
had to be hauled from Mr. Funk's claim on a stoneboat and a barrel and that was 
a terrifying task as enough had to be hauled for the horses, the one cow and the 
use in the home.

During the winter, the storms tore part of the tar paper off the roof and we 
children would look out from under the featherbed and count the stars and then 
quickly pull the featherbed over our heads again to keep warm. Often the barrel 
in which the water was hauled would be nearly frozen solid by the time the men 
got home and it had to be thawed out again. In the spring of 1883, Father tried 
to break some of the soil and discovered that it was a strange soil which he had 
not known before. A neighbor came over and told Father that it was alkali and 
not suitable for crop raising. What a disappointment! The spring of 1883 Father 
rented some land that had been broken up just north of ours and Mr. Mielke also 
got some soil that was more suitable for grain. All things were new to those 
early settlers. I recall that Mr. Mielke had gone over to, I think, Mr. Eddies, 
to assist him with some work and was walking home as it began to get dark. 
Father had just come from the barn when he heard Mr. Mielke shouting in a most 
frightened voice out on the prairie. Father lit the lantern and hung it on the 
N. W. corner of the shanty and Mr. Mielke came in sweating and frightened and 
said he had been chased by a vicious animal--he could not tell what kind of an 
animal it had been. Later it was discovered that he had gotten in between a 
badger and a badger's hole and the poor animal had tried to get home and the 
more Mielke ran, the more the badger ran and each was afraid of the other. The 
badger to get to his hole and Mr. Mielke to get to his home. On retracing the 
path the next day to find the vicious animal, it was discovered that it had been 
a badger.

The greatest problem was to find water. Mr. Mielke and Father went to work the 
spring of 1883 with spade, pick and shovel to dig and tried everywhere to find 
water with no success. They went down about thirty feet without curbing, just a 
little N. E. from our claim shanty. The ground was pulled up with what was 
called a windlass with two boxes tied to the ropes so that when the bucket was 
down the well, the other would be above. They had in this laborious way gotten 
down thirty feet. While Father was waiting for Mr. Mielke to empty the bucket or 
box on top, he looked and saw the wall of the well beginning to sag and knew it 
was caving in. He cried to Mr. Mielke to hurry and let down the empty bucket and 
Father braced his spade against the wall and held it and when the bucket got 
down, he climbed in and was pulled upward while at the same time bracing the 
wall that was threatening to cave in. When he got above the bulge, he took off 
his spade and about ten feet of the well caved in. Had he not seen it in time he 
surely would have been suffocated as at least ten feet of ground had filled the 
well. They went to Groton to get some lumber to put in a curbing and while they 
were in town, we had the first great thaw and when they got back the well was 
full of water to the top, with the spade, ax and shovel down in the well and 
that is where they are today and all is prairie over that well. It might be that 
some day someone will dig there and discover the tools and then the story might 
be published that 100,000 years ago a race lived here who had tools like we have 
now. Yes, all those tools are there today, 30 feet underground.

When we arrived, the skeletons of the slain buffalo were lying all over the 
prairies and we boys heard that they paid a cent apiece for the buffalo horns if 
they were polished so the Mielke boys and I went to work and got a lot of those 
buffalo horns and polished them and for my share, I accumulated the large sum of 
150. That Fourth of July, I spent 50 and saved 100 for the next July as there 
might not be any more buffalo horns to polish. About this time, there was a wild 
rumor that the Indians were getting very restless and might break out of the 
Reservation and the settlers were frightened. About this time, Father got word 
from the land office at Watertown that there was an error in the filing papers 
and he had to take the train to get to Webster and then either ride to Watertown 
or walk. He dreaded to leave considerig the Indian scare, but it had to be done 
so before he left, he got out a revolver which he had brought along from 
Wisconsin to defend himself against the savages as everyone believed. He showed 
it to Mother and taught her how to use it in case of an emergency. I can still 
see Father as he held the revolver and showed her how to pull the trigger. After 
Father was gone and we children in bed, Mother would take that VICIOUS gun and 
stand at the door and hold it at half arms length, and having, I think, the 
shells all removed, she would hold it and then pull the trigger and hear it 
snap. I sometimes wonder if she had been called upon to use it what she would 
have done.

Well, one day the opportunity presented itself. Father had said that whatever 
happened not to let any Indian get into the house. Well, one beautiful day, 
across the prairies, we saw a man coming wearing a red, shirt and a FUR cap. He 
was a big fellow and walked like one who was ready to kill anyone who got into 
his way. Mother quickly slammed the door shut and put the bar across the door 
and told us children to crawl under the beds. We did not need a second 
invitation. All was silent in the house. There stood Mother as brave as a 
soldier, with gun in hand, but trembling and frightened. The man walked up to 
the shanty and pounded on the door again and again. Then the man shouted but 
Mother said nothing and then the man said in German, "Menschan seid ihr alle 
Verruckt?" (People, are you all crazy). Mother knew that an Indian would not 
talk German, so she unbolted the door. When he came in and saw the gun, he 
laughed and asked, "What is that for?" Mother cried and told

[P122]

him the whole story. He had a good hearty laugh, but sympathized with her. He 
was that early settler, Julius Cam. He had quite a history attached to his life 
but with all of his roughness, he had heard that there were children in that 
home and so he had provided himself with stick candy and gave each of us 
children some candy. He often had a good laugh that Mother had thought he was an 
Indian.

In the year 1884, Father saw that the land we had was not productive, and since 
we also could not get water there, he located another quarter of land that had 
been filed upon and then let go. Father applied for that and Mr. Mielke also 
located another quarter just south of the one father had located. Both moved 
their claim shanties to the new locations and on that quarter, Father discovered 
a good well. He only went down about 12 feet and found an abundance of water. 
Julius Kam, the man above mentioned, had his homestead a mile to the S. E. of 
ours and he had two large dogs and a sleigh. In the winter, he would hitch those 
dogs to his sleigh and it was really a sight to see him drive them and the speed 
they developed. What a pride he had in those dogs. He had a very clever way to 
guide them. He had a long pliable fish pole. He would tie some rabbit meat on 
the end of that stick and then get onto the sleigh and hold the fish pole over 
them in front of the dogs just beyond their reach. Then he would speak to them, 
give them a taste of the meat and then hold it out just beyond their reach and 
those dogs would chase that rabbit meat the whole way to Groton at express rate 
speed. He would just give them a taste occasionally. He had to pass our claim 
shanty on the way to Groton. Many a good laugh we got out of Julius Kam's trick 
on his dogs.

By this time in 1884, our neighborhood became quite a neighborhood. We had as 
neighbors, the Edicks, Julius Kam, Donaldson, O'Harro, Fellers, Burk, Tollefson, 
Burks, Wegners, Paetznicks, Matthews, etc. Many others, some whose names I have 
forgotten.

That reminds me of an incident about prairie fires which I have never forgotten. 
One evening Father came in and said, "It appears there is a bad prairie fire 
southeast of us up in the hills." He hurried over to Mr. O'Harros and soon 
neighbors began to gather and hurry toward the south. The whole neighborhood was 
awake, hitching horses to the ploughs and breakers. We had a firebrake around 
our yard, but soon saw that all the neighbors would have to fight to save their 
winter's hay and even buildings. By this time the whole country for miles was on 
fire. We had the sacks and buckets full of water and whenever a spark would fly 
across the firebrake we would put it out and so saved the buildings and hay and 
feed. I, too, was fighting when Mr. O'Harro said, "Say, Charles, what are you 
doing? You are scattering the fire. Here, WET THAT SACK AND DO NOT HIT WITH A 
DRY SACK." The fire passed and all of our property and the neighbors was saved.

The rejoicing was soon to be changed into sorrow. Across the prairie came our 
neighbor, Mr. Burk, who lived 2 miles to the N. W. of our claim. He was crying 
that his son Sammy (who was about 5 years old) was lost while they were fighting 
the fire. He had been with them but now they could not find him anywhere. How 
bitterly Mr. Burk cried. It was late at night, but Mr. O'Harro and Father went 
over to the stricken family's home. They, too, cried and shouted and and 
searched, but Sammy had vanished.

Men were sent out on horseback and aroused the whole country side. The next day 
it seemed that Groton , too, had sent all of their citizens. We children went to 
school but there was little studying as the teacher and we children were all 
heartbroken. We saw the great crowd of men forming south of the schoolhouse 
about a rod apart and the whole countryside was to be combed as the general 
impression was that Sammy had gotten ahead of the fire and had been burned to 
death. Here they came combing the prairies and every hole and river bank. What a 
sight that was. The school house that stands there now was just across the road 
on the west side of the road. School had been dismissed.

Teacher and all of us children were on the outside watching the army of marching 
men. Just when they reached the school house, they suddenly stopped as though a 
command had been given. To the north, there came a team with a man standing up 
in the wagon box, waving a coat. The horses were on the run and he came on 
shouting and waving. When he arrived at the school house, he held up little 
Sammy, well--but crying.

The night of the fire, the parents were so busy trying to save the hay and 
buildings, they could not watch the children and Sammy had strayed off and 
followed the fire. Then when the parents saw that all the buildings had been 
saved, they were calling the children together and missed Sammy. The child said 
he had run to find Daddy and Mother but was lost and wandered following the fire 
and at last came to a sod building and cried to the people, but they did not 
answer him. He found an open window and looking in, he fell in and cried himself 
to sleep. It was a deserted sod barn with some machinery in it.

The window he had fallen through was too high for him to reach and crawl out. 
The man who found him had driven there several miles to get a piece of machinery 
and found the child in the old sod barn. Well, what rejoicing there was in that 
neighborhood and all the people who were present that day. School was dismissed 
and the people from Groton and the country all gathered at Mr. Burk's and it was 
a day of universal glad fellowship. The lost had been found!

We had two bachelors as neighbors, the Scripture Brothers. One day, old Prince, 
one of our horses, was gone. We looked for him everywhere, but could not find 
him. When the horses were not used, we staked them out on a rope so they could 
graze. After a day or so, Mr. Scripture came over and brought back old Prince. 
The neighbor had borrowed him but had not told us of it. Just across from us 
lived Mr. O'Hara and they were real neighbors, Zellers a little farther north.

The second year we lived on the Pre-emption, Father suddenly took very sick and 
the Dr. was called and he did all he could for Father, but he was

[P123]

in bed a long time. (I am sorry not to be able to remember the Dr's. name as he 
was a hard working man and went through the hardships with the pioneers).

The harvest was in shock, but no one to stack the grain. One morning, Mr. O'Hara 
came over and said, "Charles, do you think you could load the grain (I then was 
10 years old) if I pitch the same? Then we will drive over to the old farm and 
that rented place your father put in and stack the grain." Mother hastily put up 
a lunch for us and we drove over to the old homestead and former home. When we 
got near we saw about 20 teams and many stackers and four stacks were already 
half way up and it was only 9 a.m. Mr. O'Hara had driven around all night with 
his oxen and had sent a boy horseback for miles around and asked all to come and 
stack the grain. The crowd came and when all the wheat was in stacks, Mr. O'Hara 
said to load up the 15 acres of oats and haul it over to Mr. Zech's new home as 
they will need that to feed the horses and cow over the winter. They loaded up 
the entire oats crop and when the great caravan wended its way those two miles 
to our new home on the preemption and stacked it in the yard, Father burst out 
into tears and wept. And from that time, he recovered as there is no doubt that 
he worried very much about the grain.

What was lacking on the Homestead we found in abundance on the Pre-emption as 
Father dug a well near the creek that flowed through the corner of the farm near 
the house and found a good well of fine water 12 feet deep.

The time came for threshing the grain and a man, Mr. Tollefson, lived some miles 
south of our home and he came to thresh it. To get to our place he had to cross 
the creek. Mr. Tollefson went down to the bank of the creek and looked at the 
bottom and then jumped on the platform of the engine and down into the river and 
when he got into the middle, the engine began to mire and he let out the most 
terrible oaths and opened the throttle wide and the Drivers caught and up the 
bank he went on the opposite side, but the bank was so steep that Mr. Tollefson 
fell off, the engine ran wild in the prairie. Mr. Tollefson ran after the 
runaway and kept up a rhythm of oaths and he finally caught the runaway and 
stopped it. He got to our place and threshed the grain and as I recall, he would 
not take a cent for his work. Neighbors, yes, real neighbors.

After I had been in the ministry from 1896 to 1902, I was sent to the Groton 
field as pastor of the Evangelical churches of Groton, Edwards, Garden Prairie, 
Butler and Ferney. One Sunday I saw a man in the back part of the audience at 
the Garden Prairie church who looked familiar. After the service he came up and 
asked if I knew him. I said, "I have seen you somewhere". "Yes," he said, "do 
you recall of a thresher who threshed for your Dad when he was sick in 1884?" I, 
of course, remembered that. "Well," he said, "I am that man who could curse 
according to notes. I have surrendered my life to the higher life in God and am 
trying now to do as much good as I did evil in those days." Sure a great change 
had come to that man. I asked him, "Have you still that old engine?" He said, 
"Yes, I drove over and looked at the old engine that had run wild way back there 
in 1884 and dreamed those days over again." He laughed and said, "Brother, I 
often wondered how it would look to see an engine blow up and a few years ago, I 
took the old engine out into the field to a straw pile and plugged up all the 
openings in the boiler and then put on a steam gauge that would register 800 
pounds and then I built a fire and ran up the pressure 'till I thought it was 
time to leave and went to a straw pile 60 rods away and through a spy glass, I 
saw the pressure go up until it was 800 pounds and how much farther it went I do 
not know, but it did not blow up and there is the old engine I cursed so away 
back in 1884 and this then was 1902.

The school in our neighborhood was built in the year 1884, as I remember, and 
still is standing there, where I got the first lessons in school, now over 70 
years ago. Most of the scholars of that time are gone to the great beyond and 
those who taught us likewise. Teachers those days got a very small salary. I 
recall when Orie Miller, who later was one of the Merchants in Groton and very 
active in the various activities for the betterment of Groton, taught our school 
away back in those early years. His salary was $25.00 a month and he boarded 
with us and gave $6.00 a month for his board and that left $19.00 for teaching a 
month. We had about 5 months school and it was very primitive indeed, Reading, 
Spelling, 'Rithmetic.

The last time I drove through the neighborhood, (1950) the old school house was 
still standing and what memories cluster around the old building. The old 
settlers of those early days are all gone and even the younger generation are 
now old people the same as myself, 81 last Christmas season.

The hard dry years of the middle 80's came and Father had borrowed a small sum, 
as we now figure, on that pre-emption and then in 1886 we left the old farm 
forever, and moved on Mr. Pasco's farm four miles S. W. of Groton and then had 
several good crops which lifted us out of debt and made it somewhat easier for 
all of us.

that deal as renters did not turn out so well, but while there we had the 
experience of the terrible blizzard, January 12, 1888, when so much stock was 
lost and even people perished in that blizzard. It came up so suddenly that it 
caught people off guard. It was a beautiful quiet and pleasant warm morning, and 
we had the first team of horses at the well only about 30 feet away from the 
barn. In those days water was pulled up with two buckets on the rope running 
over a pulley overhead and one bucket going down in the well, while the filled 
one came up. Suddenly Father looked up and said, "What is that noise? That 
certainly is not the train going through Groton." He had hardly said that when 
there was a roar and a solid blanket of snow. A person could not see your hand 
when you held it out from your face. We put the team into the stable and then 
shovelled snow into the mangers for the stock to eat, as we could not lead them 
out to the well, and the storm was so you could hardly stand up in it.

In 1888, we move to a farm 5 miles S. E. of Aberdeen where we lived in the 
neighborhood for many years.

[P124]

Having now been in Dakota for over 74 years, it is astonishing how the primitive 
prairies have been changed into productive farms and busy cities and towns. The 
roads have been paved and where the wagons moved along slowly at 3 to 4 miles an 
hour, now the autos at 60 miles an hour, but I sometimes wonder whether the 
people are any happier than those settlers were those many years ago.

We say we have made progress, and materially that is true, but have we 
progressed accordingly socially and religiously? I sometimes am inclined to ask 
that question. Having now been in the work of the ministry for nearly 60 years, 
a person is inclined to make comparisons.

I have written these few reminiscences from my diaries which I have now kept for 
these 60 years, but regret that I do not have some of the particulars of 
friends, by name, of those I have known and loved these many years. 
Nevertheless, I am thankful that I do know that I have had most precious friends 
by the thousands whom I loved and believe, that precious possession also was 
reciprocated. Though having, what is called "retired" I am so thankful to be 
able to serve in many of the churches and denominations of the Northwest and 
also in the municipal affairs of my community.

[Photo: Aberdeen Band About 1910, Mr. Cason, Band Master.]

[P125]

WEST HANSON TOWNSHIP
by Grace Herron, Mrs. A. J. Radke, Mrs. George Riggs and 75th Groton Anniversary 
Book, 1881-1956

Hanson Township was first a double township named after Richard Hanson. It was 
divided into East and West Hanson in 1927. The Richard Hanson and N. O. P. 
Synoground families were the first settlers of which there are any definite 
records. They came as young people and filed for homesteads in Sections 14 and 
11, both very near Mud Creek in 1880. Deciding to stay through the winter, they 
lived together in the Hanson claim shanty. Money was scarce, there was very 
little food and the men had to haul wood from the Jim River, some six or seven 
miles west of them. This they did on a crude hand sled, each man helping to 
pull. Often storms came up and the women feared lest the men get lost as there 
were no roads, fences, or other guides if the wind would blow their previous 
tracks shut. Hanson's homestead is now the Mrs. Louise Hoops farm. Edward Oliver 
owns the Synoground homestead.

Mr. Synoground came from Denmark and was one of many Danish Petersens. In fact 
he filed on his claim in the name of Nelson Olsen Petersen. Later, wishing to be 
more distinctive, he added Synoground, which was the name of his home in 
Denmark. When he proved up on his claim he took along witnesses and had his name 
legally changed to Synoground and from then on signed his name N. O. P. 
Synoground.

[Photo: Mr. and Mrs. N. O. P. Synoground and family.]

Mr. Synoground strove to make their American life equally as good as the Danes. 
He gave a 100 year lease for the land on which the Synoground school was built 
in 1881. He built a beautiful ten room home for his family of ten children. Both 
home and school were completely destroyed by the cyclone in May, 1918.

He promoted the building of a rural co-operative telephone in this area. He was 
the instigator of the first Horticultural Society in South Dakota. Synoground, 
along with Richard Hanson, the Norwegian, and August W. Krueger, a German, 
attended the first State-wide Horticultural Society at Yankton. At this meeting 
Synoground was made the first president and Mr. Krueger was chosen Vice 
President. Hanson was a member of the board.

J. M. Herron's first trip into Brown County and Dakota was in 1880, by way of 
Casselton, N. D. He drove overland from there and after camping overnight on the 
James River was ferried across by a settler who charged him $1.25. He returned 
to Wisconsin for the winter and arrived back in Brown County, Dakota in the 
spring of 1881. He filed on the S. E. 1/4 of Section 8, Township 122, Range 61 
and with the help of a man named Gilbert Gilbertson, whom he paid $1.50, built 
his shanty in one day.

August Klabunde, Arnold Ringer, Conrad Von Wald, and John Kindschi came in 1881 
from Alma, Wisconsin, in a covered wagon to Webster to file on their claims in 
West Hanson Township. They built their sod shanties, and plastered them with mud 
to keep out the cold and heat. In the fall they returned to Wisconsin and the 
next spring brought their families by train. Ringer was a farmer, Von Wald a 
wagon maker, and Kindschi a store keeper. Kindschi decided to start business in 
Groton so built a big general store, which was in Groton during all its growing 
years. Von Wald was successful in farming with his ten children. Those still 
living: Anna Zoellner, Christine Zoellner, Valentine and Conrad of the Groton 
area, Walter of Aberdeen, and George of Seattle Washington. Ringer who had no 
children acquired the most land, buying up abandoned farms through the hard 
times.

Many came in 1881 to file. Among these were Julius and Frank Putney, Miles 
Riggs, T. W. Lindesmith, James Julson, A. T. Amsden. Others coming early were 
Charles Olson, Otto Schinkel, Fred Schmidt, S. W. Cook, George W. Dickens, J. T. 
Hatton, T. G. McKiver, William Badten, Arthur Dobberpuhl, J. M. Grinolde, Christ 
Reber, Annie Wage, August Pigors, A. B. Pigors, J. D. Showers, Fred Ehrenberg, 
Gust Bahr, Fred Clocksene, a Mr. Holtz, and Mr. Kenitzer. All these pioneers are 
gone as are many of their children. Amsden Dam and Amsden Park are named for Art 
Amsden whose son George, now lives on the old homestead. George Riggs, son of 
Miles Riggs, is on the original land as is Ida Julson, daughter-in-law of James 
Julson, Sr.

Carl Erdman operated a mill in West Hanson where the farmers took their wheat 
and rye to be made into flour.

James Julson came from Manitowoc, Wisconsin in 1880 and settled in West Hanson 
Township. The family lived in a covered wagon for two months. Mr. Julson went to 
North Dakota to thresh. When he returned he built a sod house and barn. The 
windows were covered with greased paper. His son Edwin, spent his entire life on 
the farm and it is now owned by Edwin's sons, Robert and Delmont Julson.

Arthur T. Amsden came from Oronoco, Minnesota in 1880. Mr. Amsden brought the 
first thresh-

[P126]

ing machine into West Hanson Township and he was also an organizer of the 
Populist Party.

The St. John's Lutheran Church was organized in 1888. In 1911 they built a new 
church which was destroyed by fire in April, 1955. The present church was moved 
down from James and remodeled. The James Church, known as Trinity Lutheran, was 
organized in 1882, and was discontinued in April, 1955. The majority of its 
members joined the West Hanson Congregation.

The first officers of West Hanson Township were: supervisors, Arthur Dobberpuhl, 
C. F. Zoellner, and Arthur Newman; Clerk, Adolph Nack; treasurer, Gust Barth; 
and assessor, Walter Herron.

J. M. Herron, father of Grace Herron, kept a daily record from 1879 to 1899. In 
it are a good many items of interest. Not only was manual labor cheap in those 
good old days, but so also were babies and marriages. Mr. Herron, as Justice of 
the Peace, performed marriage ceremonies for $2.00 and Mrs. George Dickens, 
mother of Mrs. Deno Erdman, presided at the births of most of those early day 
babies at the tremendous price of $2.00 per baby, and acted as nurse for 
children and grown-ups for many years.

Another low-priced item was wheat which was sold in Groton in the year 1887 for 
46 cents a bushel.

[Photo: Mr. and Mrs. Fred Sueltz and family. Mr. and Mrs. August Sueltz (Anna 
Jaeschke). Both of these families were relatives of Mrs. Radke.]

[P127]

HENRY TOWNSHIP

A few homesteaders had filed on land north of Groton, and along the James River, 
when Charles E. Henry, after whom the township was eventually named, led the 
first large party of land seekers into this area. The group left Greenville, 
Montcalm County, Michigan on April 30, 1880, heading for Jamestown, Dakota 
Territory. After looking over the terrain around Jamestown, where they planned 
to file on homesteads, this party decided to look elsewhere in the James River 
Valley.

Coming south the group arrived in the Groton vicinity on May 30. The land just 
east of the James River was so rich and black that Henry said he was filing on 
land here. Several of his friends filed on homesteads also. Some of the group 
went to the Westport area, and then north, where they took homesteads. Mr. Henry 
built a shack at once, living in it that summer and then built a more 
substantial house in the fall. This early homesteader became the first 
postmaster in Groton when the office opened August 12, 1881.

Mr. and Mrs. William Bowles, homesteaded in Henry Township in March 1881 near 
Chedi Lake. Born in Scotland, the couple were married in Canada, later living in 
New York State, before coming here. The first twins born in Henry Township were 
Fred and Frank Bowles born to this pioneer couple, who lived in a sod house that 
first summer. William Bowles and wife came to Henry Township by train to Bristol 
and drove in a covered wagon from there. In the immigrant car were their four 
horses, machinery and household furniture. That first spring Mr. Bowles plowed 
and planted 18 acres of crop. He was able to buy lumber and build a wooden 
shanty in the fall from his wheat return.

The Holum brothers and Andrew Prestegaard were neighbors in Norway. They came to 
Minnesota in 1879, and two years later to Henry Township where they filed on 
homesteads. The Nels Holum and Andrew Prestegaard families came as far as 
Bristol which was the end of the railroad, and the rest of the way by covered 
wagon. Both men had prosperous farms on which their descendants still live.

[Photo: John Sieh and his wife, Josephine Sieh.]

John Sieh was another early pioneer who came here in 1881 with his wife, 
Josephine, from Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Mr. Sieh who was born in Hamburg, 
Germany, was a sailor, as a young lad, and learned five languages. So he was a 
great help to many homesteaders in filing their claims. The Sieh home was on the 
bank of Chedi Lake, an overflow of the James River. One summer during the 80's 
when the wheat crop failed, some of the settlers went to the Yukon in Alaska to 
mine gold, and Mr. Sieh was among them. He came back to Dakota with interesting 
accounts of the possible prosperity, but then was joined by more prospectors to 
Alaska, and later returned.

Another early settler here was Charles W. Kranhold from Hustisford, Wisconsin, 
who bought a "relinquishment" in April of 1882, south east of the present town 
of James. Mr. Kranhold, a carpenter in Wisconsin, had acquired enough money to 
buy lumber before coming to Dakota Territory. His lumber, yoke of oxen, cows, 
horses, farm equipment and furniture filled three immigrant cars. As soon as he 
acquired the land he built a house, and six weeks later brought his wife and 
children here. Lyman Amsden homesteaded just south of the Kranholds. It is 
interesting to note that the north half of the Earl Meredith home in Groton was 
the small house on the Amsden quarter that was moved to town.

Henry Johnson was another early settler in the township, and William Craig also 
took up land. Mr. Craig taught school at James eight years before buying a 
relinquishment in Riverside Township and with his wife and family moved there. 
Always interested in school, Mr. Craig was a school board member for many years.

Fred Kranhold arrived in Henry Township from Wisconsin, a year later than his 
brother, Charles, and homesteaded in the northern part of the township. He and 
his wife raised a large family. A daughter, Mrs. Charles Pray, lives in Groton.

In 1886 or 1887, Mrs. Henrietta Neuman from Juneau, Wisconsin, came to the 
Groton community and acquired land in Henry Township. Her son, Charles, bought 
the quarter and built the house in which Mr. and Mrs. Algot Johnson now live.

S. B. James and his father were early settlers. When the railroad was built from 
Groton to Aberdeen, the town of James was platted. No one remembers for certain, 
but the town which was quite a flourishing town in the early 1900's was probably 
named after J. D. James.

Two other German homesteaders here were August Wagener, who came in 1881 and 
Carl Wendell, Sr., who came a little later. Both men came from Minnesota 
Junction, Wisconsin. Mr. Wendell lived with Mr. and Mrs. Wagener nearly a mile 
away while he built his shanty and dug a well. Christmas Day of 1882 was a very 
mild day. Both men like to tell how they sat out doors on Christmas Day in their 
shirt sleeves. Peter Wennach who homesteaded just across the road from Fred 
Kranhold, but in Putney Township, was a good friend of

[P128]

these German neighbors. They liked to tell how when he was building his home and 
breaking his ten acres of sod, he slept at night in the wagon with a gun at his 
side. Mr. Wennach's bride lived at the Lietz home also in Putney Township while 
waiting for the new home.

[Photo: Town of James]

A family by the name of Petersen on the east bank of the James River is thought 
to have come in the early '80's but no definite information can be obtained 
about them. Also the Gottlieb Steller family.

This loam-rich township is still a prosperous community and hopes to continue to 
be so.

Philip Adler, born February 22, 1818, had come from Poppenlauer, Germany, with 
his wife and family in 1878, to settle in Wisconsin. He came to Dakota Territory 
in 1879, by way of Watertown, as he was interested in settling in the new land. 
He walked northwestward on the east side of the James River and stopped on the 
S. 1/2 of the N. W. 1/4 of Sec. 26 in dry Chedi Lake bed. There he made a sod 
shelter with sides of sod and the roof of small willow trees and branches cut 
down along the river. He packed and wove in long lake grass between the 
branches, then covered the top with more sod. He also dug a shallow well for 
drinking water. He went back in spring to Wisconsin to tell others of the rich 
land in Dakota. During the early summer of 1880 more settlers came to Henry 
Township, there also were some claim jumpers. The settlers soon learned to know 
their near neighbors and called on each other when in trouble. So when Adler 
found that someone had put a shanty on the other end of his quarter, he went to 
Carl Paepke, a fur trapper, who had settled in Gem and Henry Township. "Two 
can't have one claim," said Adler. Paepke said, "Come back tonight." So that 
night they took a team of horses, wrapped several chains around the shanty and 
pulled it a mile away. They never did see the man who tried to jump his claim. 
Adler paid his homestead in full at the land office in Aberdeen in 1883.

Philip's son, William, born November 5, 1864, had begged his parents to leave 
Germany as he didn't want to go to military academy; he wanted to be a pioneer. 
When he reached Dakota Territory he was 16 years old, tall and strong. His 
father broke up 20 acres of sod and struggled hard to provide for his wife and 
family. He oftten walked to Aberdeen or Columbia to bring home supplies strapped 
to his back.

Mary, the oldest daughter, was married to Gus Lorenz in Wisconsin. Two younger 
daughters, Lena (Mrs. Albert Schott), and Emma (Mrs. William Nultemeier) were 
still at home. Hardships for the family increased when Philip Adler died of 
pneumonia on August 22, 1884. He was the first settler to die in this area and 
lies buried in the Gem Township cemetery. This left William to take over and 
make a living for the mother and two younger sisters.

William went back to Wisconsin to work in a lumber camp as a lumber jack. After 
three winters he remained in Dakota and used his earnings to help pay for the 
new settlement. Sometimes his spare time was spent at knitting stockings and 
sox, and other articles made from the wool his mother carded and spun into yarn. 
He married Ottillie Daly, of Aberdeen, December, 1897, a daughter of pioneers. 
They raised a family of four boys and three girls. The youngest son, Clarence, 
and his wife Gladys (Herron) still reside there. Their son Ronald and his wife 
Shirley and their three children, Timothy, Mary and Philip V, live in a small 
house on the same farm. They are the 5th generation living on the original Adler 
homestead.

Philip Adler, and his son-in-law, Gustav Lorenz of Fondulac, Wisconsin were 
joined by Fritz Gerth and Ferdinand Paeth in 1880 to come by train to Milbank 
and from there they walked westward to the great valley of the James River 
looking for claims. They set out in a southeasterly direction from Adler's 
dugout, going for higher ground.

[P129]

[Photo: Land Patent issued to Phillip Adler by President Grover Cleveland in 
1886.]

John Sieh, another member of the party, established his claim on the S. E. 1/4 
of Sec. 24 and on the N. E. 1/4 of 25, Gustav on the S. W. 1/4 of Sec. 31, Fritz 
Gerth on the N. E. 1/4 of Sec. 36 and S. E. 1/4 of 25, Philip Adler on the S. E. 
1/4 of Sec. 35, and Ferdinand Paeth on the N. 1/2 of Sec. 3. These locations 
pleased the men greatly as they were all within a five mile area which would 
make it much easier to build their homes as they needed each others help. That 
winter the men all went back to Wisconsin. In 1881 they brought their families 
and possessions as far as Watertown by train. There they had filed their claims 
at the land office for Dakota Territory. They bought their supplies, lumber, and 
wagons and drove across country to make their homes. Some drove oxen, other 
horses and some walked beside the wagons.

Gustav Lorenz brought his wife, Mary, and young son William, to Dakota Territory 
in 1881. He had walked to Watertown and filed his claim there. He built his 
first home that year on the S. W. 1/4 of Sec. 31, hauling his lumber with ox 
team from Watertown. Gustav with his white beard and goatee could walk the 
prairie endlessly. His grandson, Glen, and family live on that homestead.

Carl Krahn, who came in 1883, from Germany with family of four children, had set 
up a claim shanty on the S. W. 1/4 of Sec. 35. After he acquired a joining 
quarter in Bath Township, he decided he would move the shanty to the center of 
the two quarters, on the Henry Township side. The neighboring settlers found the 
task far beyond their expectation. The pioneers all prepared for the hard 
winters in Dakota and had done a fine job of insulating the shacks. Krahn had 
spread heavy wet yellow clay mixed with straw between the studdings, which made 
it almost as heavy as brick. They finally succeeded in moving it after using all 
available horse and man power.

His neighbor to the north, Ludwig Schott, on the N. W. 1/4 of Sec. 35 was one of 
four brothers and the son of Hans Schott, of Minnesota, who had come to Dakota 
in search of land for his boys. Louie (Ludwig) enjoyed hunting and fishing, was 
a lover of fine horses, and always remained a bachelor.

Julius Stelter also stayed close to the James River and took claim on the N. E. 
1/4 of Sec. 35 in 1882. His first claim shanty was on the east side of the 
quarter. His father Christ Stelter came in 1883, also settled along the river to 
the northwest. He walked to Aberdeen to file his claim. When Julius broke his 
arm, it was Carl Paepke and Carl Krahn who put it in place and splinted it. It 
turned out to be a very good job of setting. Two of his children died during the 
early years. He provided many meals of fish for the family and made cheese in a 
large barrel. The family had frequent visits from the Indians also from along 
the river and Mrs. Stelter often gave them the food she had prepared for her own 
family, to keep the Indians peaceful. The Stelter family left Dakota in the late 
80's and went to Oklahoma, leaving his land to be cared for by his brother, 
Gottlieb. He returned with his family in 1912 and his grandson, Albert Tullis 
and family, live there and farm the old homestead.

[P130]

A large area in the river flat--all of section 23, the south 1/2 of Sec. 14, 160 
acres of the north of Sec. 26 and considerable acreage in Bath Township was 
owned by Robert and William Burton, and was called the Burton Ranch, as they 
were breeders of registered Durham cattle, chester white hogs and Percheron 
horses. It is now the K. O. Lee Ranch.

Heinrich Franz Weihrauch, was born in Sachen, Germany, June 3, 1848. He was 18 
years old when he came to America. He lived in Racine, Wisconsin. He was married 
to Emma Schroederin in 1873 and moved to LaCrosse. In 1883 he brought his wife 
and four children to Dakota, settled on a homestead to farm. His many fine 
horses were his great pride.

Fritz Gerth came to America with some friends when he was 9 years old. He came 
to Brown County from Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1880. He got his lumber from Milbank 
where he had purchased a team of oxen. He built his claim shanty and married 
Mary Raemann, in Wisconsin, and brought her to Henry Township. The grandson, 
Dale McKiver and family, farm the Gerth homestead.

Albert Draeger, educated in Germany and was trained as a school teacher. He came 
to America, studied literature, and taught in Wisconsin and later at Watertown, 
Dakota, in 1879. The great land rush was on and when he saw so many pioneers 
take up claims he also went to the land office and filed on the north half of 
Section 6, in Henry Township. Later he sold his farm and went into business in 
James. His son, Charles, bought back the farm and still owns the place where he 
was born. When he was four years old, he froze his fingers one cold winter day 
when he ran after his dog without his mittens.

Heinrich Lehman, of Hustisford, Wisconsin, was another farmer to come to Dakota 
in 1880. He was tired of digging stumps there and thought the open plains had 
greater future in store. He brought his wife and seven of his eleven children in 
1883. They brought their possessions to Watertown, bought a plow and horses and 
left to find their new place. Travel was slow with the large family so they 
didn't get to the claim the night they planned. They stopped in a clump of trees 
one half mile south of Groton. As soon as they arrived at the settlement, some 
went right to plowing, while others started the shelter for the family. His son 
Emil, was then eleven years old. After some years in Dakota the parents and all 
but Emil and his brother John, went back to Wisconsin. The two boys batched for 
awhile and then John also left. Courage and perseverance were essential to 
pioneers, so Emil's sister came to keep house for him until he married. His 
grandson Henry Lehman and his wife Dorothy (Erdman) still live on that farm.

Christ Voight and Gustav Pasch came in a covered wagon from Ortonville, 
Minnesota. Voight took land on N. E. 1/4 of Sec. 33. He had three horses and a 
plow so he broke land for other settlers to make money to file his claim. They 
lived in a covered wagon the first summer. They returned to Ortonville and later 
Christ brought his wife and three children. Their family increased to 12 
children. In 1888 he established a store in James. His son, Carl Voight, became 
a carpenter and helped other pioneers erect the Lutheran Church there in 1886, 
also helped build many homes and other buildings for settlers in the area.

A house was built around the claim shack of Charles W. Kranhold. Mr. Edward 
Kranhold still lives in the home.

Mrs. Ed. Julson and Mrs. Flora Meredith also lived at the homestead. They were 
Kranhold's daughters.

Mr. and Mrs. David Wismer and daughter, Matie, William and Edward Moore, Mr. and 
Mrs. William Wood came from Ontario, Canada in 1884.

Other early settlers included William and Ed. Moore, William Wood, and Robert 
and William Burton.



GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH OF JAMES - HENRY TOWNSHIP
by Mrs. Alfred Sueltz

Mission work by F. Pfotenhauer in Henry Township laid the foundation for Trinity 
Church, Missouri Synod of James, which was officially organized July 30, 1882. 
In 1883 the Rev. F. Hinck accepted the call as the first pastor and was 
succeeded on August 16, 1884 by Rev. C. C. Metz, who was installed as resident 
pastor, also to serve missions in Brown, Day, and Marshall Counties. A school 
house was erected on the hill on the west side of the James River on the south 
side of the S. 1/2 of Section 4 in Gem Township, where services were held when 
missionaries came through. A cemetery plot was also acquired there where members 
of the early pioneers were buried. They include Martin Knie, Carl Paepke, Aug. 
Sueltz, Fred Sueltz, A. Schott, W. Schott, Philip Adler, Wm. Adler, and Carl 
Krahn.

Later a school house and parsonage were built on the N. W. corner of the N. W. 
1/4 of Sec. 21 in Henry Township and another cemetery was established there. In 
1885 a church was built in the little town of James, known as the German 
Lutheran Church, as services were conducted in the German language.

Charter members in 1885 were Gustav Lorenz, William Adler, August Sueltz, Herman 
Paepke, Fredrick Sueltz, Adolph Elsner, Martin Knie, Leonhard Hilbert, Jim 
Schlick. Pioneer citizens of Dakota Territory of Henry, Bath, and Gem Townships 
drew up and published the Articles of Incorporation which was the St. Johannes 
Evangelical Lutheran Church, November 15, 1886. Its original place of business 
was at Bath in Brown County. This testimony was signed by Henry Jaeschke, 
Hermann Krier, Fredrick Sueltz, and Leonhard Hilbert, Rev. Fredrick Preu as 
pastor. It was notarized by Chas. Howard, Notary Public, Dakota Territory. 
Directors and trustees were sworn in July 8, 1889, and were Gustav Lorenz, 
Adolph Elsner, Martin Knie, Fredrick Sueltz, and William Adermann.

Other members and supporters were Henry Jaeschke, Herman Krier, Carl Paepke, 
Herman Paepke, Casper Rapp, Wilhelm Knie, Leonhard Hilbert, August Wurzel, 
William Aderman, Carl Krahn,

[P131]

Wm. Schott, H. Falk, Christ Voight, Heinrich Lehmann, F. W. Voight, Ferdinand 
Wockenfuss, August Voight, Ferdinand Paeth, Gustav Pasch, George Schornack, 
Julius Urban, Henrietta Neuman, Chas. Marquardt, August Krueger, Wm. Koepsel, 
Carl Voight, Albert Draeger, John Schornack, F. W. Voight, Otto Lehman, Ed. 
Pfeifer, Fritz Gerth, Otto Mavis, August Lier and others.

The first child baptized in this territorial church was Ernest Pasch, born 
September 10, 1882, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gustav Pasch. The building was moved to 
West Hanson Township in 1955, when the church there was destroyed by fire. 
Services are still conducted there at this writing and descendants of the 
pioneer families of Henry Township are among its members.

[Photo: Interior of the first territorial church in James and Henry Township.]

[Photo: Mr. and Mrs. George Zumm]

[Photo: Ferney, about 1900.]

[P132]

HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP
by Helen Bergh

This area was settled by several families who had come from Germany, stayed at 
Milbank for a time, and finally came out to Highland Township in the early 
1880's. Among those coming in 1881 were the Jacob Bugner's. Fred Bugner came in 
1882. A son, Fred Bugner, II, was born in 1885 and still lives in Aberdeen 
(1964). Others coming in 1882 were the Reinhold Angerhofers, Herman Angerhofers, 
and the John Angerhofers with their eight children: Dora, August, Pauline, 
Millie, Emma, Rudolph and Ernest. Emma, now Mrs. Schwante, remembers clearly 
their coming. The Jacob Shilmans, Ernest Bricks, Fred Bricks, Gottlieb Herings, 
and Max Herings were others who came the same year. Herman Brick, Fred's son was 
born in 1883. Still others who came in the early 1880's were Mr. and Mrs. John 
Peterson and their daughter Julia, Hans Peterson and August Peterson. Albert 
Dahme came in 1888.

By 1883 tiny shanties had mushroomed all over the prairies. Ravines were full of 
deep buffalo tracks, snail shells, and buffalo bones.

Mrs. Otto Ristau, a daughter of William Paepke who had come from Germany in 
1872, and to Highland Township in 1881 described their first sight of Aberdeen. 
Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Paepke and their four children, Millie, Henry, 
Robert and Hulda, together with Mr. and Mrs. Emil Martin and family, had come 
from Wisconsin to Minnesota by covered wagon in 1880. The next year the lure of 
free land drew them and the Peter Martins to Aberdeen where they arrived in a 
rainstorm. There was no depot, so their cows, sheep and seeds had to be unloaded 
from the freight car onto the open prairie. Mr. Witte's shanty was standing and 
they all crowded in. They drove in a lumber wagon to their claims. Another 
daughter, now Mrs. Herman Brick was born in 1888. Still another daughter, Mrs. 
Bertha Lowitz now lives in Warner.

[Photo: St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, erected in 1896.]

"These early pioneers made bread from wheat ground in a coffee mill. They ate 
white millet that was cooked like rice with raisins, milk and cinnamon and a 
little sugar, field peas, melons, beans, corn, turnips, rutabagas, pumpkins, and 
of course homemade cheese. Corn, melons and other large seeds were planted by 
chopping slits in the sod with an ax and dropping in the seed. Grain was sown 
broadcast from a bag made from a bedsheet and tied around a man's shoulders. It 
was harvested with a scythe and threshed by a horse-powered machine which took 
several men. Later the header was used and finally the steam outfits were used. 
One of the steam engines blew up and killed three men. Sometimes it took all the 
pillowcases to hold the grain. Yeast cakes were made with hops and cornmeal.

"Spinning wool, knitting socks for men and long stockings for women and 
children, and stripping goose feathers for feather beds occupied the winter 
evenings time. They used two feather beds, one to sleep on and one as a cover. 
All sewing was done by hand. Fuel was twisted prairie hay.

[Photo: St. John's Choir]

"Early church services were held in the homes and after school houses were built 
in both Highland and New Hope Townships in 1885, services were held there until 
their first church was built in 1896. Some of the early ministers were Rev. 
Hinck, Rev. Fischer and Rev. Ferber. They were home missionaries who served 
several charges. Another early minister was a Rev. Lebahn who stayed only a 
short time. Then a student came, stayed at the William Paepke home, and 
instructed the first confirmation class of eight boys and three girls in April, 
1889."

The only mail was an occasional letter from relatives after John Morrow built 
the store and post office in Rudolph.

[Photo: Early Highland Township School]

Mrs. Ristau told further about the first years: "My father, William Paepke was a 
blacksmith graduate from Germany and Uncle Peter Martin was a

[P133]

tailor. He lived just across the line in New Hope Township. Uncle Martin did all 
the tailoring for the men and boys over winter, doing all the sewing by hand as 
there was no sewing machine in the group. He even made caps for the boys. Father 
started a small blacksmith shop. A lot of them worked for the railroad at 
Rudolph and he always took them coffee and soup, usually pea soup which Mother 
cooked. The coffee was made from wheat and barley burned brown in the oven, but 
they were glad to get it. Father asked them to save all their worn out boots. He 
cut off the tops, sewed them together, and made bellows for his shop. All men 
and even small boys wore boots at that time, so they saved a lot for him. When 
Father got the bellows made he did all the blacksmith work for the neighbors. He 
got some tools from Mr. Witte's store. He did blacksmith work for thirty years 
besides farming.

[Photo: Wedding of August Brick and Augusta Kushman.]

"In 1884 Father made a large outdoor cellar with a wooden roof covered with sod 
and clay. There We kept our milk during the summer. Mother always made ten or 
eleven cheeses during the summer. For a cheese she used a washboiler full of 
sweet milk. There was no cream separator, so we let the milk stand and skimmed 
off the cream. The milk stood in crocks in the sun during the day and was 
brought in at night. The cheese had to be rubbed with salt every day and aged 
four or five weeks before it was ready to eat.

"In the winter the cellar was filled to the roof with turnips and rutabagas. 
Father had cut off a barrel and made an S-shaped very sharp iron to cut the 
rutabagas. The barrel held a bushel at a time and the vegetables were stomped 
small enough so the cows wouldn't choke.

"Father and Uncle Peter Martin made the children wooden shoes. They were made 
quite practical, shaped in both heel and toe parts. They made them last so they 
would fit each child's foot. When they got into a fight the shoes flew."

Other early settlers include Bernard and Robert Dobrick who arrived in 1886. A. 
Bergman in 1884, Henry Bettman in 1889, and the John Kushman family in 1885. Mr. 
Kushman had preached in southern Minnesota and after the family came to Highland 
Township he taught the Christian Day School. Still others who came were the 
Sollie, Schwab and Grote families.

Highland Township, much like New Hope Township still has second and third 
generation members of the first families. Both townships are crossed by Snake 
Creek.

[Photo: John Kushman and Charles Bartels breaking sod in Highland Township. Note 
the fourteen bottom plow.]

[P134]

LANSING TOWNSHIP
by Mrs. Wm. Mitchell

Cyrus M. Spurr's grandfather, Cyrus B. Spurr, came to Dakota Territory in May, 
1882. He was accompanied by two sons, Clarence and Mahlon.

He owned a blacksmith shop in Walnut Grove, Minnesota. He brought his blacksmith 
shop and rebuilt it on what is now the Cyrus M. Spurr farm, located one mile 
north of Houghton. The anvil and many of the other blacksmith tools are still in 
Cyrus Spurr's possession.

Columbia was the end of the railroad. These early settlers were looking for 
grassland, water and a possible townsite. They estimated Houghton to be where 
the Spurr farm buildings are now located.

Mr. Spurr built a creamery which was run by F. E. Smith. People for miles around 
brought milk to the creamery.

When Houghton was settled the creamery was moved to town. It was located west of 
the tracks, south of Trail No. 10. When the creamery was discontinued part of 
the building was made into a dwelling. The rest was moved a block east of the 
tracks on the north side. It became the hotel. It is now the residence of Mrs. 
Rose Bender.

Just a short distance east and north of the Spurr homestead was a building used 
as a stage stop. One room was well finished as living quarters for the man who 
was on duty. At that site a very tall pole was erected on which a lantern was 
hung at night.

C. M. Spurr, Cyrus' father, owned and operated the present store and post office 
from 1882 to 1913.

Joe Campbell, father of Robert Campbell, and banker at Frederick, operated one 
of the early lumber yards. Then he started the Houghton Bank, later run by 
Adolph Aarnec. This bank is no longer in operation. It was in Lansing Township 
since the south half of Houghton is in Shelby Township. It is not a corporated 
town.

Mrs. Helga Nygaard Tunby and Mrs. Toni Labrasa Caspers were early residents of 
Lansing Township.

For many years some of Ernie Pyle's relatives lived one mile east of Houghton in 
Lansing Township.

There were no cemeteries in Lansing Township and people were buried on the 
farms. A grave is still marked at the south end of a row of trees on the A. M. 
Mitchell Ranch. The name has been changed to Broadview Ranch, now owned by Wm. 
Dinger.

[Photo: Main Street, Houghton]

[P135]

LINCOLN TOWNSHIP
by Helen Bergh

The first settlers came to this area in 1880. They were Andrew Anderson who came 
from Wisconsin, and Vine Gage who came from Winona, Minnesota. Mr. Gage's two 
sons, Clark and Everett, and a daughter, Mrs. Bessie Harrington, still reside in 
Lincoln Township.

The year 1881 saw many more come. They included James Roundy, Fred Roundy, and 
Lewis Roundy who came from Minnesota in July. Owen Evans, Edward Chapman, and 
his son Edward, Jr., William Chapman, and Andrew Kindschi came to Aberdeen the 
same summer and to Lincoln Township somewhat later. Two sons were born to the 
Kindschis, Fred in 1886 and Henry in 1888. Fred Roundy's son Murray now lives 
close to the old homestead.

Andrew Fossum and his family came from Minnesota in 1882. His sons Albert, Carl, 
and Thor later became Aberdeen and Groton Dentists. His son George became an 
architect and planned a great many of Aberdeen's buildings and platted the 
ground of Northern State College. Another son, Andy, was a draftsman. In 1833, 
the William Struck family came from Champagne, Illinois. Mr. Struck died that 
fall from a skin infection aggravated by the use of sulphur and left his 
fourteen year old son to carry on. The next years were hard, for pioneering was 
a job for a grown man, but, in 1889, at the age of twenty, Lewis Struck 
homesteaded where his son, Lewis Struck, Jr. now lives.

The year 1884 brought the Marcus Lund family from Minneapolis. In 1885 Ben 
Maynard came from Massachusetts. The next year Anton Wagner came from Wisconsin. 
His son, Arthur still lives on the home place. Charles Eschbach came from 
Michigan. The year 1888 brought the John Gross family. It also brought William 
Maynard from Massachusetts. His son, William, still lives on the homestead. 
Hobart Roundy came in 1889. Other early pioneers included Dr. Swengle, an early 
day dentist; Lewis Gray, Hector Curry, Joseph Graham, Henry Dunkel, Martin 
McMann, Adolph and Richard Wagner, August and Herman Krier, and men by the name 
of Koch, Tonne, Lytle, and Hurlbert.

Lincoln Township was originally a part of Ordway Township but separated from it 
because of the great distance necessarily travelled to reach a polling place.

The winter of 1896-1897 brought unusually heavy snows. There was so much snow, 
that on April 7, four horses were needed to pull a bobsled filled with pioneers 
to Ordway to vote. In the bobsled were Lewis Gray, Owen Evans, William and Ben 
Maynard. After they had voted they petitioned County Commissioners Alley, 
Kronschnable, Bradner, Beckler and J. W. Miller, Clerk, to divide Ordway 
Township. George W. Jenkins represented the petitioners. The resulting ballot 
showed four votes in favor of division. The names Miller, Lincoln, Carson and 
Judson were suggested for the new township. The name, as drawn by lot was 
Lincoln.

[Photo: Threshing on the Melcher farm in Lincoln Township. Note the straw 
burning engine and the straw carrier on the threshing machine.]

One year later, on March 7, 1898, the first town-

[P136]

ship meeting was held and the area was divided into four road districts. After 
considerable discussion these men reached an agreement concerning the division 
of road scrapers etc. One week later, on March 14, the supervisors met at the 
Chapman schoolhouse to appoint Vine Gage to represent Lincoln Township in the 
division of town property between Lincoln and Ordway Townships. School was in 
session so the group adjourned to the Chapman home. Township officers were 
chosen, books were ordered, a three mill road tax was levied, and Mrs. Chapman 
was given 50 cents for her kindness in granting the use of her house for the 
purpose of carrying on township business.

On June 27, 1898, Martin McMann was appointed to meet with Andrew Bergh of 
Aberdeen Township to divide the township line for roadwork. In May, 1899, Ordway 
and Lincoln divided road work on the east, and Westport and Lincoln on the 
north. There were difficulties involved on the east side because of the river. 
Mr. S. G. Gooding agreed to give a permanent deed of the right of way to cross 
the river at the Dale Crossing, providing Lincoln and Ordway Townships would fix 
a bridge so his cattle could cross from one pasture to another. Lumber for the 
bridge cost $53.15, nails cost $2.10. Because of the streams crossing Ravinia 
and Lincoln Townships bridges were necessary on the west side, too. William 
Maynard collected a bill for 70 cents for bridge spikes. Lumber for the bridge 
cost $16.59. Another bill for nails was 16 cents.

Assessors had their troubles. One man was called before the township board for 
failing to list all his property. After much arguing, he was persuaded to list 
another dozen cows. Another man leaned too far in the other direction, he listed 
three more than he had.

The first elections were held in private homes. Township boards Were 
conservative as they had to be, for many people worked out their taxes on the 
road. In a few cases the boards had to demand proof that the work was actually 
done. Township records for the early years show consistent good management, and 
in many cases, a continuation of civic responsibility from father to son.

Vine Gage, well-known Lincoln Township farmer, came to Dakota in March, 1884, to 
farm his father's homestead, four miles north of Aberdeen. In 1890 he went to 
the Black Hills with his team and wagon, where he worked on the railroad, the 
Elkhorn Missouri Valley Line. Later that same year he returned to Minnesota with 
his team and wagon.

His first impression of Dakota was that he wouldn't have any part of it if it 
were given to him. When asked why he returned, he said, "Something like a magnet 
seemed to draw me back. It wasn't so cluttered up and crowded, and the 
opportunity looked good."

[Photo: Mr. Vine Gage]

On returning to South Dakota, with a load of immigrants in 1893, he first rented 
land to cut hay on and later homesteaded that same land, 160 acres six miles 
north of Aberdeen. It cost him $14 to file and he had to establish residence for 
six months. He could live on the land eight years without paying taxes, but had 
to prove-up at the end of that time. He was one of the last to take up land in 
Lincoln Township.

During his first years of homesteading, he lived in a two room shanty. One of 
the rooms was occupied by his team of horses. In 1895 he married Lexa Dell who 
was originally from Welland, Ontario, Canada. She was then living on her 
father's homestead just across the road from Mr. Gage, Sr.

After their marriage he moved the granary from his father's farm and made it 
into a three room house. Later he moved an old house in and attached it to the 
granary. This added two more rooms, and here their four children were born.

Crops were better than in Minnesota, but in the bad years of 1889-90 he 
harvested only 177 bushels of wheat and six bushels of oats. Times gradually 
grew better, but there were three years of bad times.

When recalling the winter of the big snow (1896-97) he said there was snow seven 
feet deep and drifts as high as 40 feet. They could walk or drive on top of the 
snow without sinking in. They had to carry water to the stock by going through 
the haymow door, walking over the drifts.

In 1921 he bought six head of registered Herefords. After that time he raised 
this number to 131 head of purebred, registered Herefords. He also raised hogs 
and sheep.

During his younger years he was active in the growth and development of the 
community and served on the township board for several years. The railroad 
siding of Gage, in Brown County, was named for him.

In the early 1900's he showed an active interest in the Union Sunday School, one 
time the largest Sunday School in Brown County. They had no organ, but he 
provided the music by playing the violin.

Mr. Gage's advice was, "To live long, work hard and live a good life."

[P137]

MERCIER TOWNSHIP
by Mrs. George Rogers and Henry Hanson

Mercier Township was named for Scott Brown Mercier, a bachelor attorney from New 
York State. He settled a claim just across the line (Richmond Road) that divides 
Mercier and Aberdeen Townships. Another nearby claim was taken by the Avery 
Brothers, also from New York. William Avery served as Justice of the Peace in 
1884.

Grandmother Larson, mother of Mrs. Susanna Bergh, did the washing and baking for 
these homesteaders and supplied them with milk. A man named Miller took a claim 
a little more than a mile northwest of Trail School. The first house was made of 
sod. The Steenson family settled just across the road. Svend Jensen homesteaded 
the land now owned by Henry Hanson.

The Ted Froelich home, a mile and a half east of Trail School was first settled 
by Alan Thorsrud who came on December 7, 1882. The Elmer Lowe farm, just east of 
it, was a homestead taken by Harvey L. Bayard in 1885. It has passed through 
several hands. The Sinnissippi Farm got its name from Mississippi River farms of 
the same name. It was first built up by Frank O. Lowden, later governor of 
Illinois.

Other early settlers included the Ivey and Joseph Magone families. Mr. Magone 
came to Mercier Township in 1882. About 1900 an incident occurred which showed 
the concern people felt for one another. Mrs. Magone was baking a birthday cake 
for their oldest son, George, when their house caught fire and burned to the 
ground. January is a poor time to pour a concrete foundation so the neighbors 
all came and helped build a new house on piles of stones.

L. N. Halleckson served as township clerk from 1896 until 1908. Another clerk, 
W. J. Walker, once stayed at a board meeting from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. It was 
expensive. Someone forgot to close the gate and his best horse got out, went to 
the granary, foundered on oats and died. In 1898 A. T. Ragan received $18.00 for 
assessing. The next year $140.00 was allowed for road work. The farmers worked 
out their road tax. Assessed valuations showed oxen listed at $35.00 each, 
horses at $50.00 to $80.00, and cattle at $20.00 to $35.00. Road overseers 
collected $1.50 per day. A man with team and wagon or plow collected $3.00 per 
day. Bridge planks were put down for $1.00. Oak posts were 13 cents each. If 
someone needed to borrow money the word mortgage was seldom used. The term, 
trust-deed was used instead.

A Mrs. Keuchle donated land on which the first school was built. One of the 
early teachers was Miss Flossie Webb. She, and her twin sister, Frantie, and 
brother, Roy, were born in a sod house just north of the overhead on Highway 12. 
They were the children of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Webb of Aberdeen Township.

Other people who came in the early years were the Tuff, Hans Peterson, and T. A. 
Hawkins families.

[Photo: Taken from the advertising section of a Racine newspaper of June 11, 
1870. This newspaper was found between the walls of the house on the Elmer Lowe 
farm.]

[P138]

NEW HOPE TOWNSHIP
by Helen Bergh

New Hope Township lies in the southwest corner of Brown County, is crossed by 
Snake Creek and contains an area approximately one mile long and a quarter mile 
wide known as Salt Lake. Like Highland Township, it was settled largely by 
people who came from Germany in the early 1880's. Most of them were of the 
Lutheran faith. A few, including H. F. Bruse came in 1881.

In May, 1882, Henry Heidenreicht and William Boekelheide came from Germany. Mr. 
Boekelheide bought a relinquishment. The two men set to work to build small 
houses and dig surface wells. The houses were banked to the roof with sod. 
Twisted prairie hay served as fuel. There was no money for mill cut windows and 
screens, and mosquitoes made sleep impossible, so an armful of damp hay was 
brought in and a smudge built. The excess smoke went out through a hole in the 
roof left for that purpose.

Many surface wells were located by using a "Y" shaped willow branch, or 
"divining rod", as it was called. Another supposed indication of water was the 
presence of ant hills.

These tasks being finished, Mr. Heidenreicht sent for his mother and sister to 
come from St. Louis to keep house for him. Their home became a stopping place 
for claim seekers traveling through. When the supply of bedding ran out the 
floor was covered with clean hay. The travelers were most thankful. That same 
year Mr. Heidenreicht paid $50.00 for his first cow. Many large herds of cattle 
were developed from such small beginnings. Other 1882 arrivals included Henry 
Papke. The next year Mr. Boekelheide traded his oxen for the first horses in 
that locality. They cost $150.00 and to make the deal he had to mortgage 
everything he owned, including the kitchen stove.

Coming in 1883 from Nebraska were William Bierman and William Elsing, where they 
had been working since they had come from Germany the previous year. Mr. 
Boekelheide's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carl B. Boekelheide and his brother Fred 
came, so did William Borchard, T. J. Shanley, and Mr. and Mrs. Frederich Dreier 
and their son John, who later married Ida Ristau, sister of Otto and Richard 
Ristau. Soon after this, a group of German immigrants came from Westphalia. They 
included Henry Elsing, Charles Bierman, and Fred Borchard. A few weeks later 
came Franz Remde, the John Smith's, Gustav Stager and August Schnittger. In 1884 
Henry Wiedebusch, father of Otto Wiedebusch, Mrs. Ferd Elsing and Mrs. William 
Heidenreicht came. He was a boy of seventeen. After working for other settlers 
he bought a relinquishment, returned to Germany, and brought his sister 
Wilhelmina back with him to keep house. Following the custom of the time, he 
again returned to his homeland in 1893 when he brought back his parents, his 
bride-to-be, brothers and sisters, Heinrich, Carl, Louise, Friedrich and 
Charlotte, Wilhelmina and Charlotte Aspelmeir, and Frederich Meyer. Other early 
settlers were the Reick, Tietz, Richert, Schilman, Kemp, Krause, Ryman and 
Neiger families.

In 1888 the famous blizzard and the end of a wet cycle came. The next few years 
were plagued by grasshoppers, drought, and continuous crop failures. As one good 
lady, now nearly ninety, said, "The fly-by-nights couldn't take it, but the 
German pioneers stuck it out". Food was sometimes scarce. Stories were told of 
people living on pancakes made only of flour and creek water.

Few claims were left but there were many relinquishments. Among those who bought 
them were William Kramer in 1889, Gottlieb, Henry, and Fred Bierman the same 
year, and also Henry Hoegermaier and W. F. Boekelheide. Fred Weidebusch came in 
1893. William Hazelhorst, after coming to Dakota in 1881, arrived in New Hope 
Township in 1896. Carl Weidebusch came in 1893.

[Photo: Mr. and Mrs. Otto Ristau, 1893]

Richard Ristau came to New Hope in 1884 and moved to Warner Township in 1898. 
Letters exchanged between him and his bride-to-be, and dated 1890, tell of 
Indian troubles which culminated in the killing of Sitting Bull and the 
subsequent scattering

[P139]

of his followers. The letters also tell of the journey on foot out to the Black 
Hills made by several of the young men of the community. These young men, as 
well as many others from the entire area took advantage of the slack season of 
the year and worked on the narrow-gauge railroad in the Black Hills west of 
Rapid City. The letters further discuss the importance of Rudolph as the end of 
the Chicago, Northwestern Railroad and a depot for unloading immigrant cars.

Summer brought little vacation to the young people. Church school, taught by the 
pastor began immediately and lasted until mid-July. The largest enrollment was 
sixty-five. Order was hard to maintain in the heat, but baseball games at 
recesses and noons helped to work off energy. Some pupils rode on horseback 
fourteen miles. Confirmation training took 400 hours, and prior to World War I 
was entirely in German.

The ties of a common background and religious faith have made this a closely-
knit community. As the years passed it became even more so as the families 
intermarried and second and third generations have grown to maturity.

[Photo: Launching The White Wings, Mansfield, 1894.]

[P140]

ORDWAY TOWNSHIP
by Annie E. Young

After the Civil War my father and mother moved to Lambeth, Ontario, Canada, 
where father engaged in the shoe and harness making trade. It was at Lambeth 
where the writer was born, youngest of the family up to that time. In 1880 
father decided to return to the States and to take up land in Dakota Territory. 
My oldest brother, Byron, accompanied father to Dakota while the rest of the 
family remained in Ontario. Being a veteran of the Civil War father was entitled 
to use three rights under the Homestead Law in filing on government land. He had 
a homestead right, a pre-emption right and a tree claim right. Each right 
entitled him to file on a quarter-section of land. In those days Watertown was 
the nearest point to the homestead. This was a distance of about 200 miles round 
trip. Mr. Isaac Cook came from Lambeth and filed on land the same time father 
came. They had been friends in Lambeth. Isaak Cook was a carpenter by trade and 
did much of the building done in Ordway Township in pioneer days. Later the land 
homesteaded by Mr. Cook came into possession of my father, and is owned now by 
the writer.

With the help of Isaac Cook, a pioneer contractor erected a two story building 
in the town of Ordway. The first floor was used as a general store, the second 
story became living quarters for the family when we arrived from Ontario on July 
19, 1881. The writer was then a year and a half old. We lived in the rooms over 
the store for three or four years then father decided to move to the homestead 
and develop it. The rooms over the store then became the first school room in 
Ordway. During this period boys and girls attended the district school until 
they were 18, 19 or 20 years old. The school room over the store soon became too 
small to accommodate the number of pupils. A new school house was built at the 
northwest edge of Ordway and that site still remains the location of the Ordway 
school although the third building now stands where the first one stood.

Father and one of my brothers established a harness business in Aberdeen to 
supply the demand for harnesses to the rapidly growing population of 
homesteaders and teamsters. But the homestead demanded more and more of his 
attention so the harness shop was disposed of and further development of the 
homestead became his business. He built up a herd of about 30 milk cows and he 
and mother sold milk and butter in large quantities. With the help of a 
neighbor, Mr. Appleford, who had been a cheese maker in Ontario, a substantial 
business in cheese making became a part of the labors on the homestead. But in 
the drought years of the early 90's, cattle raising became an uncertain business 
because of the extreme shortage of feed. In one of those parching years our men 
folks drove our herd to Manitoba, Canada to save them from starvation. But the 
conditions there were little better than in Dakota. In the fall they drove the 
herd back to the homestead.

[Photo: The Ashley family reunion on Thanksgiving Day, 1953, at the John Ashley 
home four miles west of Columbia. The original Ashleys came in 1881.]

Some of the pioneer families near Ordway, I can remember are: Rev. Phillips and 
family, Rev. William Wade and family, John Wade, who later became mayor of 
Aberdeen, Malon Bray, and his sisters Belle and Ella, the Cleveland family, the 
Applefords, the Smiths, the Daymind family, Clare Luce, an attorney, and family, 
the Dell family, the Sovereign family, the Lockers, the Kimballs, the Daileys, 
the McNearys, the Buckbees, the Gardners, the Ashleys, the Riblets, and the 
Garlands, Hamlin Garland, his father, mother, brother and sister. A Professor 
Cornwell, one of the first teachers, with his wife and two daughters lived on a 
homestead nearby. Other teachers of those years were Mr. Avery, J. H. Pond, 
Kitty and Ella Bray. The postmaster in Ordway was a Mr. Sherdin. Among that 
hardy band of pioneers were four young Norwegian boys from Minnesota, Ole 
Thorson, Andrew Johnson, Knute Carlson and Ole T. Midbust. These young men 
brought with them teams and wagons and found employment working on the grade of 
the Great Northern Railway in 1886, which was then being built into Aberdeen. 
These lads helped to grade the last five miles of the line into Aberdeen.

The Ordway community was not long without church facilities. My mother was one 
of the main movers in getting a church started. Father helped a great deal, too. 
His influence in the community was considerable because he was respected by all. 
He helped locate the site and helped with the actual building. A very nice small 
church was built and a Methodist minister of Dakota Territory became the first 
pastor. But a church was not enough. People wanted their children to have a 
college education and decided that they would build Ordway University and set 
out at once to do it by digging a basement on which to build the first building. 
But the Dakota Conference of the Methodist Church, which met at Mitchell in 
1884, voted to establish a university at Mitchell, Dakota Wesleyan University, 
instead.

During this early period, there were no game laws so game was taken at all 
seasons of the year. The James River and Sand Lake teemed with ducks

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and geese and on the prairies were quantities of prairie chicken. They were 
killed in large numbers. At a time set there seemed to be hundreds and hundreds 
to be dressed. In retrospect, the numbers must have seemed much larger than they 
really were.

The writer was married to John S. Young in 1901. Mr. Young was an Ohioan who had 
come west with others from his section of Ohio. Since his death in 1947, I have 
been living in Aberdeen.

In 1903, father, mother and two sisters moved to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho where two 
of my brothers had gone some years before. It was there my parents spent their 
last years.

As one looks back over the years this quotation comes to mind: "They came, they 
saw, they conquered!" How true that was of the old settlers! They knew they were 
coming to land unconquered. They had the will to conquer, they were unafraid. 
The Old Settlers stayed even though they were tempted to run.



THE METHODIST UNIVERSITY AT ORDWAY
(which was never built)
by Paul W. Kieser

"Brethern, if you take our school away from us, what will we do with the large 
basement which we have already dug?"

"Cut it up into sections and sell it for post holes!"

The above question was put to those attending the Fifth Dakota Mission 
Conference of the Methodist Church held at Mitchell in October, 1884. The man 
who asked it was Rev. O. A. Phillips, pastor of the Methodist Church at Aberdeen 
and the leader of the movement to locate a Methodist University at nearby 
Ordway, in Dakota Territory. The facetious reply came from a Methodist brother 
who favored Mitchell as the one and only site for the proposed Dakota 
University.

At the Dakota Conference held the previous year at Huron, it was decided to 
accept the propositions made by both Ordway and Mitchell and to support two 
Methodist institutions of higher learning. Now, at the Fifth Conference, there 
was talk of the Ordway proposition being dropped and the sole support of the 
Conference being given to the building of Dakota University at Mitchell.

The Dakota boom, in the five-year period beginning in 1879, had brought an 
influx of several hundred thousand homesteaders into this new region. Among them 
were a good many Methodists. State supported institutions of higher learning had 
been located, with a single exception, in the border counties. With the 
Milwaukee railroad extended westward through Mitchell to the Missouri River, and 
with the Northwestern through Huron to the river, the denominational people of 
the new territory were not slow to see their opportunity, and so, with one 
accord, they preempted the rich Jim (James) River Valley for the location of 
their colleges and universities. The Congregationalists put their two colleges 
at Yankton and Redfield. The Presbyterians located their school at Pierre, and 
later transferred it to Huron. The Free Methodists located their institution at 
Wessington Springs, and the Seventh Day Adventists erected their school on a 
hill three miles south of Redfield. This brings us to the Methodists and their 
plans.

Ordway had tried to secure the territorial capital--and failed. Then the Ordway 
folks attempted to secure a state supported institution of higher learning, but 
were unsuccessful. In 1883, they concentrated on securing a denominational 
institution and offered the Methodists what was to have been the capitol site. 
Their offer included an undivided half of 600 acres of land; 80 acres for 
campus; five town lots; 240 acres seven miles from the village; $50,000.00 to 
erect the first building, and a cabinet of natural history material valued at 
$10,000.00. The Conference voted to accept this offer, along with one quite 
similar from Mitchell. The university at Mitchell was to serve the southern 
portion of the territory and the one at Ordway the northern portion.

Now, in 1884, after a year had elapsed, Mitchell had a basement excavated, walls 
of the first building well under construction, and the cornerstone laid five 
weeks before the Conference session. Ordway's only showing was a hole dug in the 
ground, preparatory to starting the basement walls.

Because he knew that the debate between the Mitchell and Ordway factions was 
likely to become heated, Bishop Edward G. Andrews tactfully kept putting aside 
the report of the Educational Committee, hoping, no doubt, that the debaters 
would cool off somewhat before they got into action. The leaders of these two 
factions, however, were forceful men and they were anxious to open the simmering 
discussion. They were able men, fearless debaters, and some of them were 
experienced lawyers. Rev. Mr. Phillips of Aberdeen, leader of the Ordway 
faction, had been educated in the law, but had given it up to enter the 
ministry. Rev. A. R. Boggs was formerly a prosecuting attorney in Ohio. Rev. C. 
E. Hager also had a background as a lawyer.

At the Wednesday evening session a motion to make the report of the Committee on 
Education the order of the day for Friday at 10 o'clock prevailed. There was no 
use trying to stave off the impending battle any longer. Both sides were lining 
up for the verbal struggle.

At the appointed hour on Friday the committee report was read and the Conference 
proceeded to take it up item by item. The first and second paragraphs were 
amended and adopted. Paragraph Three was read and adopted. Then the Conference 
adjourned until 2 o'clock. When the afternoon session was called to order, a 
substitute for Paragraph Four of the report of the committee was offered by the 
Mitchell backers as the opening bombshell of the fight. The substitute paragraph 
read as follows: "Resolved: that it is the sense of this mission conference that 
we should adopt as our educational policy only one institution of learning of 
the higher grade."

This move of the Mitchell faction threw both consternation, and determination 
into the Ordway camp: It was debated, hot and heavy, through the remainder of 
the afternoon, on through the evening and late into the night. Finally a motion 
prevailed

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whereby the report and the substitute paragraph were referred back to the 
Committee on Education with instructions to state definitely what the offers 
from Ordway and Mitchell included, and that the time of fulfillment be extended 
one year from this date. The matter was jockeyed back and forth before the final 
action was taken. The motion to have only one institution of learning of the 
higher grade was lost and the Conference went on record as favoring the granting 
of one more year to the backers of both institutions an opportunity to make good 
on the promises made at Huron in 1883. A commission was also appointed to 
determine when the two towns sponsoring the schools had met their obligations, 
and to report to the next Conference.

At the 1885 Conference, held at Blunt, with Bishop Cyrus D. Foss in the chair, 
it was found that the drought conditions had made it difficult for the Mitchell 
folks to completely carry out their agreement. They were given an additional 
year to turn over to the Conference, debt free, two quarter sections together 
with the college building finished and furnished. With reference to Ordway, the 
Conference found that the proposition made in 1883 had not been fulfilled, and 
was still unfulfilled at the end of the additional year granted, and, "We do 
hereby disclaim all responsibility for the failure of the aforesaid enterprise, 
and that we here and now abandon all attempts to found a university at Ordway."

One story has it that the Ordway folks, besides making the excavations for the 
foundations of the university building, also set up a stone-making plant on the 
banks of the Elm River and actually started the school in a vacant store 
building and ran it a term or two with an enrollment of 30 students. The State 
Historical Department, however, is unable to find any facts about the school 
session alleged to have been held.

This was the final blow for the Ordway enthusiasts. The old spirit which had set 
out to build a town where it was apparently never designed that one of 
importance should be built was subdued and chastened. The little village that 
had so long hoped against hope, and lived upon what it expected to be and have, 
disintegrated and almost disappeared.

The 1886 Conference at Watertown, with Bishop Thomas Bowman presiding, finally 
accepted Dakota University at Mitchell and pledged its utmost endeavors to 
promote its prosperity. This report was adopted by a unanimous and rising vote, 
followed by singing "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow."

This action gave the Dakota Conference legal title to Dakota University. Rev. 
Mr. Hartsough congratulated the Conference on the happy termination of the long-
drawn-out contest. The Ordway contingent fell into line; accepted the Mitchell 
institution as their own, and like Christian patriots, gave it their unstinted 
and abiding support.

Rev. O. A. Phillips, leader of the Ordway supporters, also proved himself a good 
loser and a prince of Christian gentlemen. From thence forward he gave the 
institution at Mitchell his wholehearted support. When he was forced to give up 
preaching, due to advanced age, he moved to Mitchell, built a large cement block 
home near the University, and after he died his widow deeded it to the school. 
Today it is known as Phillips Hall and is used as a students' residence. By his 
own request, Rev. Mr. Phillips was buried in Graceland Cemetery, near the school 
whose location he once so vigorously opposed. "His exemplary conduct showed 
Methodism at its best," comments the late O. W. Coursey in his book "A History 
of Dakota Wesleyan University for Fifty Years,"--fighting, forgiving, 
forgetting, bequeathing. It was God-likeness in full bloom."



EARLY DAYS AT ORDWAY
"BIGGEST LITTLE TOWN"
by Edwin C. Torrey

Ordway in those days was the biggest little town in the northwest. It was named 
for the Governor, a carpet-bagger sent out in the due process of political debt-
paying and who was destined to become the most unpopular executive the territory 
ever had. It was the terminus of a railroad, the center of a good farming 
community and soon became a candidate for the capital of an undivided Dakota.

Down in Illinois, Amos R. Beckwith and Louis G. Brandt had heard the call of the 
West. They were strangers to each other, but had been cast in somewhat similar 
molds and were ripe for any adventure which promised emoluments and spoils. The 
oppornuity of "putting something over" at Ordway looked good to them. Beckwith 
was a modern-day Wilkins Micawber. Like his prototype he was more often "in 
difficulties" than out of them. He had the true elasticity of a Micawber. One 
moment in the slough of despond, he could in the next outline a project that 
spelled his everlasting fortune, and then hum a tune with an air of real 
gentility. Always did he profess to believe that "something would turn up." He 
was certain that in Dakota, the land of opportunity for the boomer and the 
booster his foot would be upon its native heath.



BEGINNING OF THE END

Ordway began to slip in the fall of 1882 when the Northwestern railroad, which 
had made its terminus for two years in the town, extended to Columbia, six miles 
to the northwest. Columbia had a county seat in hand, rather than a capital in 
the bush, and it wanted a railroad. The townsite company procured the right-of-
way and built the grade from Columbia to Ordway and subsequently deeded all its 
right for a consideration of $1 to the Northwestern.

The extension would have been a crushing blow to anyone but the mercurial trio 
who had set out to make Ordway the capital and who reasoned that radiating lines 
of railways were necessary for every well regulated capital city. Beckwith, 
editor of the paper, was a builder of railways himself, and counted that day 
forever lost whose low descending sun saw no new competing line begun and 
completedon paper. The maps he widely circulated gave a popular impression that 
Ordway was a second Indianapolis--a railway center of first magnitude and a 
capital.



McKENZIE'S OPPORTUNITY

The bubble burst in 1883 when the capital com-

[P143]

mission, which spent the better part of a year in visiting rival towns and 
comparing bids and living on the top shelf, located the capital of an undivided 
territory at Bismarck in the northern half. Events crowd each other so closely 
in a new country that few remember the personnel of this commission or the towns 
in the race for the capital.

Alexander McKenzie is probably the best known of the nine. Two, B. F. Spalding, 
who was then the chief justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court and George A. 
Matthews of Brookings, South Dakota, had been members of congress. The chairman 
of the commission was Alexander Hughes, then of Elk Point. Other members were C. 
H. Myers of Redfield, M. D. Thomas of Vermillion, H. H. DeLong of Canton, Major 
J. M. Belding of Deadwood and Dr. Scott, the treasurer, then of Grand Forks. 
What is now South Dakota had six members of the commission, while North Dakota 
had but three. It seemed clear to everybody that the capital would not be 
located within 200 miles of the Northern Pacific Railway. To be sure, Alex 
McKenzie was on the board, but he was not so well known then and was supposed to 
control no more than his own vote.



TEN IN CAPITAL RACE

Towns which offered sites and were visited by the commission were Canton, 
Mitchell, Huron, Pierre, Frankfort, Redfield, Ordway, Fargo, Devils Lake and 
Bismarck. No offer was considered that was not made on official blanks and 
accompanied with a certified check for $25,000.00.

The commissioners had free special trains to visit all the towns and were 
banqueted in each and feted as veritable kings of men. The trains were stocked 
with the best that the marts of the world afforded, and everything was free to 
all on board. The members were accompanied by their wives, and the train went 
from southern to northern localities by way of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The 
boomers and promoters who hoped to profit by the location of the capital piled 
upon the train, and, as there was no law to keep them off, they remained and 
fared on equal terms with the commissioners.



A MEMOIR
by Anna C. Laurence

My earliest recollections were when my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gus Johnson came 
from Winona, Minnesota to Dakota Territory in May, 1882, arriving at Ordway. I 
remember, so vividly the train moving slowly through the water west of Waubay, 
as the track was completely covered with water, due to the spring thaw. My 
childish curiosity was aroused by the white ripples of water. It kept me 
fascinated for a long time.

Ordway was a bustling frontier town. There was a hotel, blacksmith shop, a 
general store which was operated by R. H. Garland, who had two sons, Hamlin and 
Frank. A Mr. Farnham was the attorney. There were the usual saloons which follow 
the openings of new towns and territories.

My father did odd jobs, such as digging wells, carpentry and helping on farms 
which consisted of one quarter section of land--no two or three sections as of 
now.

In later years, we moved to the Garland homestead which is about one and one-
half miles north of Ordway. Here my twin sisters, Hilda and Ida, were born. We 
lived here for five years. One fall as we were threshing, Hamlin and Frank 
Garland walked out from Ordway to see the workings of a horse power threshing 
machine. I shall try to describe this. There was a huge gearing in the center 
with seven or eight poles extending out, wheel fashion. On each pole was a 
whiffle tree for each pair of horses. They walked in a circle. Around this 
gearing was a platform and here stood a driver with his whip to tag the lazy 
horse.

From this gearing was a shaft or revolving rod connected with the separator. 
This old fashioned separator had a tremendously long straw carrier which was 
doubled backwards when moved from place to place. This was the first and the 
only one of its kind I ever saw.

[Photo: Typical sod house of the Prairies, 1881.]

A short distance from the house was a one room sod shanty. The roof had fallen 
in. My brother, Charles, and I used to run around on the walls, jumping over the 
door and window openings. One day, Charles missed his jump and fell, breaking 
his right arm. Mother carried him to Ordway to have the doctor set his arm. That 
ended our squirrelish antics.

Our close neighbors were C. I. Locker and John Wade on the east, Mr. Tallman and 
Mr. Bray, west; Mr. Sovereign, southwest; and the H. H. Plummers, northwest. We 
stayed five years.

One fall, before leaving for Westport, a prairie fire from the northeast came 
sweeping toward our house. It was evening and it was quite spectacular and the 
following day, my brother, Charles, and I went over the burned ground. We found 
the charred body of a dog or a coyote.

On July 4, 1885, our father and mother took us to Columbia for the celebration. 
We rode in a lumber wagon, sitting on a board across the box just back of father 
and mother, who had the place of honor--the spring seat. We children were 
fascinated by the size of Columbia Lake which lapped its foamy

[P144]

waves on either side of a dirt road--there were three people drowned that day, 
in the lake.

[Photo: The John Locker farm, settled in 1881.It has been owned by R. M. Van 
Winkle since 1904.]

As I recall, Columbia had buildings on both sides of Broadway from the railroad 
on the south to the Congregational Church on the north. Flags and bunting were 
arranged along the main thorough fare and taken as a whole it was a successful 
celebration. To this day, Columbia has never had one like it.

When the court house records were moved to Aberdeen, Columbia started to 
dwindle. Business and firms went along for greater opportunities. Some win, some 
lose, and what Columbia lost, Aberdeen won. Columbia is situated in a good 
production area and had the potentialities of becoming a good agriculture 
center.

In the fall of 1887, father moved off the Garland homestead to a quarter section 
three miles southeast of Westport. Here he built a two room cottage, later he 
added a kitchen. He dug a surface well and was rewarded by striking good water. 
On this place, I saw the nicest golden, plump wheat I have ever seen. It weighed 
62 to 63 pounds per bushel and at that time, father received 360 per bushel. 
Hogs were $2.00 per cwt. Dad didn't go for the hog business however, sticking to 
raising wheat, oats, and flax.

We children had two miles to walk to school and never minded it. In the winter 
we stayed at home. We enjoyed our school and honored our teachers, no 
disturbances in school.

In January, 1888, on the twelfth, the day started so warm and balmy, but by noon 
the wind had changed and we had a terrible blizzard. Dad started to do his 
chores about 4 o'clock p.m.--a cow and three or four horses to feed. Mother 
wanted him to take the milk pail along, but he said "No". After he went out, 
mother took a pan of potato peelings for the cow and a pail and started out.

It is strange how one's life can be saved by a trifling incident. In this case 
it was a cat's meow. Mother got lost and was wandering about. She finally found 
a long drift and followed it. This drift led her to a hay stack near the barn 
where she dropped exhausted.

Soon, she heard the cat cry and she called "Gus, Gus". He finally located her. 
There were three other drifts, one from the barn, one from the well and one from 
the house. How providential, mother had retraced to the hay stack and the 
opportune moment of Dad going back just at that time.

When they came in, mother's face was covered with snow, cheeks frozen. The next 
day, we found her tracks where frozen potato peelings were scattered about. Dad 
then strung a wire, from the house to the barn, in case we'd have more real 
blizzards which we were spared.

We children had fun on this little farm, riding our horses and taking our cows, 
for eventually we had acquired a few head, to the Elm River a mile away for 
their drink, in case the well water was getting low.

We had our croquet court and the neighbor's children would be our Sunday guests. 
We enjoyed our simple farm life and child delinquency had never been heard of. 
The simple things seemed to be sufficient and we were happy.

I believe it was in the summer of 1899, we had no rain for six or seven weeks. 
People were getting discouraged. Finally a rain maker came to Aberdeen. One 
afternoon, a huge black cloud came up from the south. We were delighted but a 
few drops of rain were all we got at this time.

On the Fourth of July, we really got a real downpour, from real clouds. The rain 
maker was a topic of humorous, conversation for some time.

In July, 1936, Ordway and Community Club and W. P. A. Writer's Project sponsored 
a Memorial Dedication honoring Hamlin Garland. A huge boulder with an 
inscription was placed on the spot where the first house stood. Mr. Garland was 
not able to be present. All of us were so disappointed.

Notes added by Averil Ross--April 19, 1956:

Mrs. Laurence wrote her "Memoir" about 1948. She moved to Aberdeen in 1951 and 
lives at 512 Ninth Ave. S. E.

She was born in Eyota, Minnesota, August, 1879. Her brother was born in St. 
Charles, Minnesota. She was only 2 years and 8 months old when she came with her 
parents to Dakota Territory.

Mrs. Laurence's children are Mrs. J. Eccarius of Rapid City; Miss Della and 
William Reese who both work in the Labor Department in Washington D. C.; and 
Mrs. W. E. Smalley of Frederick. Mrs. Smalley was born after her father died. 
Her mother named her for her father adding an "e" to his name making the very 
pretty name Orene.

Mrs. Laurence has 10 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

[P145]

OSCEOLA TOWNSHIP
by Meda (Senn) Wilmsen

Probably the first of memories of Osceola Township is the building of the Senn 
school house on the acre given to the school district by August Senn. Then the 
opening of that school in the spring of 1893 with Hugh MacClean as teacher. I 
was five and not old enough to attend regularly but I visited some afternoons. I 
remember the meager furnishings of that first school room, and that the length 
of the term was four months. The teachers in the order that I later had them 
were: Addie Fuller, Ellen Heagley, Emma Horning, Martha Horning, Clara Gerloff, 
Paul Gorder, Frederickke Gorder, Cora Davis, Miss Mary Springer (65 years old), 
Jay Drum and Floyd McCulloch.

Our neighbors during those years were the Herman Rosebrocks, an uncle to Fred 
Rosebrock and now on the same acres, the James Hamilton family, a half mile to 
the south, the John Way family, one mile to the south, the James Burroughs 
family on the present Ernest Burroughs' farm and two miles north, and Mr. and 
Mrs. Isaiah Bunker, across the road from the Burroughs. They were the father and 
mother of Mrs. Hamilton and Mrs. Burroughs and also grandparents of Dr. Bunker 
of Aberdeen and Ernest and I. M. Burroughs of Frederick. One of their sons, 
James Bunker, later of Ellendale, had married Ellen Way, a daughter of their 
neighbor John Way. The Bunkers had come from Vermont via Wisconsin and one of 
the outstanding family social events of about 1905 or 1906 was their Golden 
Wedding Anniversary at their new home in Ellendale, N. D. Two miles west of us a 
Civil War veteran and family of three boys and one girl had taken up a homestead 
and additional acres, Richard Krohn by name. Memories of early Memorial days 
include the marching of Krohn, James Redding and their Civil War buddies to the 
drum beats of Whitehouse, all in their blue uniforms.

Frederick, a growing town in various ways, had the first Methodist Church and 
Sunday School, for an every Sunday morning attraction. My first years there were 
with Mrs. George Winston in the Primary department, and all the rest of the 
years, after third grade through high school, were spent with Mrs. Burnham in a 
class of ten or more girls. Mrs. Burnham was a person who put first things 
first, and presented Sunday School lessons in the same fine way. C. W. Runge was 
the Sunday School superintendent all of the years that I attended the Methodist 
Sunday School.

[Photo: Settler's tar-papered homestead shack--1881.]

Frederick had many things to offer us living in

[P146]

the country in the 1890's and 1900's. An Uncle Tom's Cabin tent show, unusually 
good; another program, music this time by home talent, "Queen Esther" in which 
Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Pettingill played and sang leading parts, remembered now 
because of their good work in it. A fourth of July, when forty of us girls, from 
ten to twelve years old, were each a State of the Union and we sang "Columbia 
the Gem of the Ocean," but not in the bowery as planned. It rained, and the 
whole practiced program was given in the Opera House, a building on the present 
site of the Co-op Store. Mrs. Ed. Pettingil was again responsible for our 
number.

In connection with the Methodist Sunday School of that day, I should mention the 
Sunday School picnics held almost every June at the Log House with rowing boats 
and fishing on the Elm as the major attractions. At Christmas there was always 
the program by the children and young people. The one, still beautiful in 
memory, was a cantata, "The Filipino Baby" which Mayme Howell Fuller directed 
with several others' help. My little brother, Lester Senn, five then, was the 
Filipino baby, with a small solo part of his own. We drove to those winter 
practices in a bob sled over snow filled roads--the future black topped 281 
Highway. Those left of that Sunday School will remember a scarlet fever epidemic 
in 1899 when ranks were depleted. I missed Ellen Chase and little David 
Cuykendall There was no Sunday School the rest of that winter.

There were a few other major happenings. One not to be forgotten, was a 12 inch 
rain that fell in about the same number of hours. We were in school at the Senn 
school house and we went home at 4 p.m., barefoot with jeans and skirts rolled 
high And there was the winter of the "Big Snow" with ten foot drifts in all 
barnyards and house yards And tunnels shoveled for cattle and horses to get them 
to feed and water.

We watched the grade school in Frederick move from its first location on the 
north side of town to its present location, and two years of high school, and 
later three and four years. One of the earliest instructors of the school, was 
W. F. Eddy when it was at its present location. He had a few unique experiences 
with pupils.

One, Beryl Sykes, who had a pistol in his pant pocket, was asked for it by Mr. 
Eddy as the school was called to order and the gun went off as he handed it to 
Mr. Eddy, the bullet zinging through a blackboard.

Among the list of County Commissioners of Brown, there was one, Commissioner 
Senn, who played an important part in financing the lean years (hard times) for 
the first Finnish settlers of Savo Township. County Commissioner Senn ok'd the 
needed lists of groceries for these families over the summer until the crops 
planted were harvested and marketed. I remember some ox carts drawn by oxen of 
that day that came to our door.

How did the Senn's happen to come to Frederick, Dakota Territory? August Senn 
and C. W. Runge were classmates in the then Methodist College in Iowa. Through 
Mr. Runge's managing the Salzer Lumber Company, on the present Lumber Company's 
site, in 1882, and 1883, Mr. Senn came to Frederick and planned to take up a 
homestead. He worked for C. W. Runge while the farm house was put up on the 
homestead, which he had bought as a relinquishment from a Fargo lady who 
couldn't take "country life" of that day. In 1883, Mr. and Mrs. Senn were 
married in the Swiss settlement of Ashford, Wisconsin. Mrs. Senn took her trip 
alone by train to Frederick. Her husband had a car loaded with the household 
goods, a cow and horses, and machinery and came a couple of weeks before her. 
Mrs. Senn's part in the community was a very active one due to her capability in 
the sick room. She would have made as good a doctor as the two brothers in 
Wisconsin any day. As it was, she was a practical nurse of first class. In the 
1890's and 1900's she had experiences too, going and coming from sick rooms, one 
in particular was a ride on a " stone boat" one cold winter night when the side 
roads were blocked and they cut across the fields to save time and miles. I 
wonder if the family my mother helped that night will remember it.

Mr. John Way named Osceola Township. He was a man with a lot of vim and vigor, 
and very active in township affairs. When the first white child was born in 
Osceola he wanted to name her Osceola, but Mrs. Hamilton and the Senns named her 
Almeda Jennie Senn.

[P147]

PALMYRA TOWNSHIP
by Harold Strand

In 1879 four brothers came to America from Norway. They were the sons of Albert 
E. Strand of Valders. On the trip over they met two sisters and their brother, 
whose name was also Strand. The four brothers had some relatives at Boyd, 
Minnesota; they all decided to settle at Boyd.

In 1880 three of these Strand brothers, Syvert E., Engebert E., and Ivor came to 
Dakota Territory by train as far as Watertown, which was the end of the line. 
They purchased supplies and ox teams at Watertown and started off for the great 
northwest to a place in Dakota Territory, which is now on the North Dakota and 
South Dakota line.

They staked claims for homesteads and built sod houses, later that season they 
returned to Minnesota for the rest of their possessions and Syvert E., and 
Engebert E., married the two sisters. They returned to Dakota in 1882 and 
remained there permanently.

They loaded their immigrant car at Montevideo, Minnesota, and went as far as the 
train would take them. They arrived at Ellendale, Dakota Territory in May of 
1882. A prairie fire had blackened the area and a two day search was necessary 
to find feed for their livestock.

When the Strand brothers staked their claims the land had not been surveyed. The 
area was surveyed in 1881 and the E. S. Strand claim was located in three 
different sections and four quarters, two of these were in Dickey County and two 
in Brown County. He was therefore given permission to establish his land in one 
definite area. Since the buildings were in the N. W. 1/4 of section 1, in the 
area that is now Palmyra Township, in South Dakota, it was chosen to be their 
home.

Engebert's claim was also chosen to be in Brown County. They spent the rest of 
their lives here, but none of his family stayed in the area. The other brother, 
whose claim was located in Dickey County, later sold his interests and returned 
to Boyd, Minnesota, in 1887.

Several members of S. E. Strand's family still reside in the area. Henry, the 
first child born in this area, was also the first baptized into the Aurdal 
Lutheran Church in October, 1884. Although the church is located across the 
state line in North Dakota, it has served the majority of the people of Palmyra 
Township over the years. It was built in 1886 and has the original siding.

David lived just north of the school house until he retired and moved to 
Ellendale. Conrad lives east of the school. Mabel, who married Albert Ofstedal, 
lives about a half mile east of the present school, which is located in the S. 
W. corner of Section Two. William Strand lives on the original homestead and 
Cora, Mrs. Anton Mellang, lives one half mile east of the old "tree claim 
quarter".

In 1883 the Andres Ofstedal family homesteaded on the S. W. of 9. They had come 
from the Voss area of Norway. They raised a large family and in 1901 moved to 
the S. W. of 12, which their grandson, Raymond Ofstedal owns. Clara, Mrs. Lester 
Watkins, lives next to the state line near the Elm River. Albert lives in the N. 
E. of 11 and the rest of the family went to Canada many years ago and still live 
there. Of the original homesteaders these are the only descendants left in the 
township.

Tom Jacobson came to this area in 1892 and lived in N. E. of 8 for many years 
later living on S. E. of 7 until he retired and moved to Frederick. Later due to 
ill health he went to Minneapolis, Minnesota to live with his son Harry.

Tom Burheim came to America in 1880 and moved on to a farm in Section 15, which 
is presently owned and operated by his son Ordean. There are several of their 
children living in this township. They are Elmer, Lena, Martha and Doris (Mrs. 
Lewis Sundve).

There were many other living in the township in the early days but most of them 
left to go further West or returned to their native communities.

Some interesting accounts taken from early township records include: The first 
township Supervisors were E. L. Eastwood, William Leeman and C. D. Boom. The 
first school board members were Parker E. Sanborn, S. M. Huntington and J. K. 
Alter. They lived at the places now known as the Marvin Olson's in S. E. of 22, 
the former Fred Schense farm N. E. of 29, and Mildred Burheim's N. W. of 19.

The first school was a single wall building not sheeted or sided and located on 
Section 4, another similar building was located on section 28. The cost of these 
schools was $110 for materials, $25 for hauling lumber and construction. School 
opened on June 22, 1885, with Hattie Sherman teaching the Section 4 school and 
Annie Biglow in the Section 28 school. The term was for three months and the 
salary was $25 per month.

In 1888 the buildings were sheeted, sided, and painted. School was held for five 
months. In 1890 stoves were installed so that school could be held during the 
winter months. In 1897 school was held for seven months. In 1903, after 
considerable discussion it was decided to have eight month terms. It was not 
until the new school was built in S. W. of 2, in 1918, and after considerable 
wrangling it was decided to have nine months of school.

In civil township records it shows that in 1886, aid was given to a home in 
which there was illness not to exceed $12. In a special meeting in May of 1886 
the following is found--"Resolved--It has been found there is a law for the 
pulling of mustard. Such law to be enforced and that the supervisors 
individually be authorized to enforce it until the next annual meeting."

Feed and seed loans evidently aren't new as this resolution appears in a special 
meeting on March 26, 1895. The Board after due consideration of the petition in 
regard to the township furnishing seed grain, has decided that it was not for 
the best interest of the township to furnish seed grain.

The following family names of early settlers are found in township records: 
Bruce, Fjellman, Huntington, Wuellet, Shane, Boom, Larson, Leeman, Flatekval, 
Ofstedal, Southam, Halpin, McClure, Alter, Hanson, Johnson, Nelson, Strand, 
Suka, Baxter, Wilcox, Dappin, Bissebero, Winship, Young, Sty, Erickson, Lindsey, 
Jokela, Alekson, Stai, Scow, Halpin, Monger, Schoen, Fulton, John, Negel, Gaugh, 
and Burheim.

[P148]

PORTAGE TOWNSHIP
by Mrs. W. W. Scott and A. J. Bengtsson

Brown County had already been organized by the territorial legislature, when the 
first settlers came to the Hecla vicinity. Settlers were living in the south 
two-thirds of the county when August Jones secured land as a homestead in 1883 
from the United States government, and John Roos, doing likewise, two years 
later.

The townsite on which Hecla is located were these two homesteads, which their 
owners sold to the Western Town Lot Company in 1886. The town was platted in 
September of that year. The Dakota Central Railroad which became the Chicago and 
Northwestern, named the new little prairie town "Hecla" after a volcano in 
Iceland, though why, no one seems to remember. It was the extension of the 
railroad from Columbia to Oakes that provided the real impetus for building the 
town.

The nearest town was Columbia, where the railroad ended--25 miles away. All 
mail, groceries, fuel, medicines, hardware, lumber, implements, etc. were hauled 
from there by stage coach, team of horses, yoke of oxen, or on horse back.

A steamboat, "The Nettie Baldwin" carried freight and passengers on the James 
River. It was built by the father of Bob Wilson of Columbia in 1884. The boat's 
season began in April and ended in October when the river began to freeze over. 
When the river was high enough the boat went as far north as LaMoure, but its 
services were discontinued in 1886, when the railroad was extended.

Among those settlers coming early in 1883 and adjoining Hecla's site on the 
north were C. A. Bengtsson from Chicago, and Fred and Adolph Pfutzenreuter from 
Norway; from the east, Swanson from Sweden, Cramphen from Iowa, and the 
Sheldon's from Tampico, Illinois. West of Hecla the Minty family from Illinois, 
and the John Roos, Sr., also from Tampico, settled.

The following were early settlers in the Hecla community: Wm. Colestock, Clark 
Lamport, Hotchkiss family, Osher's, Jim North, Byron Graham, Morton, Firaman, 
John Doersch, Ed Lahman, James and Roy Kenny, Will Lahman, Clark Roberts, Bell, 
Kingkaid, Barnes, Barney, Jack Hall, Hollingstead, Jack Turner, Henry and Will 
Stabenow, O. T. Cooper, Herman Stabenow, John Morrow, Rudolph Gergiers, Henry 
Konning, Bernard Hubert, Foglesong, John Evereets, Christ Haas, Kelley, J. H. 
Varian, Backus, Vargetter, Longley, George Bigford, Hi Parsons, John Donovan, 
Pearson, D. Remington, Brooks, S. W. Art, Herman, O. W. Sheldon, J. H. Nailor, 
Mathias Monson, and Sam Zeller.

Pioneers were concerned with their children's education, just as we are eighty 
years later. So when the need for schools was felt, a school census was taken by 
William Colestock in 1885, and he found 100 pupils old enough to be in school.

Petitions for schools were made, and voted upon favorably, and one year later 
four one room schools were built. Lumber for the school houses was brought up on 
the "Nettie Baldwin" from Columbia, but the desks and the books were brought on 
the train from Aberdeen. Three of those first four teachers were Florence 
Hutchkiss, Kate Paddock, and Leora Jacques. Mrs. Mary Karten replaced Miss 
Jacques when she resigned, because there was no money to pay her. The name of 
the fourth teacher could not be recalled. The first school board consisted of W. 
T. Colestock, E. E. Remington, and J. R. Remington.

Children of school age in the little village attended the south rural school, 
known as the Booth School for a year, before a school house was built in Hecla. 
Actually the first school in town was held in the Joe Stone Hall with Wiley 
Winters, the first teacher, and his salary was $35 a month.

The first high school in Hecla was built in 1905.

The coming of the railroad meant everything to these early pioneers. Mail was 
gotten at Columbia, not oftener than once a month. Later, it came by stage coach 
to Lansing, and still later to the Clark store, and then the Township Hall by 
stage. With the railroad bringing the mail to Hecla the little community was 
connected with the outside world, also it was easier to procure supplies, and 
the extra produce could now be sold.

The railroad built the first restaurant here, the "Diamond E", and the first 
house was built by the Town Lot Company, for officials to live in while platting 
the town. A second house was put up by a man named Clark, who used part of the 
house as a store. Soon afterwards, Nick Lennertz built another store.

[Photo: The William Colestock farm about 1900.]

Another Mr. Clark (A. E.) was the first depot agent in Hecla. While holding down 
this job he

[P149]

went to Columbia and learned the banking business. In 1888, Clark opened the 
first bank here.

[Photo: Hecla Main Street looking east--1886.]

Mike Tormey was the first section foreman on the railroad here.

The first drug store was run by Fred Tyson, but a Mr. Cuykendall from Frederick 
erected the building. Fred Rock and Zimmers owned the town's first furniture 
store and wagon shop. J. J. and N. W. Stehly later bought the store.

Dr. Maxin arrived in Hecla when the town was but one year old. This first doctor 
lost only two cases out of 300, when typhoid fever epidemic broke out. Four 
livery teams were kept for the continual night and day driving of the doctor.

Two grain elevators were built in 1886. One elevator was built by the Stokes 
Milling Company, and the second by the Van Deuson Elevator Company. In only 
three years of farming, the settlers were raising enough wheat for commercial 
milling and for sale.

Mrs. Philip Herther and Cony Bradner opened the first boarding house in Hecla, 
and the first hardware store and implement business was run by Remington and 
Sheldon. A man named Michalis operated the first meat market, and Frank Rushlow, 
the first feed store. The first harness shop was owned by Jody Remington. Carl 
Starnecha started the first creamery, and later the building housed the "sauna", 
or Finnish bath.

The Winona Lumber Company established the first lumber shop with Don Hepp, 
manager.

L. Smith, first, and W. A. Lester later, edited the first newspaper. "The Hecla 
Times", in the town, though the printing was done by C. E. Baldwin at Columbia.

Olaf Bengtsson, born in 1884 was the first boy born at Hecla, and Mrs. Tony 
Zabrsa born in 1887 was the first girl.

Most of the original business places of Hecla have been destroyed by fire, 
catastrophes the town has endured several times. The fire of September 11, 1922 
destroyed four business places, and two weeks later five more stores were 
burned. In 1929, fire caused the Standard Oil Gas tanks to explode, but no 
buildings were burned, nor any persons injured. Still another fire in 1935 
destroyed more landmarks here. Always these places were rebuilt.

One of the Remington men owned the first threshing rig up here. It was a horse 
drawn affair, slow in comparison to the way grain is threshed today, but it got 
the work done. Neighbors made up the crew, and stayed with the operator until 
the threshing machine had made the rounds of all the settlers. Threshing began 
in 1884 here. Later straw burners were used, then the steam engine. A report Mr. 
Remington had of the year 1885 said: No. 1 hard wheat went 20 to 27 bushels per 
acre, and flax 7 to 12 bushels. This market report was taken from a Ludden 
newspaper in the same year: Wheat, No. 1 hard, 54 cents; Wheat, No. 2 hard, 490; 
Hard Coal (Ton), $13; Soft Coal (Ton), $10; Butter (Lb.), 30 cents; Potatoes 
(Bu.), 250.

The finer arts have always been noted in Hecla. There was the theatre, and as 
early as 1887 a band was organized. Another newspaper clipping states the Hecla 
Band played at a masquerade party Christmas Eve at Ludden in 1889. In 1888, a 
literary society was organized and fraternal, social and study clubs have 
followed.

If the first settlers were alive today, they would be proud of their little 
city.

[Photo: First Lumber Company--Winona, purchased by J. J. Stehly about 1888 or 
1890. It was located at the west end of Main Street, Hecla. The first Stehly 
home is just to the rear.]

[P150]

PUTNEY TOWNSHIP
by Mrs. Chris Jensen, William Hosley, Mrs. Augusta Kepke

The first post office in Brown County was located at Yorkville.

[Photo: The Yorkville Post Office--the first in Brown County.]

William York came to Dakota Territory in the spring of 1878 and settled on a 
claim on the James River. There was a ferry crossing at this point operated by 
the government of the United States.

Mr. York was the first settler in Riverside Township. This township was divided 
into Putney and Riverside in 1926.

The York family built a log house from the trees along the river. It consisted 
of a grocery store, a hotel and the United States Post Office.

[Photo: Letter over eighty years old, preserved by the Mather sisters, Margaret 
Mather Lamont and  Edith Mather Gannon.]

The first post office in Brown County was called Yorkville and it was located 
two and one-half miles south and two miles west of the present site of Putney. 
Hubbard E. Hosley assisted at the first post office during the winter of 1880-
81. He traveled about four miles on snow shoes in order to secure enough food 
for himself and his son, William, who was seven years old at that time.

The first white girl born in Brown County was born at Yorkville. She was Stella, 
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Everson. Mrs. York was a Midwife and Stella 
Everson was born in one of the small rooms in the above picture.

Mr. York and his family moved to Groton and started the first hotel. It was 
later sold to T. B. Belding, then the York's moved to Devil's Lake in Dakota 
Territory.

[Photo: Bill of Lading issued to the Hosley and Fellows families listing the 
contents of their immigrant car.]

The above picture is a bill of lading, probably the only one of its kind in 
Brown County. The families that came to Putney Township in the spring of 1880 
came to Watertown in a box car, along with their furniture, livestock, and food 
which included evaporated milk, flour, coffee, tea, dried fruit and vegetables. 
Most of the livestock brought here from the Eastern States perished during the 
severe winter of 1880-81.

There was also a large supply of Bibles furnished by the American Bible Society, 
New York City. These Bibles were distributed by the Fellows and Hosley families. 
They also brought china, silver and

[P151]

other personal treasures which still remain in the community.

Watertown was the end of the railroad and a guide brought them to their claims. 
The very first thing that they did was to dig a well. Their homes were built of 
sod and the roofs were branches from the trees found at the James River.

The Archie McKinnon, Bessie McKinnon, Margaret McKinnon, W. E. Hosley, John 
Campbell , Abram Smith, Hubbard Hosley, Fred Fellows, Frederick Hosley, Frank 
Douglas, S. M. Gibbs, William Wood families came in 1880. Cade Cummins, Chas. 
Rasmussen, Fred Rasmussen, Bryon Hughes were early pioneers.

ln 1878 two young men, about twenty years of age came from Watertown, Wisconsin 
to Watertown, Dakota Territory. They walked over one hundred miles to the 
southeast part of Putney Township where they staked their claim, deciding that 
it was the best tillable land within the distance. They checked the depth of the 
black loom as they traveled northwest of Watertown, Dakota Territory. Each 
winter was spent in Wisconsin and not until 1882 did they bring their wives with 
them. They were Joe S. Schornack and Gustav Lietz.

[Photo: First school in Brown County, 1881, Riverside District No. 1.]

The first school in Brown County was located one-half mile west of Putney. Miss 
Rachael Smith, daughter of Abram Smith, taught the first term in District 1. The 
original building was later moved to Putney and was located north of the 
Community church.

Members of the first school were Elmer and Roy Rasmussen, William Hosley, 
Clinton Clark, Frank Dickerson, Fred Fellows, Mamie Campbell, Bessie McKinnon 
Jensen and Margaret McKinnon Honey.

The building was made of wood with, windows on both sides and an entry at the 
entrance where they kept their coats and overshoes. Slates were used instead of 
paper and the spell down was always practiced. Their books were difficult and 
one book which still remains in the community is dated 1883 and entitled "The 
Fifth Reader and Speaker" by Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor and Company; Publishers of 
New York and Chicago.

The children sat in double desks and there was a long recitation bench in front 
of the room, near the teacher's desk. There were many different ages attending 
the first school.

Miss Smith took up a claim one mile south of Putney and her father moved his 
shanty so that they could build on the line between the quarters, thus, they 
could both live in the same house and on their claims, too. Miss Smith married 
Frank W. Dewey and they returned to Michigan where they made their home.

Farming was the occupation of the Pioneers of Putney Township. They broke up the 
sod by using a walking plough pulled by oxen. Holes in which to plant corn were 
dug with a spade. The grain and corn acreage was small and they used the 
broadcasting method. They threshed the first grain by tramping on the grain with 
their feet, after it had been cut with a scythe.

[Photo: Horse-powered threshing machine. Note the hand fed separator. Also the 
straw conveyor rather than a blower on the rear of the separator.]

[P152]

The first threshing machine in Putney Township is pictured on the preceding 
page. This picture was taken in 1885. The reaper was also used to cut the grain 
and often this was owned by one person who traveled through the country doing 
custom reaping.

[Photo: McCormick Reaper, 1882. Note the windrows of grain waiting for men to 
gather into bundles for shocking.]

Putney was established after the building of the Great Northern Railway in 1886. 
It is located on the Campbell farm. The land for the site was donated by H. W. 
Campbell. It derived its name from Putney, Vermont.

[Photo: First Putney Store, built by Hardy Campbell in 1887.]

Hardy Campbell built the first store in 1887. In the same year a newspaper 
called the "Putney Messenger" was started. Later a hotel was erected, a "butcher 
shop" was owned by Mr. Shepard. During the 80's and 90's Putney had a drug store 
which was managed by Judd Clark and Fred Leach.

A second grocery store was built by Fred Flanders of Columbia, a feed mill was 
operated by John Bloom. Two elevators were erected. A church was built by the 
members of the community. A blacksmith shop and village hall were also a part of 
Putney before 1889.

Peter Wennack used the following means of transportation to bring his lumber 
from Watertown, Dakota Territory to the southwestern part of Putney Township. 
This was done in the year of 1880 and he slept under his wagon so no one would 
steal his lumber for his new home in Putney Township.

[Photo: Peter Wennack hauling lumber with oxen.]

[P153]

RAVINIA TOWNSHIP
by Helen Bergh

[Photo: Original homestead building on Miltenberger farm.]

Ravinia Township, which is situated along the Edmunds County line north and west 
of Richmond, is crisscrossed in several directions by a network of creeks and 
ravines. Most of these streams drain into Foot Creek and form Richmond Lake. 
These geographical features gave the township its name which was suggested by 
Mrs. J. S. Vetter, wife of one of the early settlers, and an early teacher.

Many of the first homesteaders came from Canada in 1882. One early pioneer was 
George Turner who came in 1882, and built a sod house on the west edge of the 
township. Traces of it still remain. Another was Henry Miller and his daughter 
Laura, who was an accomplished pianist.

Some who came a few years later included Casper Orth who came from Wisconsin to 
Aberdeen in 1888, filed on a homestead just north of Richmond Lake, was a tailor 
in Aberdeen, and played the clarinet in the Aberdeen band, which he helped 
organize. Frank Schaeffer emigrated with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob 
Schaeffer to Aberdeen Township in 1888, and then homesteaded in Ravinia 
Township. Their home was a sod shanty with very thick walls plastered with a 
solution made of two parts of yellow clay, one part of wood ashes and one part 
of salt. When this had dried it made an excellent base for whitewashing. This 
same mixture was used for making fire bricks for lining stone ovens or fire 
boxes in the cook stove.

Mr. and Mrs. John Dalin came from Sweden and homesteaded near the present 
Richmond Lake. Mrs. Dalin was a practical nurse who was on call night or day to 
act as a midwife, or to assist local doctors when extra help was needed.

Several Biegler families came from Russia and settled on adjoining farms crossed 
by a small stream known as Stony Run. One of them a deaf mute, settled with his 
family and in spite of his handicap raised his family, descendants of which are 
still in the Aberdeen area.

Much of the land in this area is too hilly for regular farming operations but 
makes excellent pastures.

The township was formally organized in 1888.

[Photo: A hayride on the prairie.]

[P154]

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP
Taken from the Frederick Free Press Jubilee Edition by Mrs. Martin Tveit

In the early days, Richland was part of Greenfield Township. The homesteaders 
came in 1881 and 1882, as they did in all Brown County, and they represented 
many nationalities. They came from many states--Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, 
Minnesota, Michigan and Massachusetts.

Among the early settlers were Mr. and Mrs. Amund O. Hamar who came from 
Minnesota in 1881 where they had been married. Both were born in Norway. Mr. 
Hamar had many tales to tell of his eleven weeks trip to the United States on a 
sailing vessel. Mr. and Mrs. James Christie left their children in Iowa, and 
came to Richland Township in the summer of 1881. The trip was made in a covered 
wagon. The couple dug a well, also, a cellar and did some "breaking", then 
returned to Iowa for the winter. In the spring of 1882 the family returned to 
their homestead. Mr. Christie was born in Scotland, and his wife in England.

Other homesteaders who arrived here in 1881 to make their homes were Mr. and 
Mrs. John (Ryg) Johnson and family from Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. Ole Nelson, Mr. and 
Mrs. Howell Morgans from Wisconsin and Mr. and Mrs. George Sumption and family, 
who always were interested in civic affairs and the progress of their community. 
The wife of John Sumption, son of George, was said to be carried into the 
community by "Negro Ben", one of the first negroes in Dakota who continued to 
live here.

Nearly all of the land was settled in 1882. Ami Durkee came that year from 
Michigan and also, "Buck" Johnson and family from Massachusetts. P. C. Gelling, 
who became Johnson's son-in-law, took up land in Richland. He was born in the 
Isle of Man, coming to Illinois at the age of six years. Gelling saw Abraham 
Lincoln a number of times, since he lived near Springfield.

Lars Tveit and wife Runghelde came to this area at this time, too. Their son, 
Iver Tveit walked from Waubay, where the railroad ended, to Richland Township. 
He took up land, and returned to Albert Lee, Minnesota where he was married. One 
year later, in 1883, the couple returned in an immigrant car shared by Nels 
Holum and Andrew Wangen which was unloaded at Westport. Nels Holum homesteaded 
in Henry Township. Also in that immigrant car that was shipped to Westport were 
John and Ingeborg Buene. One summer before, Buene walked with Iver Tveit to this 
place. While Buene and Tveit were getting started, they worked for Nels Holum. 
Many of the farmers sought work away from home, for extra money and some of the 
men went to the Red River Valley--a hundred miles away.

Other early comers to this community were Mr. and Mrs. Caspar Kronschnabel, Sr. 
of German descent. When Richland-Greenfield Township organized, Kronschnabel, 
Howell Morgans, and P. C. Gelling were the first supervisors and Walter 
Underhill was elected clerk. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Geranen, who raised. twelve 
children and spent all their lives here, were here in 1882, as were Ole and Anna 
Koam, and Reguel Backman, and Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Thye. Mr. Thye is a second 
resident who came from Norway in a sailing vessel. His son became a senator in 
Minnesota, also mentioned in the Brainard history. Early settlers, about whom no 
one remembers anything except their names were Mellanger, Newton's and Brandt's. 
Mr. and Mrs. Ole Holten settled here in 1884 and Mr. and Mrs. Charles 
Christianson in 1885. Guy and Wallace Abbott who came from Michigan were here in 
the early 80's.

Three school houses were built in 1884. They were known as the Backman school, 
the Christie and the Morgan school. Some of the early teachers were Floyd 
Parmeter, Mrs. Guy Abbott, Anna Kronschnabel, Caroline Kronschnabel, Edna Brown, 
Edna Davis, Cora Brown, Carrie and Sarah Redding, Gertrude and Norma Sykes, Leta 
Abbott and Clara Brown.

The Christie school later was known as the Sumption school, and it was used as a 
church by the pioneers. The Lutherans used the school house, and their homes for 
worship services, until 1904 when the group in the south part of Richland and 
the north part of Brainard built the Aurland Lutheran Church with Iver Tveit 
overseeing the building. The total cost of the materials was $850. The 
Methodists continued to use the school house for their services with the early 
ministers being the Reverends Lot, Brown, and Butterfield.

[Photo: Aurland Lutheran Church as it looks today. The cemetery is behind the 
church.]

The Norwegian Lutheran Church in Richland Township is a model of the Church in 
Aurland, Norway. The congregation was organized in 1885, four years after the 
first settlers came. The altar and pews were purchased by the ladies aid. The 
altar picture was donated by Einar Nygaard; the organ, altar ring and lamps by 
the (pige forining)

[P155]

junior ladies aid. The first pastor was Rev. Rogne and the last was Rev. 
Hjelmesth.

[Photo: Interior of Aurland Lutheran Church showing altar ring and picture.]

Due to circumstances beyond our control, services were discontinued in 1953. 
Most of the Norwegian families have intermarried and settled in various areas. 
There are very few of the original families left.

The monument was erected in 1961 in memory to the old settlers.

The Ladies Aid (descendants of the original families) is still functioning. We 
use our funds to keep the church in repair and painted. We also donate to the 
children's home and pastor's retirement and others. Our number is now down to 
nine. There are three great, great, great granddaughters of the original 
settlers in our Aid.

There were three eventful days in early pioneer life, namely Fourth of July, 
Christmas and the Ladies' Aid Picnic. Of course, there were the Sunday "get-
togethers". A fruit soup was often served at the meal. It was made of sago, 
prunes and raisins. The pioneers had to make their coffee by parching barley, 
and adding molasses and chicory. This mixture was baked and dried, then ground 
with a hand grinder.

On Christmas Eve, the usual lutefisk dinner was served. By the time Richland was 
settled, there were more Norwegians than any other nationality and Norwegians 
are very fond of lutefisk. Everyone brought dishes and silver, and somehow the 
whole crowd got into those small homes.

The homes of the pioneers were these 14' x 16' shanties found in all of Brown 
County. They were heated with a cast iron cookstove. It took one person in the 
winter time to stay by the stove, and twist hay to burn to keep warm. They lived 
for the most part on their own products. They hauled wheat to the mills at 
Columbia or Frederick to be ground into flour. The women carded and wove their 
own wool and knitted their socks and mittens, and did all their own sewing.

There were no roads, just paths from one claim shanty to another. Yet no one 
thought anything of a two or three mile walk. It was dangerous to be out at 
night in the winter time, for one could get lost easily, with no fence to guide 
you, and there was the danger of freezing.

Gathering of buffalo bones, that were sold to the sugar refineries, was quite an 
industry for a time. "Bone pickers" traveled through the country. Also traveling 
through were Indians with their long trail of horses in tow.

The Ole Holten's built a large barn with a big hayloft that was used for social 
activities for many years and no history of Richland Township would be complete 
without mentioning this.

Early pioneers went thru many hardships, but when all of one's neighbors are 
experiencing these same problems and troubles, they do not seem bad in 
retrospect. The settlers who "stuck it out" lived to better times and easier 
living, and the joy of seeing a community form.

[P156]

RIVERSIDE TOWNSHIP
by L. E. Falk

While the following sketch is not supported by documentation it may be accepted 
as historically accurate, the writer having personal knowledge of men and 
events.



THE NAME

A map published in 1884 shows the Riverside Township area as Richland. Available 
historical sources do not indicate when the name was changed to Riverside nor 
the reasons. It was a double township then and remained so until 1926 when a 
division was affected, the west half being named Putney. An educated guess 
indicates that the name was changed when the township was formally organized 
shortly after the settlement of the area.



SETTLEMENT IN 1881

Settlement of the township came with a great influx of homesteaders in 1881, 
nearly every claim being taken during the summer and fall of that year. The 
northwest corner of the township was settled by people of Swedish descent from 
Chisago County, Minnesota, their claims nearly all abutting each other. Thus 
came a new neighborhood of neighbors from Minnesota. Other homesteaders came 
from widely separated points from New York State to Michigan.

[Photo: Fred Olsen, early 1880's resident of Riverside Township.]



THE CHISAGO COUNTY, MINNESOTA GROUP

The Minnesota settlers included Samuel Swenson, Louis Johnson, Lot, Luther and 
Joseph Linn, Jonas, Charles and August Falk, Frank Anderson, John E. Hult, Peter 
Swensen and Frank G. Brooberg; Charles J. Kroon and Enoch Sandberg. Across the 
line in West Riverside were Alfred and August Abraham, and across the line in 
Claremont Township were Karl and John Green.

Other Riverside homesteaders adjoining the Minnesota group included Sven 
Hindstrand, Axel Hallberg, John Anderson, H. S. West, Ed Mather, Fred Rasmussen, 
Pat Ringrose, Sam Ritter, Clarence Chapin, R. A. Zimmerman, Forester H. Smith, 
F. T. Luce, Traphagen, Charles and H. C. Leake, T. B. Belding, Sam Willets, John 
H. Litts, Robert Dixon, Dan Newlon, Ole Belden and Joe Donovan.

The best known, if not the first school of the township, was the Johnson School 
or Riverside No. 4, as it was known officially. It was actually built on the 
Jonas A. Falk homestead on the N. E. corner of the N. E. 1/4 of Section 10. The 
original building was purchased by Richard Wehde and moved to his farm in the 
1920's when it was replaced by a modern structure. This in turn was sold in 1962 
and the plot reverted to the owner of the land.

Public notice came to the Johnson School when it was used as a place of worship 
by the Augustana Lutheran Congregation until 1899. The school also came to 
public notice as a place for Republican political rallies during the 1890's when 
prominent political figures and candidates appeared with the late John H. Litte 
as perennial moderator.



THE AUGUSTANA LUTHERAN CHURCH

[Photo: Augustana Lutheran Church]

The Augustana Lutheran Church was organized in the Riverside home of Lot A. 
Linn, July 25, 1884.

[P157]

Although the leadership of the congregation stemmed largely from Riverside for 
many years, ironically, when the church edifice was built in 1899 it was located 
in Claremont Township about threefourths of a mile from the Riverside boundary. 
The gift of a five acre building site by the late Karl Green decided the 
location.

The church edifice with a tower and spire was a miniature replica of the big 
Lutheran Church in Center City, Minnesota, the home church of a majority of the 
members.

An interesting reminiscence is the construction of a barn with a capacity for 50 
teams used by the church-goers. The structure was erected co-operatively at the 
same time as the church. By interesting coincidence it was razed by a tornado 
about the time that motor cars made it obsolete.

Extensive renovations and additions to the plant have been made through the 
years and the church, despite its almost total rural membership, is thriving 
with a membership that takes great pride in their religious home.

The structure is electric lighted, and it has a modern kitchen and social rooms, 
with modern toilet facilities having been installed in more recent years.



LANDMARKS

Two farm homes in Riverside have been landmarks for more than 50 years. The big 
two-story white residence erected by Forester H. Smith was the first two-story 
farm home in the township. It was said to have been built when the owner was 
expecting political preferment which apparently never came.

Another township landmark for many years was the first "modern" home built by 
Louis J. Johnson on his farm in 1882. It was two stories complete with running 
water, open plumbing and acetylene gas for lights and the kitchen range. It is 
now the home of his son, Richard Johnson.

[Photo: The Louis Johnson farm home was the center of many social gatherings for 
the pioneers. His family included Arthur, Clarence, Richard, Ruben, Bertha, 
Edith and Helen.]

[P158]

RONDELL TOWNSHIP
by Mrs. Harrison Slack

In the Aberdeen Journal published Oct. 16, 1922, there is an article, "State 
Historian Gives Talk Here." In the address that State Historian Doane Robinson 
gave to the D. A. R. and other club women is this paragraph: "In 1838 Major 
Joseph R. Brown built a trading post at Rondell, which continued for nearly a 
score of years and was known as Oakwood Post.  It was placed in charge of Pierre 
LeBlanc, an irascible fellow who was frequently in trouble with his associates. 
Catlin met him in St. Peter, Minnesota, in the summer of 1835 and predicted for 
him a bad end. The next winter was a severe one and Sissetons who resided about 
the post were at the point of starvation. An Indian, named thereafter, Ohdinape, 
visited the trading house and was picking some parched corn out of the cracks in 
the floor where it had fallen, when LeBlanc kicked him from the place. He 
returned and killed the ruffian trader. Ohdinape took the name from that time 
because literally it means "kicked out of his place". There is not much in the 
story save as an incident of the beginning of things in one of your towns and 
for that a tablet might be worthy."

The tablet has been erected on the site of the old trading post.

Francis Raundelle, a Frenchman, came to New Orleans. From there he proceeded up 
the Mississippi River to St. Louis, where he came into the employment of the 
American Fur Company. His company sent him up to Sioux City, then up the James 
River to Oakwood Post in Brown County, now Rondell-named after him. Minnie Slack 
McCaughey says his name was originally spelled Raundelle. He came here in 1842. 
A short time before this he had married a Sioux squaw. He built a log store 25' 
x 30', also a log hut. He spent nine years on this spot, trading with the 
Indians, and said these were the happiest days of his life. From here he went to 
Waubay where he established himself among the Sisseton Indians, who were able to 
furnish. him with plenty of furs. They soon became his people and he entered 
into their life wholeheartedly, exercising quite an influence among them. 
According to a custom among the Indians, any man was entitled to as many wives 
as he could support. Raundelle married not less than five Indian women. He was 
born in 1814 and died in 1896. He was buried in the cemetery of the Indian 
Church at Enemy Swim Lake and has many descendants among the Indians there.

The next white men in what is now Rondell Township were James Humphrey, a young 
man from Plainview, Minnesota, and John Noehl, a miller from Marshall, 
Minnesota, who were looking for water power for a mill. They traveled north up 
the James River as far as Chedi Lake, but by reason of the driver's refusal to 
take them farther, they turned back. At Marshall, Minnesota, on his return, 
Humphrey met the Slack family coming west in their two covered wagons, with the 
intentions of finding a good place to settle and make their future home. He 
joined them and influenced them to come to the James River Valley, which had so 
taken his fancy.

[Photo: Mr. and Mrs. James E. Humphrey]

The following article was taken from the "Aberdeen Democrat". It was a paper 
read by James E. Humphrey of Rondell at the meeting of the Old Settlers 
Association at Tacoma Park, July 2, 1904. It was headed, "Early Settlement of 
Southern Brown. Interesting Reminiscences of Pioneer Days on the Jim Graphically 
Told. When Red Men Yielded their Last Claim to Hunting Grounds on the River."

"I made a start on the 24th of April, 1878, from Plainview, Minnesota, in 
company with two others, for Dakota, after having received some information from 
an old neighbor by the name of William Sullivan, who drove a team for the 
government from Fort Wadsworth to Fort Pierre in the year 1855. He told us about 
the beautiful prairies and that where they crossed the Jim River there was quite 
a body of timber; so I had taken a map and located the place as being about 
where is now Brown and Spink County line, as near as I could judge. I reached 
the James River the fifth of May, 1878, about five o'clock p.m. with my partner 
and a party of three others from Marshall, Minnesota, at a point about east of 
Mellette, on the place taken afterwards by Thomas Farmer.

The next day we went north to Chedi Lake. On our way up we saw, just above the 
mouth of Mud Creek, about sixty lodges of the Drifting Goose band of Indians. 
They came out to see where we were going, but did not molest us. We camped the 
sixth

[P159]

at Chedi Lake and the next day our party started back to Marshall, Minnesota. 
When I arrived there I met Henry H. Slack and family and induced them to return 
with us to the Jim River, telling them what a fine country it looked to be. So 
after a number of days we were all landed at the old camping ground on the river 
east of Mellette, about the 24th of May, 1878.

[Photo: Mr. and Mrs. Henry H. Slack]

While we were eating supper we saw in the distance down the river, four 
horsemen. They had seen our camp and came in, two white men and two Indians. The 
whites were Charles B. Foster and Robert Love, who owned a store at Waubay and 
were trading with the Indians. They said they were very hungry and wanted to 
know if they could get some supper, as they had nothing to eat since morning, 
the Indians' dog having taken their dinner. Afterwards Mr. Foster told me the 
Indians got the dinner. The next day we moved north about eighteen miles, and 
Mr. Slack made up his mind to locate at a spot which proved afterwards to be on 
section 13-121-63, Brown County.

We found that the land was not surveyed on the west side of the river so we 
staked out what we wanted and made improvements thereon.

In about two weeks the Indians came up and told us they could not have us there, 
that they owned the land and we must go. Mr. Slack tried to buy the land and the 
chief wanted $10,000 for the land and $40,000 for the timber we had cut. So we 
were all bankrupt at once. Robert Love, who Was with us, told Mr. Slack that 
they could all go to the trading post and stay there until the trouble was over. 
On the morning of the 7th of June, 1878, we left for Waubay. We had quite a time 
recrossing the log raft that we had crossed with about two weeks before. We had 
to pass near the Indian lodges. to cross Mud Creek. The Indians covered the 
prairie for more than a mile. They came with ropes to get a cow, but Mr. Slack 
said they could not have one, as they would not sell the land when he wanted to 
buy it.

At Mud Creek, Mr. Love talked with the Indians about selling one of the girls. 
He asked them how many ponies they would give. They said ten. Mr. Love told them 
that he wanted forty ponies. The' Indians said they did not have so many ponies 
to spare, but the girls were worth it, that the white girls were pretty nice.

[Photo: Minnie and Sophia Slack]

After reaching Waubay we entered a complaint against the Indians to the 
commanding officer at Fort Sisseton for ordering us to leave the Jim River, and 
he said he would send it where it would take effect, which he must have done, as 
the Indians were removed to their reservation in September, and the land was 
surveyed on the west side of the river.

Benoni Slack and I returned to Plainview, Minnesota, in July to harvest. Benoni 
returned to Waubay in October and I in December.

I arrived at Mr. Warner's, west of Lake Kampeska about 22 miles, on the 6th day 
of December. The next morning I took a heavy load, a compass and saleratus 
biscuits which I could not eat at noon but kept them, fearing I might get lost 
on the prairies. I started to travel the 35 miles north with six inches of snow 
on the ground. I made Waubay at dusk but avoided Foster and Love's store, not 
wanting to let them know that I was in the country as I believed they had put up 
a job on me to beat me out of the Armadale timber.

I stayed at Mr. Slack's until the 29th of December, when Reese, Love, Benoni 
Slack, and I started for the Armadale timber on the Jim. We arrived there the 
31st day of December, 1878, and camped in Drifting Goose's house, after being on 
the road three days and camping out two nights in the snow in an A tent.

Benoni and I soon moved ten miles north to the

[P160]

old claim staked out by Henry H. Slack and camped nine days in a tent while we 
dug a hole in the side of the bank and logged it up making a warm dugout. Then 
we put in the winter at hunting and trapping. We had six deer and antelope hung 
up in the trees at one time, and furs, consisting of beaver, mink, fox, and 
other skins, which brought us a little money in the spring.

[Photo: Brown County's first General Store, built and operated at Rondell by 
James Humphrey from 1879 to 1915.]

In April, 1879, Mr. Slack started from Waubay with his family for the river. In 
the Coteaux east of the river they met some men who had been scared from 
Armadale by Indians, as they supposed. The fact was, the boys had a nice claim 
there on which they would locate anyone they thought they could scare, and after 
getting their money would dress up like Indians and scare them away. A good many 
never returned, much to the detriment of settling up the country. Benoni Slack 
told his father that if there was any real trouble Jim would meet them and give 
warning. So they came on over and settled again on the old claim. They were the 
first family to settle. in the southern part of Brown County and I believe they 
were the first in the county.

I built a log cabin on my claim in April, 1879. I started a small store in 
November, 1879, and made application for a post office, the commission of which 
I received in April, 1880, and held for twenty years. I sent in the name of 
Empire City for the post office and the postmaster general rejected it and 
requested me to send in another name.

A little incident reminded me of Francis Raundelle who had a trading post where 
is now Rondell. I had met him at his house in Waubay. I remember once I asked 
him if he had a wife. He replied that in his time he had married fourteen Indian 
maidens, but that he had not one left. I took his name and Americanizing it, 
sent it in plain Rondell. The postmaster general accepted it, and later when our 
township was organized, I requested that by all means it be called Rondell and 
it was done accordingly. In the spring of 1879, three townships were taken out 
of market for an Indian reservation, one that is the west half of Rondell and 
two lying in Spink County, but they came into market again in July, 1880."

Henry H. Slack and his wife Sophia, and family, together with Jim Humphrey, all 
from Plainview, Minnesota, arrived in what is now Rondell Township on May 25, 
1878. They came by way of Kampeska, Bailey's Ash Gulch, and what was later 
called Armadale. They had their supper that evening by the river. While they 
were making camp for the night there, four horsemen rode up. They proved to be 
Bob Love and Charley Foster from Waubay, out scouting around the country trying 
to find a new trading post location. With them were two Armadale Indians with 
whom they were trying to deal. These four men camped with the Slacks that night. 
Later, Love and Foster did move their trading post from Waubay to Armadale, or 
Foster City as it was then called. This was the Slack's first meeting with Bob 
Love--Indian trader and interpreter at Waubay. He played a considerable part in 
the history of Rondell Township.

The two Indians claimed for their tribe all the land as far as six miles north 
of Armadale. So next day Slack and Humphrey traveled far enough north to be well 
out of their territory, to a spot up the river where they determined to make 
their home. When the land was subsequently surveyed, it was on Sec. 13, Twp. 
121, Range 63. This spot was selected because of the timber. The children of 
this pioneer household were Benoni, 22 years; Margaret, 18; Sophie, 16; Henry 
14; and Minnie 12. They went to work immediately to build a log house on the top 
of the west river bank with Jim Humphrey and Bob Love helping them, they got it 
up six logs high, when Drifting Goose, whose Indian name was Magabobada, 
appeared on the scene and told them they must leave without delay. He said his 
heart was bad and the land belonged to him. This first warning went unheeded but 
when he and his braves came again about two weeks later and named the date when 
they should leave, they decided to take Bob Love's advice and go, temporarily. 
On this second visit Drifting Goose and his braves kept

[P161]

whetting their long knives as they sat on their ponies, and kept saying over and 
over, "Kill-ee-ca-nek". The young folks were standing around among them, not 
realizing their danger. Years afterward Chief Drifting Goose and his tribe were 
invited back to Armadale as a feature of a 4th of July celebration -the first 
held there. Minnie Slack went up to the old chief that day and asked if he 
remembered her, that she was "Haska", this being her Indian name, meaning "the 
tall one". He remembered only the family. To get back to the story--

The next morning by 10 o'clock, June 6, their wagons were again loaded and the 
two cows tied behind ready to leave for Waubay. While they were crossing the 
river there by the house, Bob Love and Benoni Slack noticed about thirty mounted 
Indians on their way to the house on the west side of the river. When the 
Indians saw the Slacks had already started they turned back toward Armadale. 
When the Slacks got across the river three men from Columbia--Clare Johnson, 
Nate Johnson and Will Young--were on the east bank. These men tried to persuade 
the Slacks to come and settle at Columbia, as they were anxious to retain all 
the white settlers. That was the first meeting of Clare Johnson and Phi Slack. 
Two years later they were married.

To get to Waubay, the Slacks had to get on the dim wagon trail after crossing 
Mud Creek about two miles east of Armadale. The thirty Indians intercepted them 
there. They rode their ponies furiously, yelled, and spread out fan-wise to 
surround the wagons. Their object was to stampede the party with the hope of 
getting the cows. In fact they had demanded the cows in payment for the logs 
used in building the cabin.

One of the wagons got stuck in the mud while crossing the creek. While the 
Slacks unloaded and piled things on the bank, got the wagons and stock through 
the ford and then reloaded, all under cover of Jim Humphrey's rifle, Bob Love, 
who talked the Sioux language, tried to trade the Slack girls for forty ponies 
each, to gain time. The Indians would offer only eighteen ponies for Margaret. 
During this the young bucks sat on the bank and laughed to see the white men 
work.

From there on the white men left the trail for greater safety, camped that night 
without fire, light or noise. They lived nearly a year at Waubay. During this 
time they became acquainted with Francis Raundelle, the old fur trader. The men 
went to Minnesota for work during harvest. When they returned Benoni Slack and 
Humphrey decided to come back to the James River to spend the winter so as to be 
on deck when the valley was opened up for settlement in the spring. They packed 
what bare necessities they could on their ponies and started. They arrived New 
Year's Day, 1879, at the unfinished log house they had left the spring before. 
Instead of finishing it they lived ten days in a tent while they made a dugout 
in the west river bank. Game was abundant and their larder was soon stocked with 
venison. Trapping was good and furs yielded quite a revenue. The Indians hunted 
along the river but did not disturb them. Later they found a cache of Indian 
corn. The Indians used to dig holes in the ground, large at the bottom and small 
at the top, build fires in them until they were hard and dry, put shelled corn 
in them, then cover and bake the ground. The corn would keep for years. The boys 
thought they were entitled to the corn, as they found a great deal of yellow 
corn in it. They had planted two or three acres of yellow corn the spring 
before, and Indian corn was always white. They made hominy which with the 
antelope meat was their main diet.

One morning they stepped outside their dugout door. An Indian stood there with 
his gun pointed at them. The boys were just starting out to hunt and had their 
guns in their hands. They told him to put his down and as they were two against 
one, he did so. At this time, Indians who for some reason had been banished from 
their tribe were only too ready to get a white man's scalp to take to their 
chief so they would be taken back into the tribe.

The boys had needles, thread and knives, but no scissors. They could patch their 
clothes pretty well, but when their hair got too long they had no way to cut it. 
Finally they laid their heads on a hard piece of wood and haggled the hair off 
with their sharp knives. They kept busy and happy hunting, trapping, and cutting 
logs with which to finish the house. That winter they, the Johnsons, and William 
Young were the only white people in the county.

The spring of '79 the James River Valley was opened for settlement. In April, 
Ezra Tiffany, Wife, and three children, Albert, Hattie, Minnie, John MacDonald, 
the Slacks and children all came from Waubay to take claims. While coming 
through the Coteau Hills they met a Norwegian named Hurlburt hurrying to Fort 
Sisseton after soldiers. He said the Indians at Armadale had gone on the warpath 
and were massacreing the new settlers. When they came to the edge of the hills 
where they could look out over the valley they saw people riding here and there. 
They thought they must be Indians. They were really white men picking out their 
claims. Not knowing this, however, the men sent the women back with one wagon 
while they came on with the other one. On arriving they learned that it wasn't 
as bad as Hurlburt had said, although there had been some trouble at Armadale. 
At noon the next day two companies of soldiers arrived from Fort Sisseton. The 
army officers and chiefs counciled all summer, more or less, and finally agreed 
that the Indians should receive a certain amount of money and move to the Crow 
Creek Agency. This they did.

At this time every section corner had a hardwood stake with the number, range, 
and township cut on it. The section corner stakes served as guide posts for the 
settlers when traveling long distances. Then, too, everyone had a compass in 
those days. At many of these stakes were piles of buffalo skulls, bones, and 
horns. The horns were soon picked up, polished and sold to easterners or sold 
with the bones to eastern sugar refineries for $20.00 a ton.

As the land was opened up for settlement many came to locate. Covered wagons 
crossed the prairie daily and sod shanties went up. Those already settled called 
on their new neighbors, got acquainted, and made them welcome. Most of the 
houses were made of sod with dirt floors and roofs. Some were very cozy and 
homelike inside.

The earliest religious services were conducted in

[P162]

the sod house by traveling preachers. Later they were held in the school houses. 
Mail in those earliest years was exceedingly slow, until the railroad reached 
Groton.



PIONEERS OF 1878

Jim Humphrey settled on S. W. 1/4 24-121-63. His first little store, built of 
logs, was on the east bank of the river, north of the road, a few rods west of 
the site of the old Raundelle Oakwood Fur Trading Post. Once neighbors found Jim 
very sick with a fever, in the little loft over the store, where he slept. He 
had been sick for three days. They stayed and cared for him until he was able to 
care for himself.

In the fall of '81, Humphrey built his store on the hill. This new building was 
the scene of the first funeral. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Milo Humphrey had 
watched their father hang a dog. In imitating this scene in their play they got 
little sister up on an overturned wagon box, put a rope around her neck and 
pushed her off, breaking her neck. She was buried a short distance southwest of 
the store. Later a group of neighbors bought the ground for Oakwood Cemetery on 
S. E. 1/4 25-12-62. June 29, 1889, these men met to officially organize the 
cemetery association: President, A. P. Robinson; Vice President, J. E. Humphrey; 
Secretary, J. I. Steere; Treasurer, A. J. Allen; Directors, A. P. Robinson, 
Robert Love, and J. 1. Steere; other members were A. W. White, M. J. Humphrey, 
Benoni Slack, H. E. Bond, A. M. Geary, Rod McMillan, Al Tiffany, and H. W. 
Neill. The little Humphrey girl and her mother, who died before the cemetery was 
started, were moved to it. Probably the next person buried there was John S. 
Regan from east of Bath. He started for Watertown on February 19, on foot. Weeks 
later his body was found sitting against a tree just west of the claim of 
Ambrose Allen, near Rondell.

Another cemetery in Rondell Township is the East Rondell Cemetery, located in 
the northwest corner of the S. W. 1/4 of Sec. 11-121-62. The oldest tombstones 
are dated 1883. The site originally belonged to Isaac Fortner. Early secretary's 
books of the East Rondell Cemetery Association were destroyed in the Kohlhoff 
fire in 1923.

Humphrey's store building in time became big and rambling, the first general 
store in Brown County after the organization of Dakota Territory and Brown 
County. A true country general store, its stock ranged from yard goods and 
groceries to farm machinery. It also housed a blacksmith shop, post office, and 
the Humphrey living quarters on the east end. On the second floor was the M. W. 
A. Hall and a big dance hall with lunch counter. This building was the heart of 
Rondell Township during the pioneer years. Here they held Sunday School, Church 
services, dances, funerals. Sometimes they had to hurry to get the debris from 
the Saturday night dances cleared away in time for Sunday morning church in the 
same room. Here they did their voting, held meetings of all kinds, and got their 
mail. Then, too, on the east side of the river, south of the road, under the 
shady old jack oak and elm trees, was the lovely Rondell picnic ground. It was a 
beautiful spot, known and used by the settlers for miles around. It may be that 
Major Brown named the first trading post after these jack oak trees. Then later 
the Oakwood Cemetery received the same name.



ROBERT LOVE

Robert Love left Morris, Minnesota, by ox freight train in 1874, headed for 
Bismarck, Dakota Territory. However, when he arrived at Ortonville, Minnesota, 
he decided to stay there and accept a position scouting for the government.

In 1875 he gave up his scouting job and came to Waubay, Dakota Territory, where 
he and Charley Foster established a trading post at Lake Minnewasta, which they 
operated for two years. For a time Love drove stage from Waubay to Bonesteel. 
Then, in 1878, they came to what is now Armadale and set up a trading post 
there.

That winter Robert Love and another man lived in a little shanty at Rondell, 
north of the road and close to the east bank of the river, and trapped up and 
down the river. He made friends with the Indians, who called him "Big White 
Boy". He learned to speak the Sioux language. Because of his knowledge of and 
friendship with the Indians he was chosen on two occasions to ride through 
dangerous Indian Territory to Fort Sisseton to summon the soldiers to protect 
the white people of Rondell during Indian scares.



HENRY H. SLACK AND FAMILY

The Henry Slack family settled on the west bank of the Jim River, the E. 1/2 of 
13-121-62. They broke sod for crops and finished their large and substantial log 
house. With its flat roof made of heavy poles covered with brush and clay it 
looked like a fort. They ran a ferry boat across the river between their house 
and what is now called Dayton Hill. This was the only crossing, except the York 
crossing twenty miles north. The spring the first railroad was built through, a 
caravan of covered wagons with their equipment and supplies and gang of laborers 
crossed at Slack's ferry. Once a man and his horses drowned because he refused 
to unhitch his team for the ferry crossing. They became frightened, jumped into 
the river, tangling themselves and their owner in the harness.

The Slacks kept what was called a "stopping place"--an inn where the travelers 
crossing on the ferry could get a meal or a night's lodging. Once a known horse 
thief and murderer was in the community. The men were all out hunting him when 
he came to cross the river at the Slack ferry. Only the girls and young Henry 
were at home, but the girls plied him with food and conversation while Henry 
hurried to Rondell to find the posse. The murderer surrendered without a fight.



PIONEERS OF 1883

These came in 1883: Jim Bryan, Hiram Allen, A. P. Robinson.

Mrs. Jesse Chandler, her mother, Mrs. Kensworthy, and all the children but Mary, 
the oldest, came in 1883 to stay with their Uncle Bob Love. The next spring 
Jesse Chandler and Mary, then a tiny twelve-year old, got off the train in 
Groton, which was the end of the line, and started to walk to

[P163]

Rondell--more than twenty miles. They got as far as Benoni Slack's and he took 
them the rest of the way to Bob Love's place. That summer Mrs. Kensworthy and 
the Chandlers lived on what is now the Bryan place. Mary Chandler Neill still 
tells how she and her twin brothers used to run down to the old Indian burying 
ground, which was on the east bank of the river about one-fourth mile from Jack 
Bingo's place. There were poles laid across in the crotches and the dead Indians 
were tied to these horizontal poles. In time they would fall off. There were 
many bones, skulls, and bright colored wampum beads of various sizes on the 
ground underneath. The settlers' children like to gather these beads. Mary's 
mother would boil them to disinfect them.

When the Indians learned that the settlers were poking around among the bones of 
their ancestors they carried everything away--poles, skulls, bones, and beads.

Although we have no certain dates of their arrival the following pioneers were 
already here in 1883. Many of them may have come earlier: George Hallett, Tom 
Blair, John Briedenbach, Henry Girsen, J. Jennings, James Anderson, Sophia 
Russell, Will Gubin, Charles Schley, Henry Ihde, Fred Strong, J. E. Prosser, L. 
W. Miller, H. M. Clark, E. P. Rose, J. A. Peterson, Mike Rice, James Wilson, 
John Foster, Joe Wright, G. B. Weed, Paul Amley, Dan Hofer, Harry Bradford, Will 
White, Hans Olsen, Robert Foster, and John Wagner.

Millie Strong, wife of Fred Strong, organized her Sunday School class of boys 
and girls into the first King's Daughters and Sons Circle in Dakota, in 1888. 
This Rondell Circle is still going strong. Several Circles branched out from it 
and there has been a state organization for many years. It has been a great 
influence for good in the Rondell Community.

In the minutes of the first meeting of the Township Board, June 29, 1883, we 
find this paragraph: "The naming of the township having been neglected at the 
township election, the Board chose a name as required by Sec. 28, code of 1883. 
The name chosen is Valley Township. Robert Von Tobel, Twp. Clerk."

So it was Valley Township until about seven months later at the meeting held 
February 2, 1884. We read in the minutes, "On motion, voted to call this 
Township Rondell instead of Valley, which name was rejected by the Territory 
Auditor. Robert Von Tobel, Twp. Clerk."

Evidently the township board and school board were one and the same. All school 
and township affairs were in the hands of these three men. The first board 
elected at the time the township was organized was A. L. Williams, Treasurer; G. 
O. Weed, Director; and Robert Von Tobel, Clerk.

[Photo: When Stratford was a thriving town of 600.]



CHURCHES

When the town of Stratford was a year old the Lutheran Christian men of this 
area invited Rev. F. J. Graeber, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in 
Aberdeen to come to Stratford and help them organize a St. Paul's Lutheran 
Church. The first meeting was held November 19, 1907. The first officers were 
Rev. F. J. Graeber, President; F. H. Erdmann, Secretary; Frank Thieman, 
Treasurer. The first Board of Trustees was Charles Schley, August Thieman, F. H. 
Erdmann. The first place of worship was the school house in town, with Rev. 
Graeber as pastor.

Early in 1908 the present church building was erected. It was dedicated November 
15, 1908. Pastor Graeber served the congregation for the first thirty-six years 
of its existence. Sunday School was organized in 1913. The first teachers were 
C. L. Parduhn, Bertha Stange, Mrs. Fred Erdmann, and Mrs. Will Stange.

The following paragraphs are taken from the pamphlet printed by the First 
Presbyterian Church of Stratford when they celebrated the 50th anniversary in 
1956.

"In 1879. The homesteaders that settled here were Methodists, Wesleyan 
Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and others. During the first seven 
years the only religious services were conducted by an occasional circuit rider 
or wandering missionary on horseback traveling through the Territory. When one 
came the settlers would get word as to the time and place of the meeting to as 
many as possible.

In 1886. This group of settlers called themselves the Union Church and there was 
also a Union Sunday School. June 20, 1886, the Rondell Presbyterian Church was 
organized from this group with twentyone members, meeting in school house No. 4. 
This school house was north of Rondell Cemetery on the southeast corner of N. W. 
1/4 25-121-63, belonging to Mr. Brose Allen at that time.

In 1887. Rev. Evan L. Davies took charge of the Rondell Church, in connection 
with the Warner Presbyterian Church.

In 1906. The town of Stratford was started and it was thought best to transfer 
the work to Stratford. November 4, 1906, services were held in the unfinished 
Farmer's State Bank building. This was the first religious service held in 
Stratford. It was conducted by Mr. Isaac Parry, Presbyterian Missionary, and 
Rev. C. C. Todd. At the close of the service the following were elected as 
trustees: E. P. Ashford, A. P. Robinson, Gilbert Churchill, F. T. Shoemaker, and 
E. J. Carmine. Miss Olive Robinson acted as recording secretary.

In 1908. Rev. Robert Chittick got people working on a church building. The 
cornerstone was laid November 1, 1908. The building was dedicated the week of 
May 9 through 16, 1909."



1879 PIONEERS

Ambrose Allen filed on N. W. 1/4 sec. 30-121-62. His hobby was his trotting 
horses and the race track he kept up for many years on his land across the road 
from his home. He was active in civil affairs.

[P164]

He was the first Superintendent of Schools in Brown County.

Alvin T. Winters worked for A. Allen and later took claim on S. E. 1/4 21-121-
62.

Roderick McMillan came from Plainview, Minnesota and settled on N. W. 1/4 24-
121-63.

W. I. Steer proved up on S. E. 1/4 26-121-63. He was very interested in getting 
trees started on these bare prairies. He planted many tree seeds and furnished 
settlers with seedlings. He was prominent in early township affairs.

Albert Tiffany was with the group of settlers that came from Waubay in April, 
1879. There were his parents, Ezra Tiffany and wife, and his two sisters, John 
McDonald, and the Slack family. Albert and young Henry I. Slack were both about 
fourteen years old. Part of the men came first with one covered wagon, leaving 
Ezra Tiffany and the women to come with the other wagon a few days later. Soon 
after the men got to the Slack dugout on the river bank, the older men were 
asked to come to Foster City (now Armadale) and bring their guns as there was 
some trouble with the Indians there. They left the two boys at the dugout and 
went down. When they got to Armadale the Indians were making such a hullaballoo 
at their ceremonials that no one could hear the men shouting for help to cross 
the river. It was too cold to swim, so they started back to the dugout.

Some surveyors had lost a compass in Mud Creek and they told young Henry Slack 
they would give him $20.00 if he found it. On this day while the older men were 
gone he dove and groped in the icy water until he found it, and got back to the 
dugout where Albert was waiting. Henry was cold and wet, it was late, and the 
boys were hungry, but they did not dare to build a fire until the men returned, 
because of hostile Indians.

All at once they heard steps coming down the bank and thought of course it was 
Indians. They grabbed their rifles and backed into a corner, all set for a fight 
to save their scalps. It was only the men back from Armadale. That night they 
all took their blankets and slept out in the grass by the river for fear the 
Indians would surprise them during the night. Nothing happened, however.

Albert's father, Ezra Tiffany settled in Spink County. Albert was too young to 
take a claim, but he married, which made him head of a family, and as such he 
could file on land. He built his home on N. W. 1/4 35-121-63. While still quite 
young he became a minister, and preached and farmed for many years. Later he 
served as pastor of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Aberdeen.

Asa H. Dayton chose S. W. 1/4 7-121-62.

Tom Lawrence and wife Sara Ann came the summer of 1879 from Buffalo City, 
Wisconsin. They settled on S. W. 1/4 21-121-62. Their children were Will and 
Tom. Young Tom had the quarter south of his father's.

One of the first threshing machines in Rondell Township was the one operated by 
Will Lawrence and L. J. Fargo. They threshed for thirty years. Among their 
earliest tank drivers were Al Neill, James Greer, and William Gabert. They said 
that at some time or other they had threshed on every quarter of land from 
Stratford to six miles south, and from two miles west of the James River to 
Verdon.

An even earlier outfit than the Lawrence-Fargo machine was a horse powered 
threshing machine operated by James Gould in the summer of 1881. It was powered 
by four or more teams of horses hitched to sweeps, and the hub of these sweeps 
was connected to the grain separator by a tumbling rod.

Probably the earliest orchestra in the community was the Rondell String Band, 
composed of Will Lawrence, first violin; Will Bradford, second violin and 
caller; Nate Plummer, cornet; and L. J. Fargo, violincello and violin. They 
furnished dance music for the community for many years.



PIONEERS OF 1880

Louis Saul, S. W. 1/4 26-121-63. Married sister to Milo Humphrey's wife.

William Bain, N. E. 1/4 35-121-63.

Dell White.

The following arrived at about this time, although we have no certain exact 
dates. A. L. Williams, J. E. Beebe, S. E. 1/4 32-121-62; Jack Bingo, Henry 
Bockler, S. W. 1/4, 21-121-63; Ed Harper, NE 1/4 7-121-62; Duncan Stewart, S. E. 
1/4 6-121-62; Milo Humphrey and Charley Humphrey, brothers of Jim Humphrey.

Robert Von Tobel said he walked all over this township to choose the best 
quarter. He finally settled on S. 1/2 27-121-62. Mrs. Annie Von Tobel was the 
first teacher to receive pay after the township was organized in June, 1883. She 
taught the summer term in Old District No. 12 and received her check in August.



PIONEERS OF 1881

Ben Dayton filed on N. W. 1/4 18-121-62.

Joe Mathieu made his home, raised his family and lived his life in Rondell 
Township.

[Photo: Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Mathieu]

[P165]

Ed Mathieu, brother of Joe, made this his permanent home.

Charley Gabert chose N. E. 1/4, 24-121-62.

Frank Griffenhagen, S. E. 1/4 24-121-62.

A. M. Geary and family came from Plainview, Minnesota. They came over the 
Northwestern Railroad as far as Rudolph on the first train to reach that town, 
then the end of the line. Settled on S. 1/2 32-121-63.

Mr. and Mrs. Hug Neill came in 1881 and filed on S. E. 1/4, 31-121-62, known as 
Irish Hill. Their sons, Will and John came two years later, arriving March 16, 
1883 at Rudolph. They got their horses and wagons out of the car, loaded their 
stuff, and came to Rondell Store and Post Office.

Misfortune in shipping in the North Sea had ruined a family business and it 
seemed wise to find a new home in a new land.

Henry Dunker came to America from Germany in 1877. His brother Otto followed him 
in 1880. They spent two years in Davenport, Iowa, and on April 11, 1882 the two 
came to Rondell Township and took up homesteads. Coming with them was Alexander 
Lee Williams who homesteaded north of Otto Dunker. Later Mr. Williams moved to 
Warner and was postmaster for several years.

Several more Dunker relatives came to America and in 1887 Mr. Henry Dunker, Sr., 
parents of Otto, came to live with him. According to the family prayer book, now 
in possession of Miss Edna M. M. Dunker, daughter of Otto, the family 
relationship now in Brown County (1964) numbers more than 175. The Dunkers have 
been active in community affairs. Otto Dunker served for many years on the 
Rondell Township board and following their moving to Warner, he served on the 
Warner school board. He also served as president of the Warner Elevator Company, 
and aided the first printing company and the first newspaper in Warner.

Immediately north of the Dunker settlement are the Werth farms. Mr. and Mrs. 
Carl Werth, (Mr. Werth was a wagon maker) accompanied by an adventure-seeking 
bachelor brother, William Werth, came from Germany in 1876. They stopped at St. 
Charles, Minnesota for a time and came to north Rondell Township in 1881. There 
were four sons, Gustav, Albert, William, and Carl, and two daughters, Minnie and 
Bertha, who became Mrs. William Wolter, mother of Carl and Ted Wolter. In 
several cases third and fourth generations are still on the same land.

Helena and George Knox of Carlton Place, their son Ruben, Coroda came to Rondell 
Township in 1889. Their two children Violet and Albert were born at Rondell.

Mr. and Mrs. Ruben Knox still reside at their farm home at Stratford.

Other early settlers in Rondell Township were as follows: 1881: Otto Bartz, J. 
Mathiew; 1882: F. T. Shoemaker, P. N. Jark, Fred Fuhrman, William Lenling, G. K. 
Neill; 1883: W. J. Face, Charles Ihde, J. W. Dobberpuhl; 1884: H. F. Fuhrman, R. 
S. Hartwell; 1886: Fred Fishback; 1888: William Gabert; 1889: Ed Ellingson; 
1893: A. T. Nostrud; 1899: Charles G. Lloyd.

[Photo: The Nicholas Jark family]



PIONEERS OF 1882

These pioneers came in 1882 or before, which is proved by the fact that their 
names are on the paid personal property tax list of 1883, which is the earliest 
record of its kind that we could find in the Brown County Courthouse: D. E. 
Lynch, John Dobberpuhl, Henry Dunker, W. H. Dennison, James W. Dennison, William 
Fryer, Tom Fryer, Jay Face, Isaac Forkner, W. C. Forkner, C. F. Fitch, Carl 
Werth, Sr., Herb Hartwell, Hans Olsen, Carl Rehfeld, James Greer and Margaret 
Greer.

These names are on the paid real estate tax list for 1882: H. H. Todd, John W., 
Williams, A. K. Campbell, Captain J. W. Smith.

Gilbert and George Churchill and Taylor Shoemaker came during this year.

Captain J. W. Smith's home, N. 1/2 33-121-62, was larger than the other 
settlers' homes and was built on a higher swell of land with no ravines or 
hiding places near. In the summer of 1882, word came that on a certain night the 
Indians were coming to massacre all the white people. So the settlers all 
gathered at Captain Smith's place, kept a light and watched and waited all 
night. The Churchill brothers, Gilbert and, George, said they would just as soon 
be scalped in their own little shanty as down to Captain Smith's, so they stayed 
home. In the middle of the night they were startled awake by the clop, clop of 
ponies' feet. They sat up in bed, held their breaths and listened, breathed and 
listened again. The clop clopping came no nearer. They decided they'd rather die 
with guns in hand, so they grabbed them and stepped out the door. The hoofbeats 
were caused by a gentle rain dripping off the eaves onto the bottom of an 
upturned wooden washtub. The Indians never came.

[P166]

SAVO TOWNSHIP
by Oscar S. Kotila, Brown County News, Frederick, S. Dak.

Kustaa Frederick Bergstadius and Adolph Leinonen were the founders of the 
Finnish settlement which became Savo Township. Bergstadius was working for the 
Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad Company as a ticket clerk, and an 
emigrant agent in 1886 and he lived in Minneapolis. President of the Railway 
Company, C. H. Prior, told Bergstadius there was good land available in Brown 
County, north of Aberdeen. Bergstadius was not interested at first in going, but 
sent his friend Erick Pikkarainen to look at the land. Pikkarainen gave a good 
report of his trip and the productivity of the land. He even filed for a 
homestead. This was in the fall of 1881. Then Bergstadius and Leinonen came and 
thus started the Finnish settlement which was named Savo. It probably was given 
this name because Bergstadius was born at Savo, Finland. The village Frederick 
got its name from this same man, whose middle name was Frederick.

Savo Township was organized in the Abraham Peldo home April 24, 1884. There was 
some question of legality about this meeting, so a second meeting was held June 
10, the same year at the home of L. M. DeForrest. At the latter meeting the 
following were elected as Township officers: Solomon West, chairman; John 
Aronson and Jacob Kotila, board of supervisors; William Gabrielson, clerk; Saul 
West, treasurer; Fred Fall, assessor; Frederick Spies and Abraham Peldo, 
Justices of the Peace; Charles  Anderson and Paul Geranen, constables. 
Gabrielson and James Lofthouse were clerks of election.

The first marriage in Savo Township was that of John Homola and Briita Maria 
Pietia on January 15, 1885.

Descendants of the early pioneer homesteader families are: Alex Anderson--Mrs. 
Oscar (Tynne) Hukari; Mrs. Edwin (Norma) Groop; John Forsty--Mrs. Howard (Sadie) 
Alatalo; Paul Geranen--Mrs. Toivo (Lempi) Nixon; Jacob Hango--Mrs. Emil (Alice) 
Maunu; Sakri Hovila--Mrs. Jacob (Mathilde) Koivisto, Lauri Kotila, Leroy Witala, 
Clayton Kotila; Kustaa A. Hukari--Oscar Hukari; Matti Martilla--Arnold, Lee and 
John Marttila; Frederick Nixon--William Nixon; Johan Nixon--Charles and Toivo 
Nixon; Soloman West--Howard Alatalo.

During the early years of settlement, there were a number of dry years. The 
effect on the newly established settlers can be imagined. Many settlers saw 
their dreams of owning their own land shattered, and returned to their first 
homes. Crops suffered also from too many gophers destroying a third of the 
grain. At a township meeting it was voted to pay two cents for each gopher 
caught. One lad trapped 100 gophers in one day. So this peril was reduced in 
this manner.

Besides drought in the summer, blizzards came in the winter months. By far the 
worst blizzard ever experienced by the pioneers was the one in January of 1888. 
Following a rather mild winter day, the temperature dropped suddenly and a 
strong wind, with two feet of snow on the ground, reduced visibility to zero. 
Fortunately no lives were lost in Savo Township during this awful two-day 
blizzard.

Mindful of the need for divine guidance, pioneers of the Apostolic Lutheran 
faith had held worship services in the homes. By 1883, the homes were not large 
enough to hold the people anymore, and when the need for a church was felt, Matt 
Henhela gave up 10 acres of land for the church and cemetery. His price was the 
plowing of 50 acres of virgin prairie. Forty men with oxen or horses arrived at 
the Henhela home and in one day plowed the land. On June 3, 1884, the foundation 
of the church was laid. Before June was over, the building was in sufficient 
concrete form to enable the congregation to worship in it. The Rev. John 
Takkinen who had preached in the homes came back from Calumet, Michigan to 
preach the first service, and he remained. Carl Daniels was layman.

The congregation was legally organized in 1887. The following officers were 
elected: Carl Daniels, chairman; August Tuomas, secretary; Henry Nickikila, 
treasurer; and N. P. Starkka, Solomon West, William Isaacson, John Martinson, 
Peter Wetelainen and Abraham Peldo. The Rev. Takkinen returned to Michigan and 
Gabrielson was named minister.

Another church was established in Savo Township. It was the Savo Evangelical 
Lutheran Church. Pioneers interested in this faith, whose nurture had begun in 
their old home churches in Finland, felt a burning need to propagate this faith.

Meetings were held to discuss the founding of this church in the community. One 
meeting resulted in the organization of this congregation in he group. The date 
was December 31, 1884, six months after the Apostolic Lutheran Church was 
started. Signing the articles of Incorporation for the Savo Evangelical Lutheran 
Church were: Peter Pikkarainen, John Luttio, Paul Geranen, Henry Thompson, and 
Jacob Hango, all early settlers of Savo, although no one remembers the exact 
date of their coming. Two early pastors of this church were the Rev. J. W. 
Lahde, and Rev. K. Nikander.

The building of the church began in 1888, but services were held in the homes 
until then. Five acres of land were purchased from Pikkarainen for a cemetery, 
and before the land was consecrated some of the pioneers had been buried in the 
plot.

School also was held in the homes in 1884, and a year later regular school was 
held. The first post office was started in the Abraham West home. Later on in 
1890, there was the Savo Store at the home of Daniel Wagner.

The Finnish settlement did not lack culture. Four men started a lending library. 
These men were Mack Kakela, Alex Hukari Alexson, K. A. Hukari and John Forsty. 
Also there was a Temperance

[P167]

[Photo: Savo's First Brass Band]

Society in early Savo History. Later, a band was organized which functioned for 
many years. These people continued improving their community throughout the 
years, and it became a prosperous settlement.

Throughout this vast land there has during recent years, risen an idea that the 
memory of the early pioneers should be preserved. This objective has also been 
under discussion in the Savo community. All concerned realized that the time for 
this work was very late. Only a few aged remembered the time when they arrived 
on these prairies with their parents to build homes and plow the prairie into 
fields. Perhaps in a little while there would remain only a few names as a 
reminder of the founders of the community.

The work was started in November of 1952. At the annual meeting of the Savo 
Evangelical Lutheran Church on John Peterson's suggestion a committee was 
elected for this purpose. Those elected were: John Peterson, Mrs. Herman Groop, 
Mrs. Oscar S. Kotila, Matt Niva and Arne Kero. Later the committee was broadened 
when representatives of the Finnish communities of the Hecla vicinity and Dickey 
County, North Dakota, joined. The new members were: Emil Hokana, Mrs. Hilda 
Salstrom, August Ilana and Toivo Wattula. Death came to Toivo Wattula after he 
had worked with the committee for only a short time. Ray Wuolu was appointed to 
take his place. The officers were: John Peterson, president; Arne Kero, vice 
president; Mrs. Oscar S. Kotila, secretary and Emil Hokana, treasurer.

The committee had the task of building a suitable monument to the pioneers and 
of composing a history of the Finnish settlements. The monument was erected in 
memory of the Finnish pioneers of Brown and Dickey Counties of the Dakota 
Territory. This monument is located four miles east and three miles north of 
Frederick, South Dakota. The history books were published in English and 
Finnish. The purpose of the book is to bring the reader, along with the 
biographies and family histories, the story of the development of the Community 
from the days when the settler's plow turned under the fresh bones of buffalo, 
to the present time. Also to glance at the many and varied experiences of 
pioneer life.

[P168]

SHELBY TOWNSHIP
by Mrs. Harry Hoover (Jennie Kilpatrick)

As far as is known the first settler in Shelby Township was Francis Elliott, who 
with his oldest son, John, came from Michigan in the spring of 1880, and filed 
on a homestead in the southwestern corner of the township. The rest of the 
family came that fall, after the well was dug, and the claim shanty built.

[Photo: On the left is Jennie Kilpatrick Hoover. On the right is Nellie 
Kilpatrick Paddock.]

In 1882 and 1883, a large number of landseekers came to Shelby Township to take 
up land. Many came from Michigan and Illinois, although nearby states east of 
Dakota Territory, were also represented. Dr. Chas. Smith of Vermont was an early 
homesteader.

Among the other early settlers were Charles Flanders, Peter Afseth, Polycarp 
Dinger, Emmet Cole, Andrew G. Kilpatrick, Sam W. Jacques, Fred Kaupp, Clark and 
Frank Besse, Orson Hager, Joseph McDermon, William Grimes, the Nick Brothers, M. 
C. Taylor, A. M. Smith, the Flon Brothers, Caleb Paddock, Fred Paddock, L. J. 
Wheeler, Harmony Bartlett, Milton Bartlett, H. W. McCaro, W. W. Dela, J. C. 
Campbell, and C. A. Fangen. Three years later Lars Herseth, Maurice Nygaard, and 
Otto Tunby came to homestead here. Ralph Herseth, of Houghton, a recent governor 
of South Dakota, is the son of Lars.

M. C. Taylor is remembered well for it was on his farm that the first artesian 
well in Shelby Township was dug.

In 1885-86 the Chicago Northwestern Railroad was extended from Columbia to 
Oakes, North Dakota, and the village of Houghton was platted on Section 6. Part 
of the little town was in Shelby Township and part in Lansing. Sand Lake lay 
west of Houghton and was a source of delight to many settlers. Wild ducks, wild 
geese, prairie chicken, and many other birds were here. There were also many 
beautiful wild flowers--wild prairie roses, wild sweet peas, Indian paint brush, 
wild honey suckle, russian thistles, and many others.

[Photo: Town of Houghton about 1910. Main street is the dividing line between 
Shelby and Lansing Townships.The foreground is in Shelby Township.]

Ralph Herseth tells something of the development of the Sand Lake Game Refuge. 
"A gradual but persistent depletion of water fowl from northern Canada to the 
Gulf of Mexico was recognized. Ornithologists were drafted to put together a 
system of water fowl sanctuaries. One of these men

[P169]

put his finger on the marsh land which encompassed the James River, Mud Lake and 
Sand Lake. Following land sales a Civil Conservation Camp of 200 young men was 
put to work to make the Sand Lake Migratory Water Fowl Refuge a reality. It 
ranges from three to four miles in width and is sixteen and one-half miles from 
north to south. Today it is functioning as one of the best in America for the 
propagation of water fowl."

[Photo: Ralph Herseth]

Although a community is young and new, deaths occur, even among children, and a 
cemetery is needed. In 1889, a cemetery was established on the northeast corner 
of a quarter belonging to Maurice Nygaard on Section 7. That little prairie 
cemetery is today a beautiful one with big trees everywhere.

The early settlers were a friendly and sociable people. Most of them had growing 
children, and as soon as school houses were built, which was as soon as claim 
shanties were completed, social activities began. (Schools in Shelby Township 
were built in 1883.) These early school houses were the centers of social life. 
Socials, debates, and spelling matches were popular and everyone in the family 
attended, and took part in the activities, and all had a good time.

Sunday School was organized and held in a school house, and a Methodist minister 
came from Hecla, once or twice a month to preach. He came by horse and buggy and 
the trip took between two and three hours each way.

These homesteaders were also interested in politics. They were interested in 
where the county seat would be, wanting it at Columbia, and also in their 
territorial and county officers. These political meetings were also held in the 
school houses.

There were square dances held in the homes during the winter months. In every 
community there was some one who played dance tunes on a fiddle. Although space 
was limited in the homes, if the crowd was too large, turns were taken in the 
sets.

In the summer there were school, Sunday school and other picnics. The picnics 
were always held at the Afseth place on Sand Lake, the only place where there 
were trees at that time. There was always water in Sand Lake, sometimes more, 
sometimes less.

Of interest to the old timers is the blizzard of January 12, 1888. At the 
Kilpatrick school, the teacher and one boy did not get away in the early 
afternoon, as did the other pupils, so they were forced to spend the night and a 
day in the school house. There was plenty of fuel, so they kept warm and safe.

In those early days the prairie was covered with buffalo bones. For extra money, 
some of the settlers gathered the bones by the wagon load and sold them. They 
were shipped south to be used in the sugar refineries. There were no buffalo 
left when the homesteaders came, but there were antelopes who looked so graceful 
bounding over the prairie.

The only grains planted in the early years were wheat and oats. No one dreamed 
corn could be grown here. Today, Shelby Township is a prosperous land with 
beautiful farms, lots of corn is grown, and many cattle raised.

Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Bartholome were newlyweds who came from Winona, Minnesota in 
1887. They were the parents of nine children. They settled by Sand Lake and 
tried to raise a tree claim, but it was so dry the trees didn't grow.

Mrs. Hilda Mertz, Mrs. Ella Knecht of Houghton, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hinderks of 
Columbia are still living in Brown County. There are four more of their children 
that are still living out of the state.

Cliff Howe was also an early pioneer of Shelby Township.

The Houghton area has always been famous for its hunting of ducks on Sand Lake. 
Teddy Roosevelt came by special train and a side track was built for his train. 
It was stationed there while he went hunting. Shelby Township is still noted for 
its fine hunting.

[P170]

WARNER TOWNSHIP
by Helen J. Bergh

Warner Township, approximately double the usual six miles square, lies on the 
boundary of Spink and Brown Counties. Many of the first settlers came to 
Redfield which was the end of the Chicago, Northwestern Railroad, loaded the 
contents of their immigrant cars onto wagons, and traveled northward.

Among the earliest to come were Mr. and Mrs. William Rehfeld. They were the 
parents of nine children, John, Ernest, Dorothy, Clara Angerhofer, Emma 
Kraushaar, Dena Schutte, Erna, Anna, and Lewis. Others of the Rehfeld 
relationship to come were Albert, Frank, Herman, Louis, Charles, Gust, Otto, 
Christ, Mary. Mrs. Louisa Krause Rehfeld (Mrs. Christ Relifeld), is one of the 
oldest living members of this family. Her years between eighty and ninety have 
been rich in achievement. She learned to play the piano and has written three 
volumes of poems entitled "Reflections".

[Photo: Mrs. Christ (Louisa Krause) Rehfeld]

She is presently (1964) writing the history of her family, going back to her own 
great grandfather's day. Four generations were born in the same large brick 
house in Domsbrick, Saxon, Germany, a town which had been a large fortress 
surrounded by a high stone wall wide enough to accommodate a team of horses and 
wagon.

Mrs. Rehfeld remembers well her father's experiences in the German army during 
three wars, his term as guard at the Royal Palace for Frederick, the Great, the 
iron discipline which he described as "good for those who had not learned to 
obey at home", his row of medals which meant little to him for he loved the 
land. She remembers his yearly planting of willow slips from which he used the 
slender saplings to make willow baskets, his travels on foot from the lowland 
villages of Germany up into the Swiss Alps to introduce newly published books 
and songs to Lutheran ministers and teachers. She remembers her mother's family, 
her two young uncles who were kept locked in a secret bricked-up room for months 
and let out only at night because of fear of the Russians kidnapping them. 
Strange how history repeats itself!

In the very early eighties the William Krause family felt that their homeland 
was too crowded and their future under Prussian militarism too uncertain, so 
they came to America. After living in Rochester, New York for two years, they, 
together with the Christian Koch and Carl Thone families whom they had known in 
Germany, left on the Milwaukee train for Aberdeen, Dakota Territory. They stayed 
with a German family for a few days and met a young minister by the name of 
Laban who had a claim west of Warner which he was in danger of losing to claim 
jumpers because his work took him away from it so much. Mr. Krause bought the 
farm for $300--not a princely sum but men were working for $8.00 and $10.00 per 
month, and sometimes for only board and room. Mrs. Relifeld tells of coming to 
their new home.

"We were taken to this claim early in May. That night it rained so hard through 
the single board, shingle-less roof that water came in through every crack. 
Father, Mother, Brother Carl, and I all huddled under our large German umbrella 
while Mother's lovely beds and other household goods were soaked. It was the 
only rain of the summer, and potatoes and grains that fall yielded barely more 
than seed. There was nothing but an expanse of bare prairie with a howling 
coyote here and another answering over there. Grass had to be cut with a butcher 
knife until Father bought a scythe."

Mrs. Rehfeld recalls her father working on the railroad at Rudolph and boarding 
at the section boss' house, and the scare they had one night when a huge animal 
was seen in the yard. After failing to break into the barn, and after looking 
through the window into the house, he disappeared among the willows. A day or 
two later he was shot after killing a neighbor's calf and pig. He was a mountain 
lion that had escaped from a circus train at Huron. After that Mr. Krause walked 
the six miles night and morning to be with his family at night. She also tells 
of their first blizzard. "The first winter much snow fell and one morning when 
Father started to open the door it was as if it were locked. Much snow had 
fallen during the night and had drifted way up to the roof completely shutting 
us in with the exception of a little light that came through the upper part of 
one of the little windows. My father was a very strong six-footer. He pushed 
with all his strength against the door until there was a little crack. At first 
he used a tablespoon handle and then a large stirring spoon to scrape the 
hardest snow and by and by he got the door open.

[P171]

Believe me, that door was soon changed to open to the inside. Through those hard 
winters not one of us was sick although many times it was so cold that Mother 
would put the bread into a feather bed to keep it from freezing. When the coal 
was used up Father and Brother Fred took an empty straw tick, went to the 
nearest straw pile, and brought a full load of straw home to burn so that his 
little family might have warmth."

Mrs. Rehfeld tells of later years, of her brother Fred inventing a clock that 
would run a year without winding, of the non-existent $300.00 that patent rights 
would cost, of her own years cooking in a cook car for threshing crews for $3.00 
per week and of one threshing crew operator who refused to pay her for cooking 
on days it rained because then he wasn't making money!

In looking backward over a long and busy life Mrs. Rehfeld expresses gratitude 
for America and happiness for the wonderful memories of her life.

In 1947 Mrs. Rehfeld received the citation of Eminent Homemaker for South 
Dakota, presented by the South Dakota State College at Brookings.

In September, 1964, Mrs. Allan Wilson, also of the Warner area, received this 
same citation from Brookings.

North of Warner were three brothers, Ole Swanson, who followed the surveyors 
west from Ortonville, Swan Nelson, and Henry Swanson. Mrs. Sidney Hirsch and 
Carl of Aberdeen, are Ole's children.

Herman Froelich came in 1880, filed on land, returned to Wisconsin to marry 
Albertina Marquardt, and then returned to Warner Township. There were seven 
children born, Emma, Martha Wobick, Annie, August, William, Paul, and Rudolph. 
In 1888, his father, August Froelich, a cabinet maker, and his family joined 
him. August's children, in addition to Herman, were William, Fred, Paul, Otto, 
and Louisa (Mrs. C. A. Werth). Fred's three sons are Ted, Ernest, and Christ.

Coming to the northeast corner of the township was Samuel Fulker from Missouri. 
His children were Isaiah, Noah, John, Samuel, David, and Lillian (Mrs. Don 
Lyon). After two years Samuel left and his son Isaiah (Ike) continued on the 
homestead. Mrs. Noah Fulker (Aunt Nelly) is now (1964) one hundred years old. 
Ike's son, Harold, lives near Aberdeen.

The William Gubin family arrived on their homestead in April, 1880. Mrs. 
Gertrude Gubin Nilsson of Bath, daughter of Charles, and granddaughter of 
William, tells this story. In 1870, William Gubin, a war-weary and badly injured 
young man who had fought in the Franco-Prussia War, accepted Germany as his new 
homeland, married Wilhelmina Wobick, and set about earning a living. Letters 
from relatives in the United States gave the young couple hope. He managed to 
obtain work from the owner of a merchant vessel to pay their passage over. In 
1873 they reached Wisconsin, already filled with immigrants. In 1880 he staked a 
claim near Rondell. The wagon trip from Wisconsin to Rondell in March was 
difficult. There were five children and when the din was too great to be borne, 
the wagon was stopped and the worst offenders tossed out to cool their heels 
walking beside the wagon. Only four years later William Gubin died as the result 
of his old war wounds. He left seven children, Augusta, Anna Moulton, Emma 
Thelen, Winnie Campbell, Charles, Emil, and Frank. The oldest boy, Charles, was 
only in the third grade. School attendance was impossible. It fell to nine year 
old Charles and his mother to try to make a living. They never saw money. Many 
winter days they had only bread made by grinding wheat in the coffee mill. The 
Charles Gubin family moved to Warner Township some time later.

This same year Alfred Hall of Rio, Wisconsin heard of the Dakota prairies and 
proceeded westward, working on the Chicago, Milwaukee Railroad until it reached 
Aberdeen. He found the 480 acres he was looking for on the east bank of the 
Mocassin Creek. Having battled stones and stumps as so many other Wisconsin 
farmers had done he was mightily pleased that on his whole farm he found only 
two stones--and they small enough to carry home in his hand.

The next spring, 1881, Charles Schnorr came from Rochester, Minnesota. He 
crossed the James River by ferry, squatted on land before it was surveyed, and 
broke up enough sod to build a home. He went home and returned the next year 
with his family of seven children, again crossing at the Rondell ferry. Ralph 
Schnorr lives near Aberdeen.

The Henry Ihdes brought their family of ten from Wisconsin. Several third and 
four generation Ihdes still live near Warner. Henry Bruse brought his family to 
New Hope Township and the following year his daughter Elizabeth married Charles 
Rozell, who had come from Iowa. While building the sod house they lived in the 
covered wagon, then took the oxen and the wheels of the wagon to Watertown for 
lumber. Edward C. Payne, his wife and their seven children came from New York. 
Floyd's son, Sylvester is still on the original land. Moss Lupient was the 
neighborhood violin player.

Michael Ryman, born in Switzerland, had migrated to Jeffersonville, N. Y., and 
to Warner Township in 1881. Always on the alert to find new and better ways of 
getting his work done, he invented a self-feeder for the threshing machine. He 
had seven children. Edward, Glenn, and William still live in this area. Mrs. Ed. 
Ryman is the youngest daughter of Andrew K. Tollefson who came to Bates Township 
in 1882.

Washington Holmes and Jim Bassett came from Rochester, Minnesota in 1881. They 
walked from Watertown, lived in a tiny box of a house the first summer and 
returned to Minnesota for the winter. Holmes married Cora Wescott, whose folks 
came here in 1882. There were two children, George and Ethel (Mrs. Ing Palmer).

John H. Barnes, grandfather of C. L. Seaman, was a Civil War veteran from a 
Wisconsin cavalry unit. He homesteaded northeast of Aberdeen and worked on the 
Duluth-Pierre Railroad grade. He married a daughter of Charles Seaman, an early 
resident of Warner. Charles Seaman had left the Elgin watch factory in Illinois 
and come out here for

[P172]

health reasons. He looked carefully over the situation at Aberdeen and Warner 
and decided that Warner had greater promise for the future.

The same year the Louis, Ferdinand, and Carl Fuhrman families came from 
Wisconsin. Louis married Emma Gubin. Their children were William who married 
Hulda Brick, Louis who married Bertha Bugner, and Emma (Mrs. August Angerhofer). 
A grandson of Louis, William Fuhrman and his wife, Margaret Slack Fuhrman, now 
own the original home. Their daughter, Miss Charlean, was Miss South Dakota in 
1962. Carl Fuhrman had no children. They lived in Warner where Mrs. Fuhrman did 
rug weaving. Ferdinand's wife, Hannah, told of walking with a friend, six miles 
for a gallon of milk. She was carrying her baby, Fred, who was the first white 
child born in Warner Township. A dust storm came up and they became lost. They 
saw figures moving, thought they were Indians, and ran. Hampered by the baby and 
the pail of milk, they were easily caught, not by Indians, but by the Aaron 
Geary family, over in Rondell Township threshing grain.

Others coming about the same time were the three Cate brothers, Alfred, Frank, 
and Albert from Pine Island, Minnesota. The Alfred Cate's had three children.

Mrs. Lemana Heckman tells of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lindekugel who 
filed near Mansfield in 1882. He was a carpenter who helped many of his 
neighbors build their claim shanties. He also helped build the first Chicago, 
Milwaukee depot in Aberdeen. Mr. Lindekugel served on the school board and was 
superintendent of a Sunday School for many years. Mrs. Lindekugel and a 
neighbor, Mrs. John Neiger, wove carpets for their parlors during the long 
winters. The women of the community enjoyed quilting bees and the young people 
had a good many parties. If the weather was too bad when it was time to go home, 
they stayed all night and went home in the morning. Other neighbors were Fred 
Kuechle from Wisconsin, Mr. and Mrs. John Charles Fisher, grandparents of Mrs. 
Glen Ryman, Henry Bettman, Prudence Wilson, and Charles Olson, who first worked 
for Dr. Cook.

Mrs. Allan Wilson, whose late husband was the son of early pioneers, Mr. and 
Mrs. Frank Wilson, gives an interesting account of the early history of Warner. 
"The location of Warner was made on June 28, 1880, on which date the townsite 
was scripped. Four weeks previous, on June 1, Eugene and Charles A. Horning, and 
E. C. Payne had filed on land. The following day the Cate brothers filed, on 
June 3, E. J. Gates and William Rehfeld made entries, and on June 4, Martin 
Boardman filed. The Chicago, Milwaukee Railroad track was laid through Warner in 
the fall of 1881 and trains came through in the spring of 1882. The year 1881 
brought August Berg and Ulrich Bosley."

The town was platted in parts of sections 1 and 2. The surveying was done by H. 
A. Sanborn at the request of the owners of the property, Delia M. and Charles H. 
Prior. The legal instrument pertaining to the town was drawn up in Hennepin 
County, Minnesota on July 6, 1881, and filed for record with D. C. McKenzie, 
Register of Deeds, Brown County on August 1, 1888. Specifications for the town 
were these: Unless shown otherwise, all lots were to be 142 feet in length and 
all streets to be sixty-six feet wide except Main Street which was to be eighty 
feet wide. Alleys not otherwise marked were to be sixteen feet wide. This legal 
paper was duly notarized by J. F. Brown.

On August 18, 1883, The Warner Sun appeared under the management of Bistoe and 
C. J. McCleod. Later C. J. McCleod took over the entire management and continued 
for about five years, then sold out to Frank Kile, who several years later moved 
the paper to Aberdeen. The first issue of the paper showed, among others, 
Bidtness and Huseby, and N. I. Gilbert having stocks of general merchandise. A. 
E. Berg was running the blacksmith shop. The story is told of Mr. Berg's first 
look at his homestead. He was disappointed that there was a big slough on it. 
Later he was most happy about it, for some years the only crop he got was from 
the slough.

The October 31, 1890, issue of the paper listed the business card of Anson 
Green, Attorney, the livery stable at Foster House, W. A. Moulton, Prop., Foster 
House itself, Warner Machine Repair Shops, C. J. Peterson, Prop., The St. Croix 
Lumber Co., L. C. Turner, Prop., a Plea for subscriptions to THE SUN, The 
Farmer's Store, John Garland Prop., Light and Heavy Harness, Prop., William 
Gardner, N. I. Gilbert's General Store in the post office building, Seaman's 
Hardware Store with the latest improved gasoline stoves, Warner Drugstore 
carrying drugs, jewelry, wallpaper, and notions, Proprietor, Dr. J. W. Cook, who 
also advertised a blood purifier that no family could be without. The Economy 
Store, P. K. Willis, Prop., was advertised as the cheapest place in Brown County 
to buy anything in the line of general merchandise. The Bank of Warner with F. 
H. Hagerty, President; W. H. Paulhamus, Vice President; and Frank Payne, 
Cashier, had a capital of $25,000. This paper served its neighboring town of 
Aberdeen to the north too, for there were large advertisements for Leonard and 
Wohlforth, listing dry goods and cloaks; Beard, Gage, and Beard, listing a sale 
of good apron gingham, bleached cotton, and cotton flannel for 60 per yard. S. 
W. Narregang was in the artesian well drilling business, and The Golden Eagle 
offered a full stock of winter clothing.

[Photo: Warner Main Street in early 1900's.]

For a time Warner was larger than Aberdeen. When Aberdeen got the railroads 
empty basements began to appear as buildings were moved away. Fowler's Hotel, 
Brown's Livery Stable, the barber

[P173]

shop, saloon, and a few other old timers kept doing business. The owner lived 
above the saloon and had a keg of beer with a spigot. The small kids came with 
their play tea cups and sampled freely.

To return to the early days out in the township, Mr. and Mrs. William Neiger 
were early settlers who decided Warner Township was the ideal place to put down 
roots. They bought the Boardman homestead. As a boy he had come out from New 
York state with his parents, brothers, and sisters. His wife, Mary, came to 
America in 1873 and to Warner in 1890. They are parents of Ted Neiger. A great 
granddaughter, Mrs. Velma Stassel, remembers the family story of his short nose. 
He owned a rather spirited horse and when he tried to harness him, the horse bit 
off the end of his nose. John H. Neiger dug a coal shaft on his land but it was 
not possible to control the water in the shaft so the mining venture was not 
successful. The old home has had several owners always within the relationship, 
from Neiger to Luke Moulton, to Edmund Mueller, again to Neiger--perhaps one of 
the few places with the fifth generation of the same blood.

The Lewis Kempf family came in the early 80's. There were of course no 
telephones, so neighbors had trouble contacting one another. If some one needed 
help and put a light in the window, Mrs. Kempf always came. The two Sauck 
brothers, William and August came from Germany in the early 80's. They 
homesteaded northwest of Rudolph and worked on the railroad. Later William Sauck 
married a Muhlenbach girl from Aberdeen Township and moved to a farm north of 
Warner. He had one son, August, and a grandson William Kenneth. Albert G. Bruse 
came in 1883.

Mrs. Ed. Wilson of Warner tells of her early years. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. 
John G. Smith, came to Dakota from Ohio in 1882 in the hope of finding a more 
healthful climate for members of the family afflicted with tuberculosis, or 
consumption as it was then called. They homesteaded in New Hope Township where 
they lived until they moved to Mansfield in 1895 and bought half interest in the 
Cannon and Peck store, later known as Cannon and Smith. She tells of the deaths 
from diphtheria of her two brothers, the home-made coffins her father sealed and 
placed by the road side where a neighbor picked them up and carried them to the 
cemetery.

For the long walk to school in the winter, they wore sheep skin with wool inside 
over their shoes and leather mittens lined with red flannel, all made by their 
father.

The Mansfield family migrated from Ireland in 1882 and John Mansfield donated 
land for the settlers to start a town. The railroad dug a well so there was good 
drinking water. The Spink-Brown County line is Main Street.

J. C. Seeley was the first depot agent and telegraph operator. After he went 
into the banking business at Beresford, Mary Ageton of Lake Benton, Minnesota 
took his place. She married Frank Remde, a school teacher. They started a 
general store which ran for sixteen years. There were two children, Bernice, the 
first Gypsy Day Queen of Northern Normal Industrial School (Northern State 
College) and Frank, a doctor.

[Photo: Mansfield Depot, 1892. Mae Ageton (Mrs. Frank Remde), Nan Mansfield, 
Jane Mansfield, Lizzie Mansfield, Maude Comer, W. G. Wells and Rhea Wells, Mrs. 
W. G. Wells, Mrs. John Madison and Luella, Mrs. Burke, Ben Whirley, Emil Colby, 
Henry Nelson, Leon and Roy Wells.]

John Madison came from Denmark in 1883 and became section boss. His half 
brother, Henry Nelson came shortly after. W. H. Brown started the Mansfield 
State Bank in 1902, and it has been in continuous operation since. Leon and Ray 
Wells became Aberdeen business men.

[Photo: "Doc DeWolf", Mansfield]

Mrs. Esther Woodard of Mansfield tells some interesting things about her family, 
the Adolph P. Langelands of Milwaukee who came in the spring of 1882. He walked 
from Watertown. His land joined the big slough east of Mansfield and having been 
a sailor, he thought it would be great to live by a lake. So he started building 
his house in the side of the bank of the slough. He wrote to his wife and told 
her of their lake home. When she and their eight year old daughter, Mabel, 
arrived in September, the slough was dry and filled with tall rushes. Every 
spring it filled and one spring he built a boat and sailed it. He spent much 
time cooking for railroad

[P174]
	
and road crews, so Mrs. Langeland was often alone. Once she thought she saw an 
Indian, so she locked the doors and covered the windows. When no one came, she 
looked out and saw a big Russian thistle. In the spring of 1898 there was a big 
flood and the family had to move to a house across the road. Mrs. Langeland had 
to stay until her bread was baked. By that time the water was almost up to the 
oven door. They built a new house on higher ground.

Mr. Langeland, as well as every one else, had to walk to Warner to get the mail 
and buy groceries. Once a blizzard came up and when it cleared Mrs. Langeland 
feared that he couldn't find his way home, so she stood on the roof waving her 
red and white checked tablecloth. Her two brothers, Ole and Thomas Thompson had 
come out with them. Ole built a blacksmith shop in the north end of town which 
he kept for about forty years, then retired to Langeland's farm where he had a 
small shop. Thomas Thompson filed on land west of Mansfield. He married Nellie 
Cate of Warner. They had a son, Lee. Tom was a photographer and spent much time 
in the Black Hills. He wrote poems, mostly about the hard times of the 90's, and 
kept a diary for many years. There were seven Langeland children, including 
Esther Woodard and Nellie Neiger.

A. S. Chesebro filed immediately east of Warner, and M. J. Hogeboom south and 
west of town. Henry Wellhausen and his son Charles took adjoining quarters in 
1884. Charles worked for William Papke in New Hope Township for a time and also 
drove a freight wagon from Brown's Valley, Minnesota to Fort Sisseton. He 
decided to go to Canada and strike it rich, so he shipped an immigrant car with 
$1,000 worth of equipment up there. Things didn't work out as he expected and 
after a few years he was back in Warner Township with very little but the 
experience and his two hands.

The same year Mr. and Mrs. William Schoppe and their family of eight came from 
Wisconsin. Their son Ferdinand, thirteen at the time, spent the balance of his 
life, about seventy-five years, on the same place. A son, Roy, now occupies it. 
Gustav Rieck, father of Christ Reick, and Andrew Brog (later changed to Brooks) 
came in the middle 80's. A son, Tom Brooks, lives in Mercier Township. Three 
Kienow brothers, Ferdinand, Charles, and Fred came from Wisconsin in 1885. 
Ferdinand's three sons were Frank, Henry, and Ferdinand, Jr. (Ferney). A 
grandson, Merlin, is on the home place.

In 1886, Mr. and Mrs. August Dahme and their eight children came from Minnesota. 
The August Wagners, parents of Mrs. Otto Dahme came in the early 90's. The 
William Wobicks came in 1886. George, Herman, Martha Dunker, Clara Rehfeld, and 
Anna Rehfeld still reside in the Warner area. The same year Frank John Parsch 
brought his family from Wisconsin and bought in the township. His children, Gus, 
John, Henry, and Anna married four Angerhofers. The Gus Parsch family had six 
children, George, Wesley, Frank, Herbert, Don, and Emma Grover, most of them 
living in Aberdeen.

[Photo: A family gathering at the home of Frank John Parsch in Warner Township 
in 1899.]

Warner Township had a third town, now almost a ghost town. One of the first 
settlers in the Rudolph area was John Morrow, who homesteaded in 1883. A 
Richards family lived there for many years and the father worked on the Chicago, 
Northwestern Railroad. The Lyons family was related to the Morrows. Another 
family was the McCormick's. The Jacobson's had a blacksmith shop. The Morrows 
had a little store and post office. John Morrow's son, James, lived there and 
now the land is farmed by the third generation. Rudolph School was built in 1881 
in the Morrow pasture south of the building site, but later moved north of the 
two elevators and the depot. One of its earlier teachers

[P175]

was M. M. Gubin. The building is now used as a granary. Martin Troge homesteaded 
north of Rudolph in 1881. His brother, Fred, came a little later and lived 
southwest of town. A Mr. and Mrs. Gerhard came from Iowa with their four 
children. Mr. Gerhard was drowned in Mocassin Creek and his widow went back to 
Iowa. Later she returned and married Martin Troge. There were three children, 
Alma Labisky, Ed, and Ralph.

[Photo: Threshing rig belonging to Richard H. Ristau, Warner Township. Mr. 
Ristau stands on large engine wheel.]

Those who platted the town probably expected great things to develop. There are 
a Lafayette Street, a Main Street, and a Steuben Street. At one time it was very 
important because it was the end of the railroad and many immigrant cars stopped 
there.

Edwin Rietz bought a relinquishment west of Warner in about 1884, moved to 
Warner Township in 1888 and to Gem Township in 1899. According to a later news 
story, Mr. Rietz was the first man in Brown County to plant a field of Grimm 
Alfalfa. He purchased the seed directly from Mr. Grimm who had smuggled the 
first seed to America in his cane. Mrs. Rietz was a charter member of the 
Methodist Church.

Herman Stellner and his wife and seven children, came from Wisconsin in 1890. 
They bought land in the north part of the township.

In 1898 the Richard Ristau family came from New Hope. Both Richard Ristau and 
Martha Marie Drees came first to Rudolph, Richard in 1884 as a fourteen year old 
boy from Hamburg, Germany, and Martha Drees in 1889 from Pestigo, Wisconsin. 
Many young men of that day worked at other occupations along with their farming, 
and Richard spent part of his time railroading in Fargo, North Dakota.

After their marriage their first home was a sod house northwest of Mansfield. 
Mrs. Henry Weidebusch came over when Elsie Ristau-Frostad and William Ristau 
were born. Their other children, Mrs. George (Alma) Rogers, Mrs. Everette 
(Dorothy) Zeigler, Mrs. Edward (Irene) Olstyn, Mrs. Gordon (Margaretha) Bergh, 
and Norman, were born in Warner Township. Richard Ristau was a well-known 
thresherman and old diaries give interesting accounts. For many years he was a 
member of the Warner school board along with Charles Barkl and Ferd Schoppe. An 
ardent believer in education, five of his children received college training, 
three with degrees, a sixth had business training and a seventh farmed.

[Photo: The Cook Car went along with the threshing rig.]

Early in 1882, Pastor David Lebahn, living at Scatterwood Lake, conducted 
services in the Warner school house. There were enough German Lutherans in 
Warner to organize a church. Charter members were: W. Froelich, W. Fuhrman, W. 
Gubin, H. Ihde, E. Marin, P. Martin, W. Rappe, A. Rehfeld, C. Rehfeld, Sr., W. 
Sauck, F. Troge, and W. Wobick. Pastor Prue was sent to assist Pastor Lebahn. 
The two men at one time served twenty-eight congregations reaching from Warner 
to Leola, Roscoe, Bowdle, Bath, Aberdeen, Rondell, and in McPherson, Potter, and 
Campbell Counties. On May 6, 1889, St. John's congregation was incorporated.

In 1886 the Warner Cemetery was established. It was a five acre tract surveyed 
and platted by A. J. Pierce, surveyor; the certificate of survey properly 
notarized by W. C. Foster, and accepted by J. M. Patton, Register of Deeds for 
County of Brown, Dakota Territory, and accepted by Fred Fisher, Chairman of the 
Warner Township board. Graves of very early times were found along the banks of 
Mocassin Creek. There were no markers so that area was left for lawn and another 
piece of land to the south was purchased. Some of the older folks in Warner 
remember attending church in a parsonage in this cemetery.

On July 26, 1899 an election was held and the Warner School District No. 2 was 
organized. The Chairman was Charles D. Wilson, Clerk was Charles Horning, and 
Treasurer was Wilhelm Rehfeld. There were thirty-nine children in the district. 
In 1900 it was voted to have ten weeks of school beginning April 16. Miss Laura 
Pellow was the teacher. Later they decided to have a five month term at $35 per 
month. This school was later named the Wright School after Mr. and Mrs. S. M. 
Wright.

The first school house in Warner was constructed in the very early eighties and 
as it became crowded another frame building was built. As the community

[P176]

has grown Warner has kept pace with it by building a modern brick structure.

[Photo: St. John's Church in Warner.]

This entire area is related through intermarriages. It is a stable, progressive 
community with fourth and even fifth generations of many of the, early families 
still living on the original homesteads. Other early families included: 
Hofmaster, George Perry, Whitney, Borchard, I. O. Hollenbeck, George Sweet, 
William Zell, Gust Zell, Radike, H. G. Bengs, Louis Larson, Frank Richerts, 
James Wheelehan, Minerva J. Dawes, Albert  Kuhfield, Anderson, Adolph Ott, Byron 
Wilson, Pansegrau, E. J. Mather, Nellie Wynn, Emelia Anderson, Andrew Smeby, and 
John Glau.

Children of Charles Schnoor: Alfred, Ralph, Christina, Blanche, Albert, Edna, 
Clara. Children of Edward C. Payne: Floyd, William, Emery, Frank, Carrie, 
Trilvian, Maud. Children of Michael Ryman: Michael, John, Casper,. Edward, Mrs. 
Payne, Mattie Neiger, Amelia Hye. Children of Adolph P. Langeland: Henry, 
Lester, Selmer, Lena, Arthur, Esther Woodward, Nellie Neiger. Children of 
William Schoppe: Ferdinand, Albert, Amelia, Anna,Louisa, Bertha Moak, Emma, 
Helen. Children of August Dahme: Emil, August, Richard, Fred, Albert, Ida, Emma, 
John, Otto. Children of Herman Stellner: Herbert, John, Arnold, Elsie, Esther, 
Alma, Agnes. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Gerhard: John, Herman C., Caroline, Emma.

[Photo: "Aunt Prude Ives"]

[Photo: Oxen pulling the binder. From the collection of Elsie Ristau Frostad.]

[P177]

WESTPORT TOWNSHIP
As told by Mrs. John H. (Elizabeth Van Buren) Perry to Paul W. Kieser

Father and I left Dolgeville, N. Y., when I was 21 years old (1884) and went to 
Westport, Dakota Territory, where my sister, Maie, and her husband (Charles B. 
Shouse) were located. We went on the railroad, via Minneapolis and Aberdeen. 
When we got to Minneapolis we were held up several days by a blizzard. We 
stopped at the Dayton Hotel. The country west of Minneapolis was wild and 
unsettled. Aberdeen boasted only about a dozen houses, but many stores. We saw 
about four houses in Westport, and three store buildings and the hotel.

Mr. Shouse had a bank, hardware store and lumber yard in Westport and a farm 
about seven miles out of town. The bank and the hardware store were housed in 
the same room of his store building and he had very comfortable living quarters 
upstairs. The bank's safe was just an ordinary big mercantile safe.

My reason for going to Westport was partly to keep my sister from getting so 
homesick and partly to prove up on a claim. Father, who had retired from 
business the previous year, went along because he didn't want me to make the 
long trip alone, and also to prove up on a claim himself. We staked out 
adjoining tracts of land, about two miles west of Leola, and built a wooden 
shanty for the two of us. My claim was next to the one staked out by Hamlin 
Garland, who later became a famous author. He lived with his people in Ordway 
most of the time, spending only the required time on his claim to enable him to 
perfect his title to the land.

[Photo: J. B. Johnson Store and the first hotel.]

Before we made the trip west, Maie had sent me a newspaper with pictures and an 
elaborate writeup of the Methodist University at Ordway, Dakota, which gave us 
an idea of a wonderful institution to be found there. When we arrived in Ordway 
and looked for the University we found that it did not exist. There was only a 
hole in the ground and "great expectations" which never materialized. There must 
have been some other Methodist plans, too, which went awry in those same days. 
We got to know a Mr. Boggs who was bitterly disappointed--he had expected to 
become a presiding elder or something of the sort in the Methodist Church in 
that area. But he did not realize his ambition; he felt that he had "gotten a 
rotten deal" from the church.

When father and I got established on our claims it became my duty to go in to 
Leola for the mail. I would walk the two miles to town with father sitting up on 
top of our shanty so that he could watch my progress across the lonely country. 
He was afraid, I guess, that the Indians might get me. Father would spend a good 
deal of his time hunting ducks; and my, the ducks he would bring in.

I never did prove up on my claim. I was married in December, 1886, and sold my 
rights to the land. Father, however, did prove up on his claim and then went 
back to Dolgeville. E. C. Torrey many years later, northwest editor of the 
Minneapolis Journal, was on a nearby claim, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles N. Herreid 
were also located near us. The Herreid's house in Leola, quite small, had Mr. 
Herreid's law office in the front room. I do not recall that they had a shack on 
their claim-they may have just slept out in the open to fulfill the actual 
residential requirements. Mr. Herreid was later governor of South Dakota.

Soon after we arrived in Westport some outdoor religious meetings were held 
there. One night the Shouses took a guest from the East, Lottie Akin, to the 
services. The congregation had to sit on planks. The Shouses and their guest sat 
on a plank but the plank broke and Maie, in her beautiful plum colored dress, 
far and away the most fashionably dressed woman there, went down in an 
ignominious and undignified heap, which completely spoiled the event for her.

When we were located on our claims, father and I had as near neighbors, as 
distances went in that country in those days, Mr. and Mrs. Clark from Brooklyn. 
Mr. Clark was a Baptist minister and was a mighty fine speaker, but he was a 
cripple. He had to preach sitting down. Mrs. Clark had to do most of the work 
about the place. I remember her driving an ox team to Ipswich (more than 30 
miles distant) to get the lumber for their shanty. A pole was hung between the 
oxen and the other end was slung between a pair of wheels. Mrs. Clark rode this 
pole to Ipswich and back and brought the lumber on this rig.

Mr. Martindale (a bachelor) and his sister were other neighbors that we saw 
something of. Miss Martindale once invited me to stay overnight with her. That 
night a big hailstorm came along and practically ruined her garden, on which she 
had worked so hard. I still remember how she cried when she saw the damage. 
Another time Miss Martindale saw a streak of lightning apparently go right into 
the ground not far from their shack. She later went to this spot and found in 
that exact location an Indian mound. The body of an Indian was exposed and the 
many beads and other paraphernalia which had been buried with him.

[P178]

Mr. Boggs, whom we saw frequently, used to go to Ordway to visit the Garlands. 
Then, when he visited with the Shouses and us, he would tell us the latest news 
about the Garlands. "You will hear from Hamlin," he would tell us, "He's a 
talented boy. "

Maie used to sing beautifully in those days. I would play for her accompaniment. 
Once she was invited to sing at a concert given for the benefit of the Methodist 
Church in Ordway. I went along to play her accompaniment. She made a decided hit 
at the concert. The Garlands entertained us that time. They lived in the back of 
their store. We had a very nice dinner and visit with them.

Mr. McPherson, who with his daughter lived in Westport, started a dramatic club. 
Maie and I belonged to the group and some of the other members were: Mr. Shouse, 
Frank Garland, and George Narregang. We gave plays in Westport and surrounding 
towns and had an awfully good time doing it. One of the places where we put on a 
play was Ordway. I was in Aberdeen, visiting with my friends the Butlers, when 
the arrangements were made for this play. The McPhersons sent me a telegram 
asking me to come to Ordway to help put on the play. The Butlers said that they 
would come up for the occasion and bring their crowd of friends. They did, and 
Mr. Butler afterwards said that he had never dreamed that a home-talent play 
could be put on as well as this was. He invited our group to come to Aberdeen, 
where he arranged for the play to be given at the Opera House which that town 
already boasted. We had to give a repeat performance the next night, and, all in 
all, this appearance in the "big city" was a great success.

As Christmas was approaching, my first Christmas in Dakota, the Shouses went 
back to Joliet for a visit. They decided to leave me in charge of the store, 
closing the bank for the time being. Mr. Shouse had by this time disposed of his 
lumber yard. I was to live in their apartment above the store and have the hired 
boy to help me during business hours and a neighbor woman and her daughter to 
stay with me in the apartment at night. Mr. Shouse had paid off numerous wheat 
checks before he left so that there would be very little banking business to be 
done in his absence.

The first night that I was to spend in the apartment things were somewhat 
complicated. The mother (Mrs. McGoffin) and daughter would be quite late in 
arriving, for the 12-year old daughter was going to her first dancing party that 
night. Ralph, the hired boy, volunteered to stay until Mrs. McGoffin and her 
daughter arrived. Ralph and I stayed up till 10 o'clock marking goods that had 
come in that day.

Most of the money taken in that day I had already sent to the bank in Aberdeen. 
But after this had been sent more trade came in and some folks came in to pay 
off on their notes. I had more than $200.00 with me when I retired. I put it in 
a deep pocket of my dress, turned the dress inside out and hung it in the 
closet. I left only a few dollars in the safe downstairs.

During the hours of the night, before the McGoffins arrived, I was uneasy. I 
woke up once and heard the sign banging. Other times I stirred and thought I 
heard noises. When Emma finally arrived, I asked her to go through the store and 
see if everything was all right. Apparently it was. This was about three o'clock 
in the morning. In the morning Ralph called me down to the store to see a 
shattered window, the stove left with door open and fire gone out, and the safe 
door blown open and papers scattered all over the place.

I was immediately suspicious of a traveling man who had been in the store 
several times that day and had seen come of the folks paying off on their notes. 
But when I investigated him I found that he was a man of good character and 
above suspicion.

[Photo: The day the train arrived in Westport, 1881.]

An early visitor that morning was a local resident, known to be somewhat lazy 
and shiftless. It was unheard of to see him up and about at the early hour when 
he visited the store. One of the first things he said to Ralph was: "Heard about 
the burglary?" And he went on to tell us that a pair of white horses had been 
stolen out of the livery barn the night before. I then told him that burglars 
had also visited the store. When the train

[P179]

arrived it brought another traveling man who visited the store. He told us of 
seeing a pair of white horses tied up down the road a ways. I wired Ellendale to 
be on the lookout for suspicious characters but none were taken up.

Years later lightning struck the house in which our shiftless neighbor lived. 
Mr. Shouse in walking about the ruins after the house was burned down kicked up 
an object which excited his curiosity. On closer examination he found it was his 
own revolver which had been left in the store the night of the robbery. While we 
felt now that we knew who burglarized the store, we kept quiet about it.



WESTPORT TOWNSHIP and TOWN
by Mrs. C. L. Callaghan

The townsite of Westport was scripped on June 28, 1880. The first filing in the 
vicinity appears to be that of J. R. Neer, made in September, 1880. Frank A. 
Howard filed the following January. John A. Lovelace and John A. Houlahan filed 
the same year, but the rush came in 1882. The grading of the railroad was done 
in the summer of 1881, and the rails were laid that fall. The townsite was 
platted in the fall of 1881. It is twelve miles north of Aberdeen. A trial trip 
was made by train to Frederick in the fall of 1881. Among the passengers was a 
Mrs. McHugh of Aberdeen.

The first building in town was the Hempstead Hotel which is still standing 
(1952) and is used as a residence. A general merchandise store was built on Main 
Street. This store was occupied by Cole and Obreight. Later it burned down. The 
bank that was built on this site by Roy and L. A. Brooks is now used as a 
grocery store. The depot was built in the spring of 1882. Oscar Dicky circulated 
a petition for a post office. Obreight was the first postmaster. Frank Hempstad 
was another early postmaster. In "The Westport Watchman", in September, 1883, 
Campbell and Geeslin have their store advertisement, calling it the Post Office 
Store.

Rev. Brown was the first minister. R. L. Gernon told of going to the Methodist 
Sunday School upstairs, on a ladder, in a boarding house run by Mrs. A. V. 
Dennison, mother of Ruby and Ralph Dennison. Mr. Denison was a barber and died 
of tuberculosis. Catholic services were held in homes in the community, often in 
the Patrick Callaghan home nine miles northwest of Westport. A church was built 
in 1914.

The school house was built in 1884 or 1885. One of the first teachers was Miss 
Obreight, sister of the storekeeper. Country schools were built at the same 
time. The school southwest of town, in later years called the McGovern School, 
was taught by R. L. Gernon in 1886.

In 1885, "The Westport Watchman" was moved to Frederick and the name changed to 
the "Frederick Mirror". Early business places advertised in it were: C. B. 
Shouse, Hardware; Wilcox Brothers, One Horse Store; Crosby, Heninger and Co., 
Lumber; Campbell and Geeslin, General Merchandise; Bergoff and Bergoff, Dry 
Goods; and F. H. Halloway, Harness Maker. John Firey ran a drug store in the 
early eighties. Adolph Morrow, a Frenchman, was one of the early blacksmiths. 
Frank Sieman, still living here, came in 1882 from Kankakee, Illinois. In 1915 
he opened the first garage in Westport. Mr. Siemann was I year old when he 
accompanied his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Siemann.

[Photo: Westport's first two-room school, 1890.]

Grant Tooker, one of the early settlers, told of the first burial at Westport. 
In the late fall of 1883 a man named Albright died of consumption. He had lived 
west of town. No one would volunteer to dig the grave, but when Jim Tooker, 
Grant's father offered to do it if pick and shovel were furnished, others came 
and helped, also. A man named Austin was murdered just west of the county line 
in McPherson County and was the second to be buried there. A Matt Gregory, who 
was thrown from a horse, breaking a leg which failed to heal was the third to be 
buried there.

Indians from Sisseton would go through to visit the Sioux out towards Mobridge 
and LeBeau. They traveled in light wagons drawn by teams of ponies. Often they 
had a pony tied behind which they used for racing purposes. Murry Dicky asked an 
Indian, "Run race?" The Indian replied, "See horse." So Dicky sent Will Neer 
after a pony. An Indian woman dug up $12 to bet on the race. The Indians were 
seen to stop and spend some time at the Indian mounds, one right north of town, 
where remains and relics of Indians were later dug up. The government finally 
forbade the visiting between Indians and Whites on account of smallpox which 
took quite a toll of lives of red men in those times.

Ed Friel of Wetonka told of coming to Westport in the spring of 1887. He said it 
was a thriving village of three general stores, hardware store,

[P180]

harness shop, lumber yard, machinery store, two grain elevators, three hotels, 
but only four private residences. The business men were mainly living in rear of 
stores or on the second floor. He related that in those early days Westport was 
a great shipping point for grain, its western territory extending several miles 
west of Leola and north to Frederick.

Fred Newell was the first depot agent.

On several occasions water was in some of the store buildings. One store keeper, 
Murry Dicky, used to wade around in rubber boots waiting on customers. A raft 
was used to carry people around the town. A ditch, dug to the river, was put in 
and no more trouble was experienced that way. Wooden sidewalks, raised up on 
posts, were remnants reminding people later of the watery condition.

A store on Main Street, managed by O. Ostrum, was bought by Gernon and Anderson. 
They operated it for five or six years; then it became the Gernon Store. Fred 
Benjamin was in charge part of the time in 1897. The general store operated by 
Frank Geeslin was wiped out by fire caused by lightning in 1895.

The Gernon claim shanty was on the government trail between Watertown and 
Bismarck. They kept a hotel for passing immigrants. William Gernon was cook part 
of the time. Gerald and George Gernon were also in claim shanties there. A herd 
of 260 oxen were driven at one time over the trail on the way to the Standing 
Rock Agency.  They were held over until a few days later when seven carloads of 
young cattle were added, 400 cattle in all. When the herd came to the Dr. C. M. 
Walworth farm in Oneota Township, he rode out to tell the Indian guides not to 
cross his wheat field. They couldn't understand and he had to get his gun to 
make them understand.

A water tank for the railroad was built on the river north of town. It remained 
there until the 1920's. One hotel built on Main Street in 1882 was a rendesvous 
for gambling and the liquor business. Mark Heninger and Crosby opened a lumber 
yard. Martin Nelson ran a blacksmith shop next to Agor's elevator. He had all 
the business he could handle and sold it to Jim and Rocky Claton who operated it 
in 1883, as Thomas McBride remembers their shoeing a team of horses for him 
then. The house, for years occupied by R. L. Gernon was built in 1882 by Henry 
Fletcher. The next year Henry Fletcher built a house west of it. He had a 
machine business with an office where the town hall is now.

Among the first settlers on farms was O. Archie Dickey who had a dugout in a 
hill northwest of town. Buffalo bones were picked up in low places on the 
prairie and shipped to sugar refineries where powdered bone was used for 
filters. A man could make up to $10 a day at it.

Social activities were more prevalent then than now. Literaries, spelling 
schools, debates were held. At Carlisle School, west of town, people came from 
Aberdeen and all around. Dances were held in homes. In the school props were put 
in and dances held upstairs. Early musicians were Jim Tooker and Frank Hefflin.

Dr. Coyne from Illinois filed on a claim in Carlisle Township and practiced 
medicine in the Westport community. Foggy Anderson filed three miles north and 
one mile west. R. J. Day homesteaded land just south of town now owned by Earl 
Morrison. A man named Fletcher, who had many horses and worked with them when 
they were glanders victims decided he too, was suffering from the same disease. 
No one could persuade him that he didn't have it. About 1886 a man named 
Weisman, living east of town invented the seamless bandage for cheese. Later, 
Nels Washburn had a small cheese factory and sold as much as he could produce. 
Mrs. Cynthia Turner's sister, Cylista, married Jerry Bacon who later was 
prominent in North Dakota politics. W. H. Morgan, first Brown County judge, 
homesteaded four miles northwest of town on the Elm River. Later he retired to 
Westport, where he died. The Misses Ella and Eva Evans, twin sisters, 
homesteaded east of town and their uncle, Hugh Evans settled west of town. He 
brought lumber from trees on his Minnesota farm to build the sisters' cabin.

Anthony Southers, Ed Olson, and Lou Struck were in the southwest part of the 
township. Frank Mincks and family and the Werts family came from Michigan in 
1883. They lived in the Henry Swartout barn southwest of town for some time 
before going to the McPherson County territory where they homesteaded. Eph 
Mogoffin, now living in Monango, N. Dak., as a lad of seventeen, drove the mail 
from Westport to Kota from 1884 to 1886. Kota was a thriving village located 
seven miles north of Leola. It is now gone, but at one time had several 
businesses, a newspaper among them.

Thomas J. McBride got off an immigrant car at Westport in 1883. He homesteaded 
with his father, Moses McBride, in "no man's land", Range 66, not in either 
county, but later added to McPherson. Moses McBride died on the farm in 1898 and 
was buried at Leola. Thomas returned to Westport in 1902 and has run a lumber 
yard up to the present time, 1952.

[Photo: Mr. and Mrs. John Hogarth Perry, parents of Judge Van Buren Perry.]

[P181]

EARLY ARTISTS AND AUTHORS



FRANCES CRANMER GREENMAN

Frances Cranmer Greenman, daughter of pioneer parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. 
Cranmer, has become a successful author and artist. In her book Higher Than The 
Sky, she writes a sparkling autobiography of her early days in Aberdeen, her 
yearning for the big city lights, her crusading parents, her struggles to become 
an artist and finally her great success as a portrait painter. Her portraits of 
many famous people, including a movie star or two, are in several art galleries. 
She now makes her home in Minneapolis where for several years she wrote columns 
for a newspaper.



FRANK ASHFORD

Frank Ashford, son of pioneer parents, grew up on a farm near Rondell. He became 
another portrait painter. His pictures of President and Mrs. Coolidge, are 
hanging in the South Dakota Game Lodge in the Black Hills. He also painted 
portraits of several of our governors. The one of Aviator Joe Foss is hanging in 
the Alexander Mitchell Library.

Other artists are Sydney Fossum and William Lamont, both grandsons of Brown 
County pioneers; Mrs. C. F. Easton, who was an accomplished water color and 
china painting artist; and Mrs. C. F. Boyd, who also painted china. Still other 
artists were Fred Powers of Tacoma Park and Mrs. M. F. Bowler of Groton.



DAKOTA DAYS OF L. FRANK BAUM
by Miss Matilda J. Gage

[Photo: L. Frank Baum]

One of the authors destined for world-wide fame came to Brown County while South 
Dakota was still a territory. L. Frank Baum had, early in life, tried newspaper 
reporting and had already written five plays, one of which "The Maid of Arron", 
in which he took the leading role, had been very successful.

However, Mr. Baum was attracted to Aberdeen by the prospect of bright business 
opportunities there on account of the influx of many settlers on the farms and 
in the towns, a large number of whom were already quite affluent. In the fall of 
1888 he opened a variety store known as Baum's Bazaar where he sold all kinds of 
china, lamps, wickerware, toys, Japanese goods, plush and leather novelties, 
Gunther's Chicago candies, chamber sets and feather dusters. Many other items 
were added from time to time.

The Bazaar prospered at first but a year after opening Mr. Baum was extending 
credit to many of the well-known citizens. With the crop failure of 1889 
business was very poor. Mr. Baum sold his Bazaar to his sister-in-law, Helen L. 
Gage, and turned to his first love, the newspaper business.

Mr. Baum bought from Mr. John H. Drake "The Dakota Pioneer" a weekly paper Mr. 
Drake had published since August 4, 1881. Mr. Baum renamed the paper "The 
Aberdeen Saturday Pioneer"--subscription price one dollar per year if paid in 
advance. The first publication was January 25, 1890.

Ten years later Mr. Baum was to publish his most famous book "The Wizard of Oz", 
but in his newspaper there appeared several literary columns from week to week 
which foretold some of the styles of writing in which Mr. Baum was to excel. In 
one column headed "Our Landlady", this imaginary boarding-house hostess 
ridiculed the things and events of the times and the fancied acts of many of the 
prominent citizens of Aberdeen. She bantered their especial eccentricities or 
occupations. The most subtle references were not lost on the 1890 readers who 
knew the towns people, but the readers of seventy-five or more years later while 
finding the column entertaining may fail to comprehend some of the sly 
allusions.

The well-written editorials were mostly on politics or timely topics. There was 
a column called "The Editors Musings" which discussed such things as Woman 
Suffrage, Religion and Theosophy as well as "La Grippe" which was very prevalent 
at that time. A column headed "Reporters Philosophy" purported to be "What a 
newspaper fiend gets in his head while hunting for lost items." In the "Bye and 
Bye" column more musings appear and here we find verses and short poems so like 
those written later by Mr. Baum for "Father Goose--His Book".

In addition to the named columns there were elaborate accounts of the social 
events of Aberdeen. There were also many short items of the activities of the 
townspeople. The paper of course contained some advertisements and also numerous 
pages already set up to print.

Mr. Baum had brought his wife and two sons with him when he came to Aberdeen. 
Two more sons were born there. The family first lived in the two-hundred block 
on Ninth Avenue S. E. and then in the house at 512 South Kline St.

The Baums entered into the social life of the town. Mr. Baum was especially 
active in amateur

[P182]

theatricals, not only directing plays but taking parts in them. He organized a 
bicycle club and was a booster for the baseball club. He seems to have had much 
to do with the memorable celebration of July 4, 1890. There was the parade (25 
organizations took part including 70 Sisseton Indians), the afternoon games on 
Main St. and the 4 o'clock baby show of which Mr. Baum was the head. The day 
ended with an elaborate display of fireworks.

That fall Mr. Baum wrote an editorial with suggestions for eliminating seemingly 
unneeded subjects being taught in the public schools. He was both commended and 
criticized for this but stood his ground against the more powerful Aberdeen 
Daily News.

Toward the end of the year of 1890 many foreclosures and bankrupt sales were 
advertised in other newspapers and times were hard as "Our Landlady" so often 
said. It appears that subscriptions to the Saturday Pioneer were falling off and 
there seemed to be no more opportunities in Aberdeen for Mr. Baum's talents. He 
went to Chicago and first found employment on a newspaper followed by various 
other jobs. In the late 1890's he had written several successful books for 
children but he became really famous with the publication of "The Wizard of Oz" 
in 1899 and the thirteen other Oz books which followed from time to time. It is 
estimated that well over five million copies of "The Wizard" were sold before 
the copyright expired in 1956, and it has been translated into many foreign 
languages. Mr. Baum wrote numerous other books and many under various noms-de-
plume. We in Brown County think we can detect in his writings here and there the 
influence of his days in Dakota.



MATILDA LUM "TILLIE" JONES

[Photo: Mrs. Morgan Jones (Matilda Lum "Tillie" Jones)]

Mrs. Morgan Jones was born Matilda Lum in 1888 in Liberty Township and moved to 
Aberdeen with her parents in 1900. She and two of her sisters, Mrs. Florence 
Bohn and Mrs. Louise Colohan, now live together at 501 Second Avenue South East, 
in the house to which the family moved 63 years ago. (Mrs. Henry Lange is 
another sister.) She and Morgan Jones, hardware merchant in Hecla, were united 
in wedlock May 19, 1915. After the store burned in 1936, the family moved to 
Aberdeen. Mr. Jones passed away in 1949. Mrs. Jones has four children; Mrs. 
William (Betty) Elsen, Hecla; Mrs. Donald (Millicent) Miller, Houghton; Paul, 
San Diego, California; and Robert, Hayward, California. The pioneer also has 12 
grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Mrs. Jones's favorite hobby is 
writing poetry.



HAMLIN GARLAND

In 1936 at the dedication of a memorial to Hamlin Garland at Ordway, South 
Dakota, a small pamphlet entitled Hamlin Garland Memorial was first distributed. 
This had been prepared by the South Dakota Writer's Projects and sponsored for 
publication by the librarian of the State Historical Society.

Mr. Garland himself termed it "The most authentic brief account of my career yet 
made."

Later, in connection with the Dakota Territory Centennial, it was deemed 
advisable to have reprints of this well-authenticated bit of research made. This 
was done under supervision of Miss Lora Crouch, librarian at Forest Library, 
Lake Placid Club, Essex County, New York. This reprint is called Hamlin Garland, 
Dakota Homesteader. It was copyrighted by the Dakota Territory Centennial 
Commission in 1961.

It is from this booklet that the greater part of the material which follows is 
derived.

We are here concerned mainly with the portion of Hamlin Garland's life which was 
spent in Dakota Territory and with those portions of his writings which were 
actually done here or which show, directly or indirectly, the influence of life 
on the Dakota Prairies.

"It was Hamlin Garland who termed the Northern Great Plains, including old 
Dakota Territory, The Middle Border. It is a label which has come down to us not 
only in Garland's books, but in the organization at Mitchell, South Dakota, 
which preserves the mementoes of frontier life and which is known as "The 
Friends of the Middle Border."

In the year 1881, Richard Garland, father of Hamlin Garland, left Osage, Iowa, 
to look for land in the Dakota Territory. When he returned to Iowa he announced 
that he had taken a homestead near Ordway in Brown County and that the family 
would move there in September.

"Hamlin Garland, now twenty-one, did not accompany his parents to their new 
home. Instead, he set out in search of a teaching position. There were no 
vacancies, however, so in October (1881) he too started for Dakota.

"He purchased a ticket to Aberdeen over the Milwaukee Railroad which only four 
months before had run its first train over the track. On his way he passed 
through Milbank (in 1938 a town of 2,550), and in relating this experience in A 
Son of the Middle Border he said: 'I found a hamlet six months old, and the 
flock of shining yellow pine shanties strewn upon the sod gave me an illogical 
delight, but then I was twenty-one-and it was sunset in the Land of the Dakotas! 
All around me that night the talk was all of land, land! Nearly every man I met 
was bound for the Jim Valley, and each voice was acquiver with hope, each eye 
alight with anticipation of certain success.' "

[P183]

In telling of his arrival in Aberdeen he says: "Aberdeen was at the end of the 
line, and when we came into it that night it seemed a near neighbor to Sitting 
Bull and the bison. And so indeed it was, for a buffalo bull had been hunted 
across its site less than a year before."

"Hamlin Garland walked the twelve miles from Aberdeen to his father's homestead, 
two miles northwest of Ordway. Of the latter he said: 'The village itself was 
hardly more than a summer camp, and yet its hearty, boastful citizens talked 
almost deliriously of 'corner-lots' and 'boulevards', and their chantings were 
timed to the sound of hammers. The spirit of the builder seized me and so, with 
my return ticket in my pocket, I joined the carpenters at work on my father's 
claim some two miles from the village with intent to earn money for further 
exploration.' "

Hamlin Garland's stay at his father's homestead, however, was of only two weeks 
duration in the fall of 1881. He did not return to Dakota until the spring of 
1883, at which time he rejoined his father and brother at Ordway. "The rush for 
land now centered in Edmunds and McPherson Counties, lying to the west of Brown 
County. As he recalled in A Son of the Middle Border, 'The street swarmed with 
boomers. Hour by hour as the sun sank, prospectors returned to the hotel from 
their trips into the unclaimed territory, hungry and tired but jubilant . . .' 
Richard Garland had already staked a pre-emption claim thirty miles west of 
Ordway and had built a rough shed which served as a branch grocery store. Hamlin 
caught the spirit of the homesteaders and turned westward afoot. He located a 
claim in McPherson County. While building his cabin, he. worked in his father's 
store."

The summer of 1883 was hot and dry and, as Garland himself expressed it, "The 
tiny cabins were like ovens." The winter of 1883-84 was especially severe. Four 
blizzards swept over the treeless plain. In A Son of the Middle Border, Garland 
described a night during a snowstorm; "The frail shanty, cowering close, 
quivered in the wind like a frightened hare. The powdery snow appeared to drive 
directly through the solid boards, and each hour the mercury slowly sank . . . 
This may be taken as a turning point in my career, for this experience 
permanently chilled my enthusiasm for pioneering the plain."

In October, 1884, Hamlin Garland, having proved up on his claim, mortgaged it 
for two hundred dollars and set out for Boston. His winter's experiences in 
Dakota were the basis of a poem "Lost in a Norther", which was accepted by 
Harper's Weekly, and which brought him twenty-five dollars, his first literary 
wage. The poem was derived from an experience while riding horseback in one of 
the blizzards of 1883. A stanza of the poem follows:

"My limbs were numb; I seemed to ride
Upon some viewless rushing tide--
My hands hung helpless at my side.
The multitudinous trampling snows
With solemn, ceaseless myriad din
Swept round and over me; far and wide.
A roaring silence shut the senses in!"

During the weeks when Garland had worked as a harvest hand on his father's 
Ordway farm, he had gained significant background for his subsequent writings. 
In A Son of the Middle Border, he states: "Every detail of the daily life of the 
farm now assumed literary significance in my mind. The quick callousing of my 
hands, the swelling of my muscles, the sweating of my scalp, all the unpleasant 
results of physical pain I noted down . . . Labor when so prolonged and severe 
as at this time my toil had to be, is warfare . . . I studied the glory of the 
sky and the splendor of the wheat with a deepening sense of generosity of nature 
and the monstrous injustice of social creeds. In the moments of leisure which 
came to me as I lay in the shade of the grainrick, I pencilled rough outlines of 
poems.'"

One of Garland's best known poems, "The Color in the Wheat," was written while 
he was watching the ripening grain from the doorstep of his father's house.

" . . . the wind sleeps--Then running in dazzling links and loops a marvel of 
shadow and shine, a glory of olive and amber and wine, Runs color in the wheat."

His first short story, "Mrs. Ripley's Trip", was suggested to him by his mother, 
during Garland's visit at the farm in 1887. It is the story of an elderly woman 
who made a trip back to' her old home in New York after having spent thirty 
years in the West. Garland sold the story to Harper's Weekly for seventy-five 
dollars, half of which he sent to his mother. Later the story was incorporated 
into Main Travelled Roads, which was published in 1891.

It was during his 1887 visit to Dakota Territory that Hamlin Garland received 
the impressions which induced the mood of bitterness toward the prairies which 
henceforth penetrated his writings. This mood is first reflected in "Mrs. 
Ripley's Trip." The fact of his mother's failing health be attributed to the 
hardships of pioneer life.

In July 1889 Garland made his fourth visit to Ordway. His bitter reaction to the 
privations which his people were enduring is reflected in this bit of 
description taken from A Son of the Middle Border:

"Another dry year was upon the land and the settlers were deeply disheartened. 
The holiday spirit of eight years before had entirely vanished. In its place was 
a sullen rebellion against government and against God . . .

It was nearly sunset as we approached the farm, and a gorgeous sky was over-
arching it, but the bare little house in which my people lived seemed a million 
miles distant from Boston. The trees which my father had planted, the flowers 
which my mother had so faithfully watered, had withered in the heat. The lawn 
was burned brown. No green thing was in sight, and no shade offered save that 
made by the little cabin. On every side stretched scanty yellowing fields of 
grain, and from every worn road, dust rose like smoke from crevices, giving upon 
deep-hidden subterranean fires."

During his visit to Ordway, his mother suffered a stroke of paralysis which he 
attributed to over

[P184]

work and to "the dreadful heat of the summer." In an embittered mood he returned 
to Boston to write of the Middle West.

Main Travelled Roads was published in 1891. In the Middle West there was a great 
deal of criticism of the book by reason of the fact that it pictured only the 
ugliness, endless drudgery, and loneliness of life on the mid-western farm. 
Eastern reviewers however, and especially William Dean Howells, praised Garland 
for his courage in presenting realistic pictures of farm and small town life.

The settings in Main Travelled Roads are largely from Iowa and Wisconsin. 
However, there are references to Ordway, which is designated in the book as 
Boomtown. The scene of one incident when "a drug clerk chased a cut-up with a 
squirt pump across the street", was known to be the old Lacey Drug Store in 
Aberdeen, then operated by John Firey. This building was torn down in 1937 and 
replaced by a brick structure.

There was also the general store, said to be an Aberdeen store, but the identity 
of which is now forgotten, where a farm woman's child "spent half an houring 
helping amuse himself around the nail kegs." Incidents such as these were 
typical of the new frontier, and elderly people living in the Ordway vicinity in 
1938 recalled how they themselves might have been the prototypes of Garland's 
characters.

Others of Garland's writings showing Dakota Territory influence, aside from A 
Son of the Middle Border which has been much quoted in this article, are A 
Daughter of the Middle Border, The Book of the American Indian, and The Captain 
of the Gray Horse Troop.

Garland's last visit to Aberdeen was early in 1915 when he spoke before a large 
audience at N.S.T.C. then known as Northern Normal and Industrial School. The 
next day he re-visited the old Ordway homestead which he had helped to build. An 
old acquaintance, Charles Kimball, took a picture of him seated on the shanty 
doorstep.

In Back-Trailers from the Middle Border, he relates the following:

"The country was at its best, green and pleasant, a level endless land, and as 
we motored over the road I had walked in the autumn of 1881, I found the plain 
almost unchanged. It was like a velvetgreen sea. I sat on the rude low doorstep 
where the opening lines of "Color in the Wheat" were written, and one of my 
friends photographed me there. It was well that he did so, for in less than a 
year the cabin burned down. A small snapshot is the only record I have of the 
home where my mother lived for so many years and in which my little sister, 
Jessie, died. Western landmarks are impermanent as fallen leaves. Nothing 
endures but the sky and the silent waves of the plain.

"It was a sad revisitation for me. Everyone I met was gray and timeworn, and our 
talk was entirely of the past. No one spoke confidently of the future. All were 
enduring with fortitude the monotony of sun and wind and barren sod."

On July 12, 1936, a fifteen ton boulder of "nigger-head" rock was dedicated in 
an impressive ceremony as a memorial to Brown County's famous writer Harlin 
Garland. It is located on his father's old homestead near Ordway and bears a 
bronze plaque inscribed with the author's name and the dedication date.



EDWIN C. TORREY

Mr. Edwin C. Torrey was one of those who came to Dakota Territory from Wisconsin 
in 1883. His first job was in a newspaper office in Ordway. He also worked as a 
printer in Columbia. In 1886 he came to Aberdeen and with Mr. C. W. Starling 
launched the Aberdeen Daily News. Mr. Torrey was a fine editorial writer, but in 
1898 was lured to a position on the editorial staff of the Minneapolis Journal 
where he wrote special features about the two Dakotas. Later he became publicity 
specialist of the Agricultural Extension Service of the University of Minnesota.

Mr. Torrey is especially remembered as author of the book "Early Days in 
Dakota", a collection of tales from all over the two States, including many 
interesting chapters about Brown County and Aberdeen pioneers.



WALTER P. BUTLER

Walter P. Butler was one of the pioneers who arrived in Aberdeen in December, 
1881 and in 1882 was a partner with Mr. H. E. Humphrey and Daily in a lumber 
yard. He sold his interest in this business and with Mr. Humphrey started a 
brick yard where they burned over 200,000 brick, but the venture was a complete 
failure.

Mr. Butler was an expert map-draftsman so he entered into the business of making 
county maps and town and city plats. These were lithographed and circulated all 
over the United States and proved to be a most far-reaching advertisement of the 
then pioneer country. He served as Aberdeen City Engineer under Mayors Skillman, 
Pratt and Moody. He had charge of putting in the Aberdeen sewer system in 1888.

Mr. Butler engaged in many and various businesses in many different places in 
the United States, Canada and Cuba. At the age of 81 he was living in 
Minneapolis and at that time wrote numerous sketches of Aberdeen pioneers and 
historical articles as to Brown County and South Dakota.



MAY PHILLIPS TATRO

Mrs. May Phillips Tatro was born in Wisconsin in 1853 and was orphaned at the 
age of two. She began her writing career very early and while a member of the 
Authors' Club of Minneapolis she contributed to several magazines and to the 
Minneapolis Times.

Her work was widely read and she was recognized by leading authors of the 
nation. Walt Whitman, particularly, paid tribute to her. He called her writing 
inspirational and spontaneous, not premeditated labored efforts. He compared her 
to James Whitcomb Riley.

[P185]

[Photo: May Phillips Tatro]

Perhaps the secret of her spontaneity was her love for bird songs, Dakota 
springs, the smell of new mown hay, the wheat harvest and the other countless 
things that make up the beauty of the prairie. Many of her poems were written in 
groups of four or five centered around a theme such as "Spring Upon the 
Prairies", "Indian Summer", and "Companion Poems" centered around the theme 
Thanksgiving, and dedicated "To the Lovers of Home and the Fireside".



C. H. CREED

C. H. Creed has written one poem, "Pass On," strong enough to entitle him to a 
place in the literature of the state. It is rather unusual in its philosophic 
setting; yet, in many respects, it takes rank with some of our best productions.



CARRIE CROFOOT

Carrie Crofoot was born in Aberdeen and raised there, and wrote many volumes of 
well-known and published poetry.

[Photo: George B. Daly--Early Brown County Newspaper Man.]



CORDELIA LEE

Cordelia Lee, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. K. O. Lee studied violin, and became a 
world famous concert artist.



MUSIC TEACHERS

Early music teachers included: Molly Densmore, Adene Williams and Mrs. Muse of 
Columbia; Charles Root of Groton; R. H. Boughton, Mrs. Gilmoure, Leydia Gleim, 
Professor Carter, Nora Pleasants and Bess Wylie of Aberdeen.

[P186]

PIONEER WOMEN

It has been said that climate and scenery have an effect upon the human family. 
The territory of Dakota stretched toward the West in a grand and boundless 
expanse, the inspiring influence of which should have broadened the thought of 
the early settlers and stimulated them to generous action. Such was not the case 
as far as woman suffrage was concerned. The territorial constitution denied the 
right of suffrage to the Indians (not taxed), convicts, idiots and women; 
however, the territorial legislature of 1872 had come within one vote of 
enfranchising women.

The country was so sparsely settled that any organized work was difficult, but 
in the year 1879 a law was passed giving women the right to vote at school 
meetings. This right was abridged in 1883 by a school township law.

The one active leader of the movement in early territorial days was a resident 
and office holder of our neighboring Day County, Mrs. Marietta Bones, who had 
been appointed deputy clerk of the District Court of Day County in 1882. She 
wrote of the slowness of the suffrage movement in Dakota to the National Woman 
Suffrage Association and they sent Mrs. Matilda Joslyn Gage of Fayetteville, N. 
Y., their Vice President at Large, to assist Mrs. Bones.

Already there was a convention scheduled to meet in Sioux Falls to set up a 
constitution for that part of Dakota Territory which was to become South Dakota. 
The elected delegates from Brown County were: M. J. Gordon, an attorney; W. C. 
Houghton, Lumber Dealer, Houghton; A. Grant; L. J. Johnson, President, Central 
Dakota Immigration Bureau; E. D. Adams; A. O. Titus; and C. C. Holland.

First, Mrs. Gage wrote a letter of arousal to all women of Dakota, setting forth 
the legal injustices to women in the proposed new code and urging them to write 
all delegates objecting to the introduction of the world "male" into the 
proposed constitution.

Mrs. Gage arrived in Aberdeen on this mission and also to visit her son, T. 
Clarkson Gage, who was a merchant there.

From Aberdeen Mrs. Gage under date of September 3, 1883, wrote a stirring letter 
to the "gentlemen" of the convention which was meeting in Sioux Falls. Among 
other things, she suggested that it should be the pride of Dakota to accord to 
its women all the rights claimed by men.

The arguments presented by Mrs. Gage failed to convince the men of the 1883 
Constitutional Convention of the injustices toward women of the proposed laws. 
However, Mrs. Bones and Mrs. Gage traveled about the territory organizing the 
women for the suffrage movement.

The next try for suffrage was in 1885 when Major A. J. Prakler introduced a bill 
into the Territorial Legislature which finally passed both houses but was vetoed 
by Governor Pierce, who failed to recognize the opportunity to enfranchise 
50,000 American citizens.

Pioneer women in Brown County had to be very busy in their homes, not having the 
modern conveniences of later years. Activities outside the home consisted mostly 
in helping with the establishment of various churches. However, other active 
organizations were formed--one of the outstanding ones being a chapter of the 
Women's Christian Temperance Union which was organized in Brown County on July 
9, 1885. One of its leading members was Mrs. Emma A. Cranmer, who together with 
Mrs. E. F. Selleck and Mrs. C. J. Cressy were delegates from Brown to the State 
Convention in Yankton in September, 1889. The W.C.T.U. supported suffrage 
through its franchise department and did much to promote the cause as well as 
working for temperance. Many meetings were held at the Cranmer home in Aberdeen. 
Officers in 1889 were: President, Mrs. C. J. Cressy; Vice President, Mrs. M. N. 
Holmes; Treasurer, Mrs. Fanny Foster; Secretary, Mrs. R. L. Brown.

In the same month in which Dakota Territory became two States, Miss Susan B. 
Anthony arrived in South Dakota and made a lecture tour of twelve cities. The 
Sioux Falls Argus Leader ridiculed her coming but afterwards acknowledged that 
she was a cultured lady of marked intelligence and refinement. Her last talk was 
in Aberdeen where the large annual meetings of the Farmers Alliance of both 
North and South Dakota was being held. Susan B. Anthony arrived there November 
26th and that evening addressed vast numbers of farmers and citizens at the 
Opera House on the righteousness of making the wife equal owner of the joint 
earnings of the co-partners. At the close of her talk, shouts rang out in favor 
of suffrage for women and the Alliance joined the cause of women's 
enfranchisement. In commenting on Miss Anthony's Aberdeen visit, the Daily News 
of November 27, 1889, wrote that seldom was a frontier town honored with a visit 
from such a distinguished and talented lady.

Miss Anthony was the guest of the T. C. Gage family while in Aberdeen. Mr. Gage 
was well acquainted with Miss Anthony, having known her when she and Mrs. Gage, 
his mother, and Mrs. Stanton were writing part of their History of Woman 
Suffrage at the Gage home in Fayetteville, N. Y. Miss Anthony had also been 
acquainted with Mrs. Gage's youngest daughter, Maude Gage Baum (Mrs. L. Frank) 
who was living in Aberdeen at that time. The next year Mr. Baum was Secretary of 
the Equal Suffrage Club and wrote many articles and editorials in his paper, 
"The Aberdeen Saturday Pioneer," in favor of votes for women. Mrs. Gage's oldest 
daughter, Mrs. Helen Leslie Gage, worked for suffrage as long as she lived in 
Aberdeen, and her other daughter, Mrs. Julia Gage Carpenter, promoted the cause 
in North Dakota.

Another minority group, The Knights of Labor, which met in Aberdeen in January, 
1890, also resolved to support an amendment to the State Constitution, giving 
their wives and mothers and sisters the ballot.

South Dakota women continued to campaign and work for the right to vote until 
the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on December 4, 
1919 by the State Legislature.

While women could not hold elective offices in

[P187]

territorial days, a goodly number had held appointive political offices about 
the State. In Brown County, Miss Margaret Hannaman was appointed Postmaster in 
1883 by her friend, the Postmaster General. She did not hold the office long as 
the next year she married John R. James, the Mayor of Columbia. Miss Emma 
Densler was in the Register of Deeds office in Columbia and came to Aberdeen 
when the Court House was moved there. A Miss Barnes was manager of the Western 
Union Telegraph office in 1884.

Among other women who worked in offices in Aberdeen, we remember Miss Carrie E. 
Nash, stenographer for the Building and Loan Association of Dakota and later in 
the Aberdeen National Bank; Miss Clyde Laidlaw, bookkeeper for F. W. Raymond and 
for many years in the Register of Deeds office; Miss Carrie M. Dawes in the Coe 
and Howard Title Co. office and later in the Court House; Miss Ruth Calkins in 
B. C. Lamont's office.

Miss Elizabeth Edgoose, a native of England, arrived in Aberdeen in 1885 and 
started the first steam laundry. In 1888 she was supplying the town with flowers 
from her greenhouse which she and her husband, Richard Strohmeier, ran for many 
years.

[Photo: The Aberdeen Guards. Back row: Fanny Hauser (captain), Meda Mason, Eda 
Hague, Eva Gilmor, Jimella Glass. Middle row: Grace Tromley, Eva Finch, Eva 
Raymond, Grace Pack. Front row: Ethel Kelley and Edwina Peck. The uniforms were 
bright red skirts, blue basques, red hats trimmed with gold braid. This group 
gave drills, carrying six foot spear headed poles with red felt decorations.]

There were a number of women who were early members of the Aberdeen Library 
Board, among whom were Mrs. Rudolphus Burgitt, Miss Mott, Mrs. J. H. Perry, Mrs. 
Charles Fisher, Mrs. Ira Barnes, Mrs. Louis Lager and Mrs. R. N. Jewett.

The Minerva Chapter of the Order of Eastern Stars lists in the Aberdeen 
Directory of 1889-90 the following women officers: Mrs. J. M. McBride, Mrs. S. 
H. Williams, Miss Sadie Tennant, Mrs. S. H. Jumper, Mrs. C. M. Coe and Mrs. M. 
J. Robinson.

One interesting group of young women was the "Aberdeen Guards". They gave many 
drills at entertainments, Fourth of July celebrations and any other parades.

The Orptec Club dates from 1889 and was one of the first clubs that later became 
federated. Charter members included Mesdames Myrtle Hoit, Mrs. A. A. Arnett and 
Miss Carrie Nash. Members ten years later included Mesdames W. R. Finch, C. H. 
Hute, Bertha Kelly, T. C. Gage, C. J. McLeod, F. McCoy, J. M. Patton, J. C. 
Sheldon, E. T. Taubman, F. A. Brown and R. Burgitt.

Early membership in the Clio Circle included Mary P. Browne, Minnie V. W. 
Fisher, Sarah Spitler, Harriett Hatchard, Dela V. Boyd, Katherine I. McConnell, 
Ida E. Scott, Harriett Bassett, Ethelyn E. Voedisch, Carrie M. Mills, Mae M. 
McArthur, Harriett E. Vroman, Cora Warner and Minnie Miller.

In the 1880's and 1890's there was a great deal of what was known as "calling" 
done by the women. In Aberdeen and probably in Groton and Frederick this was 
quite a formal affair. The ladies were always dressed in their best afternoon 
clothes with hat, gloves, parasol and high button shoes. Usually two ladies went 
calling together and some were fortunate enough to have a hired man to drive the 
horse, especially if using a two-seated carriage. Engraved calling cards were 
left at the home of the friends even if that friend was on hand to receive her 
callers.

In the country the women went visiting from farm to farm whenever the 
opportunity presented itself. There were no telephones by which one could 
apprise one's neighbor of any impending visit, but that made no difference in 
the welcome. Sometimes the visitor would walk several miles and take her 
children just to be able to talk with a friend.

Perhaps the greatest spirit of the pioneer women manifested itself in the 
helpfulness given to one another in times of sickness, misfortune or sorrow. The 
many kindnesses of the pioneer women would indeed be a long, long chapter.

[Photo: The Pleasant Hour Reading Club. Top row, left to right: Mesdames H. C. 
Jewett, C. A. Lum, H. S. Williams, A. W. Pratt, Robt. Moody, J. M. McBride. 
Lower row: Mesdames Geo. Jenkins, Wm. Tennant, J. S. Mason, R. N. Jewett, W. B. 
Windsor, S. W. Narregang. Other charter members not in the picture were: 
Mesdames C. A. Jewett, H. C. Beard, Fred Beard, Maurice Fishbein and S. H. 
Jumper.]

[P188]

FATHER ROBERT W. HAIRE

Fiery Priest Was 'Terror Of All Evil-Doers'
Father Haire Battled Sin and Aided 'Down-and-Out'

[Photo: Father Haire]

"That bum'll probably get drunk on your dollar," the parishioner told the 
bearded priest as they chatted on an Aberdeen street corner.

Shaking his head, the clergyman peered thoughtfully down the board walk at the 
back of the shabby hobo.

The priest didn't regret parting with the dollar because about the only use he 
ever had for money was to give it away. The criticism didn't fret him either. In 
two busy decades on the frontier Father Robert W. Haire had built several 
churches in the area and helped bring three institutions of learning to 
Aberdeen. In addition he had found time to help lead an "agricultural revolt" in 
Brown County, edit a paper for a labor union, and write a "revolutionary" idea 
into the state constitution.

He had been bitterly criticised for these activities and had, many times, won 
his critics over to his way of thinking.

Now, on this Aberdeen street corner the kindhearted priest was considering how 
he might give his parishioner a gentle lesson.

Minutes earlier the bum had spotted the clerical garb, conspicuous among the 
shirt-sleeved men on a warm, August day. He had shuffled across the dusty street 
and put the "bite" on the priest for the price of a meal.

The cleric had reached into his pocket and pulled out two silver dollars. Giving 
the beggar one of them he had explained that the cartwheels were all the money 
he had with him and "some other poor fellow may need the other."

Happy about the success of his pleading the bum had pattered off up the sun-
drenched street. And the parishioner who was with the priest had offered his 
friendly reproof.

So now Father Haire watched the retreating man, then turned and peered down at 
his critic.

"Well," he said, "Let's give the poor fellow the benefit of the doubt ... If he 
was indeed hungry and I believe he was--how would I have squared myself with the 
Giver of all good things had I refused him?"

Giving the "other fellow the benefit of the doubt" was the cornerstone of Father 
Haire's philosophy of life. It was the characteristic that speakers stressed 
when, after his death in 1916, he became the first citizen of Aberdeen to have a 
public monument erected in his memory.

Not only was Father Haire one of Brown County's most outstanding men and a 
pioneer in the field of ideas; he was also a pioneer in point of time. He beat 
the railroads here by a year and in June of 1880 held the first religious 
services for white people on Brown County soil. This was in the John Lavin claim 
shanty near Columbia.

That same fall Father Haire came upon the few shacks on the site which was to 
become Aberdeen and held the first Mass in this city.

Along with his willingness to give the other fellow the benefit of the doubt, 
Father Haire was ready to consider another's ideas. This tendency led to his 
becoming a Catholic priest and to his arrival in Brown County.

Born a Presbyterian, he had "reasoned himself out of that belief," one 
biographer says, when he started to teach a rural school near Flint, Michigan. 
He boarded there with an Irish-Catholic family.

The tall, young school teacher watched the children as they studied Catholic 
doctrine. He joined in reciting the Rosary.

Pushed by curiosity he attended Mass and "came to see and remained to pray," as 
he described it later.

He was received into the Catholic Church and entered the University of Michigan 
to study law. This profession was abandoned, however, when he decided to enter 
the priesthood. After studying in Europe and America he was ordained in 1874 at 
the age of 28.

First assignment for the new priest was the cathedral in Detroit. He was later 
transferred to Holy Trinity Church in the same city and then to Flint.

"Texas fever" had smitten many of the parish

[P189]

members at Flint and Father Haire proposed to lead a colony of them to that 
state where land was reported to be plentiful and cheap.

By this time, however, the Johnsons and Eversons were in northern Brown County 
and the Slacks in the Rondell area--and tales of the fertile James River Valley 
were beginning to fascinate the East. Father Haire and his charges were among 
the eager listeners and changed their plans, Brown County became their 
destination.

Father Haire arrived at Columbia in June, 1880, and immediately went about the 
business of providing for the religious needs of the settlers--those from Flint 
and all others as well.

Like others, early clergymen, Father Haire had a huge parish embracing most of 
northern South Dakota and parts of North Dakota and Minnesota.

Often on foot but sometimes by ox team or on a borrowed horse, the pioneer 
priest travelled this territory, a welcome visitor in the shacks of the isolated 
homesteaders. So sparse were the settlements that Father Haire occasionally went 
for periods of more than a day without eating and those who knew him well were 
certain that he was reluctant to accept any food from the scanty stores of the 
settlers.

From these missionary trips he would come back to the Sherman House in Aberdeen, 
completely exhausted.

It may have been during those nights that he spent in the lonely, wind-battered 
claim shanties that Father Haire developed his tremendous sympathy for the 
agricultural groups. Certainly, no other leader in the area could have been more 
familiar with the problems which beset the homesteader.

He had seen the despair of penniless farmers hemmed in by debts and unable to 
cope with a climate so different from what they had known.

The whisky-sodden father too drunk to climb off his wagon when he arrived home 
with his money spent in the saloon instead of the grocery store was a familiar 
sight to Father Haire.

A scholar, educated in several languages, and the writer of one of the most 
learned works ever produced in this state, the tragic lack of educational 
facilities must have fretted him.

The priest was already doing a tremendous work in offering the settlers the 
solace of religion. In addition to his widespread work in outlying areas he had 
a major part in the organization of congregations and construction of churches 
in Aberdeen, Columbia, Redfield and Huron.

Many a less energetic man would have felt that with this religious work he had 
done his part. Many a less sympathetic one would have reflected that some of the 
homesteaders' troubles were of their own making. Many a less courageous one 
would have held back from the battle.

But the tall priest with the patriarchal beard never felt he had done his share-
and it was easy for him to see the other side of things.

It was this sympathy for those whom he considered the downtrodden that disrupted 
the peaceful life of Father Haire and made him some powerful enemies around the 
state--and, even, in his home town of Aberdeen. It also helped bring him the 
friendship of thousands of Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

Turbulent men are attracted to a frontier area and although Aberdeen was never a 
Tombstone or a Leadville and it never had need for a "boot-hill," it was 
nevertheless a place where a lawyer and a judge could angrily wrestle in a 
business street gutter in broad daylight and where some of the more prominent 
men were likely to take a punch at an enemy if they met him in the post office.

The same lack of restraint was reflected in politics. Aberdeen was a town where 
angry, bitter men could and did hold meetings under banners which screamed "Down 
with Capitalism."

Father Haire was not among these extremists but he was a fiery, impulsive 
speaker. And some who were alarmed by the rebels did not always distinguish 
between the moderate reformers like Father Haire and the more revolutionary 
group.

The priest became a prominent anti-saloon man and, during a period of local 
option in Aberdeen, in 1888 made a furious speech against the "blind pigs."

This created some agitation against Father Haire but the Daily News came to his 
defense saying that "Although an aggressive man he (Father Haire) has no enemies 
of numerical or moral strength."

The embattled clergyman at about that time asked all those members of the Sacred 
Heart congregation who believed in his "honesty and integrity as a true Catholic 
priest," to stand.

Every person in church leaped to his feet.

The tremendous personal influence he had already achieved in the state is 
indicated by the part he had in writing two then novel provisions into the 
constitution of South Dakota.

These are the initiative and referendum--devices which give voters a direct 
voice in making laws they want or preventing the passage of those they dislike.

Father Haire was familiar with the operation of these provisions in Switzerland 
and was largely instrumental in having them included in the South Dakota 
constitution. Since that time a number of other states have adopted similar 
measures. Early opponents of these measures described them as "populistic fads."

By the time South Dakota became a state in 1889, the agricultural groups had 
been hit by the twin disasters of low prices and crop failure.

The financial difficulties of the farmers led to greater interest in the 
principles of Populism--a movement which advocated government control or 
ownership of railroads and some radical forms in the monetary system of the 
country.

This movement became strong in Brown County sweeping at least one county 
election. The Populists in Brown called themselves Independents and among their 
leaders were such men as Senator J. H. Kyle, a Congregational minister here; 
Father Haire; W. R. Morgan, and J. C. McDonough.

[P190]

Meantime a misunderstanding arose between the Aberdeen priest and his superior, 
Bishop Marty. It was eventually settled but not before Father Haire had been 
first ordered to stay away from all meetings of a political or reform nature and 
then, in 1890, he was relieved temporarily of his duties at Sacred Heart Church.

The dominant labor organization in the United States at that time was the 
Knights of Labor and Father Haire became the editor of their South Dakota 
publication.

As an editor he immediately became the target for some of his fellow 
journalists. Some other South Dakota newspapers were more charitable.

In January of 1891 the Pierre Journal observed that Father Haire had addressed a 
large crowd at the Pierre Opera House and noted the earnestness of his desire 
for the "betterment of conditions of the laboring classes. Father Haire," the 
Journal declared, "has no superior in the Northwest as an exponent of the 
principles . . . of the Knights of Labor."

"He is the terror of all evil-doers," a Valley Springs editor asserted.

The priest's interest in benevolence and reform was recognized by the state 
government when in the early Nineties he was appointed to the State Board of 
Charities and Corrections.

He was later named to the State Board of Regents and in that capacity was one of 
the leaders in having Northern State Teachers College established in Aberdeen.

During the Nineties Father Haire continued to work in behalf of moderate reform 
identifying himself with the interests of the farming and laboring elements.

At the Independent party picnics at Sand Lake in June of 1891 the beloved priest 
was not on the program but he was in attendance and, in response to popular 
demand made a speech.

At meetings of Independents, radical statements were not unknown and some may 
have been made that day. There is nothing however, to indicate that Father Haire 
uttered them.

But the correspondent for the Aberdeen Daily News reported the incident; and 
headlines in that paper associated the priest with "un-American" statements and 
"seditious language."

The next day Father Haire filed a $10,000.00 libel suit against the News. The 
outcome of this action is unknown. At the same time the paper faced a $50,000.00 
libel suit filed by the militant Mrs. Marietta Bones of Webster, a prominent 
woman's suffragist.

The News had other bills and owed three year's back taxes. Within a few weeks it 
was taken over by a new management which treated Father Haire more respectfully 
in its columns.

With the passage of time many of the ideas of Father Haire were generally 
accepted, and became less controversial. His enemies were silenced or joined the 
forces of his admirers.

When he died in 1916 he was chaplain at St. Luke's Hospital which he had helped 
found in Aberdeen.

There was an immediate demand for a memorial of some kind. Small contributions 
came from many people of the different religious faiths in the area and the 
monument on the N.S.T.C. campus was dedicated in November of that year.

J. H. Firey made the main speech at the dedication and described his long-time 
friend as "fearless in attacking evil, ahead of his time . . . and the 
possession of advanced economic ideas."

The memorial, Firey observed, was made possible by people who desired to "retain 
the memory and influence of Father Haire in the community."

The monument is probably unique in America in that it is in honor of a leader of 
a religious group and is located on the property of a state-supported school. 
Acceptance of it by the state highlights the fact that Father Haire was much 
more than a religious leader.

"To him," the dedicatory speaker declared, "could most fitly be given Christ's 
commendation, 'I was hungered and ye gave Me meat; I was thirsty and ye gave Me 
drink; I was a stranger and ye came unto Me'."

He bequeathed this area not money or personally built monuments to his memory, 
but a tradition of tolerance and charity.

He probably, in his whole life in Dakota, never at any one time had ten dollars 
that he considered his own. For years he travelled the wintry country in an old 
buffalo hide coat. This became tattered and worn but the priest, concerned about 
others who might be hungry or cold, didn't bother to replace it. Admirers 
finally presented him with a new sealskin outer garment.

His perpetual personal poverty as well as tolerance of others' opinions is also 
by the result of a railroad mishap in January of 1893.

Father Haire was on a train with the Rev. F. A. Burdick, a Methodist minister; 
and F. C. Kile, a staunchly Republican newspaper editor with whom Father Haire 
was occasionally out of sympathy politically.

The train was steaming north on the Milwaukee tracks between Madison and 
Woonsocket when engine trouble developed.

This was on a Saturday afternoon and when the train crew expressed the belief 
they would never get out of Woonsocket (even if they reached that point) the 
three passengers faced the prospect of spending Sunday there. Their future 
looked bleak when they pooled their resources and found they had only 85 cents 
among them.

The Lord, as the Bible promises, would doubtless have provided. But as the 
crippled train limped along toward Woonsocket, word of the passengers' economic 
plight was sent ahead from one of the smaller stations.

Milwaukee officials, although they probably disliked some of Father Haire's 
ideas about rail regulation, held another northbound train for the trio.

[P191]

BROWN COUNTY TERRITORIAL PIONEERS ASSOCIATION

The Brown County Territorial Pioneers' Association was organized in June, 1949. 
Its purpose, as stated in the preface of this book, was to preserve much of our 
pioneer heritage, its legends and fast disappearing relics of those days, and by 
means of its semi-annual luncheon meetings, enable pioneers, their relatives and 
friends to gather together for an hour or two of good fellowship and enjoyable 
reminiscing.

One of their long range objectives was the gathering of local histories and 
stories to compile into a history of Brown County. This book is the culmination 
of many years of this effort.

Three queens were chosen at the time the association was formed. They were: Mrs. 
Nathan Johnson, Queen of the Homesteaders; Mrs. Augusta Kepke, Queen of the 
Prairies; and Mrs. Susanna Bergh, Queen of the Pioneers.

The following have served as officers of the organization: President: William E. 
Hosley, 1949-1950; Charles W. Jones, 1950-1951; Fred W. Atkins, 1951-1952; 
Charles Creed, 1952-1953; Fred W. Atkins, 1953-1954; Ford Zietlow, 1954-1956; 
Mrs. J. E. Kelly, 1957-1965. Vice President: Miss Matilda Gage, 1949-1950; Mrs. 
Chris Jensen, 1950-1953; Mrs. Angela Jewett Bassett, 1954-1965. Second Vice 
President: Miss Lydia Kohlhoff, 1962-1963; Mrs. Lemana Heckman, 1963-1964; Miss 
Helen Bergh, 1964-1965. Secretary: Mrs. J. E. Kelly, 1949-1957; Miss Matilda 
Gage, 1957-1965; Assistant Secretary: Walter Hickenbotham, Mrs. Lemana Heckman, 
Treasurer: Alex Daly, 1949-1952; Charles W. Jones, 1952-1965. Assistant 
Treasurer: Walter Hickenbotham, 1965.

From June, 1949 through November, 1965 table decorations for the semi-annual 
luncheons have been in charge of Mrs. Clara Strohmeier Clark.

First County Commissioners, July, 1880: Clarence Johnson, John R. James and Don 
C. McKenzie.

They appointed the following County Officers: John D. Lavin, Register of Deeds; 
A. G. Warren, Sheriff; Wm. H. Slack, Assessor; Geo. B. Daly, Judge of Probate; 
Marvin Douglass, Treasurer; John R. James, Surveyor; Dr. S. O. Bassett, Coroner; 
E. J. Allen, Superintendent of Schools.

Aberdeen's origin was in August, 1880--O. A. Fowler; Columbia, June 15, 1879; 
Groton, June, 1881; Ordway, 1880.

We wish to thank those who aided by drawing illustrations for this book--
Marguerite Susan Bergh, young granddaughter of two sets of pioneer grandparents, 
the Andrew Berghs and Richard Ristaus, and her mother Mrs. Gordon Bergh.

[Photos: William Hosley; Miss Matilda Gage; Charles W. Jones; Mrs. Chris Jensen]

[Photo: C. A. Drager, Walter Hickenbotham, Mrs. C. A. Drager, Mrs. Marion Cross, 
Mrs. Hazelle Black, Miss Millicent Atkins, Mrs. W. J. Allen, Mrs. Ray Clark, 
Mrs. Robert Burchardt. Front row: Mrs. Charles Jones, Mrs. Lawson Clark, Charles 
Jones, Mrs. J. E. Kelly, Mr. Walter Hamlen, Mrs. Robert Haire, Mrs. Walter 
Kepke, David Hosley.]

[P192]

[Photo: Eleanor Hoover, Jennie Kilpatrick Hoover, Edith Mather Gannon, Hortense 
Insley, Angela Jewett Bassett, Isabel Ackley, Charles W. Jones, Adeline Kelly, 
Clare Johnson III, Agnes Sieh Rasmussen, Carroll Willson Burckhardt, Millicent 
Atkins.]

[Photo: William Hosley and Mrs. William Honey. Dedication of first school in 
Brown County at Putney.]

[Photo: Brown County Territorial Pioneer Luncheon on November 2, 1951. Charles 
Creed, Meda Mason, Delbert Gallett, Fred Atkins, Mrs. Susanna Bergh, Mrs. 
Augusta Kepke.]

[P193]

[Photo: Family of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Krueger of Groton: Mrs. Frank Jones, 
Frederick; Paul, Mrs. Charles Hatch, Arthur, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Krueger.]

[Photo: Robert Love of Rondell]

[Photo: Mr. and Mrs. Adam Frommell, Groton Township.]

[Photo: Arthur T. Amsden. He donated land for the Amsden Park. Lake Amsden of 
Groton, is named for him.]

[Photo: Mrs. John Gaskin, Mrs. Albert Karlan, Mrs. Creed, Mrs. Tom Murphy, Mrs. 
Matthews, Mrs. John Nelson, Mrs. Clark Besse, Mrs. B. F. Markin, Mrs. Ben 
Everson, Miss Effie Gaskin, Miss Irene Gaskin, Mrs. Charles Atkins, Mrs. Frank 
Lewis, Mrs. Silas Gould, Mrs. Nathan Johnson, Master Clifford Johnson, Miss 
Joyce Lewis, Miss Beatrice Marken.]

[Photo: Water Tower at Tacoma Park.]

[P194]

[Photo: Milligan Insurance Office - Bill Milligan and Meda Mason.]

[Photo: T. Clarkson Gage, Sophie Taylor Jewell, married June 1, 1885, first 
church wedding, Episcopal ceremony.]

[Photo: The Mills "Pill Box." First frame building on Aberdeen's Main Street, 
1881.]

[Photo: Kate Kennedy Jewett (Mrs. Harvey Jewett, Sr., 1886)]

[Photo: Presbyterian Church, 1882.]

[Photo: Angela Jewett Bassett]

[P195]

[Photo: William O'Neill's Grocery Store, one of the first in Aberdeen.]

[Photo: 8th Ave. N. and Washington St., Aberdeen, January, 1897.]

[Photo: Aberdeen's Main Street, 1897.]

[Photo: John Zimmerman whose homestead reached from 8th Ave. N. to 6th Ave. 
South in Aberdeen.]

[Photo: First house in Aberdeen, built by John Zimmerman, later the home of 
Laura Zimmerman O'Neill.]

[Photo: Prairie Schooner built by William O'Neill.]

[Photo: Mr. and Mrs. William W. Worthy Sr., of Claremont.]

[P196]
	
[Photo: Threshing engine with left hand drive.]

[Photo: Fylpaa Reunion at Frederick.]

[Photo: Binding wheat with horses near Warner.]

[Photo: Building a sod house.]

[Photo: Morgan E. Jones, father of C. W. Jones, arrived in Cambria Township, on 
May 15, 1881.]

[Photo: Richard Strohmeier]

[Photo: Aberdeen City Council, 1884.]

[P197]

[Photo: Adeline Crowley Kelly with her doll buggy, January, 1886.]

[Photo: Mr. and Mrs. Gaillard Boom, early station agent at Frederick.]

[Photo: Edward Kirke Wrench - What the well-dressed baby wore in the 1880's.]

[Photo: Mrs. Clara Strohmeier Clark]

[Photo: Mr. and Mrs. Louis Hanicker, Ray, Bert, Leland, Hazle.]

[Photo: EARLY ABERDEEN TEACHERS: Miss Jennie Burgitt, Mrs. McDonough, Miss 
Lilly, Miss Rose Abbott, Miss Celeste Dond, Miss Van Slyke, Miss Josephine 
Holmes, Miss Lucy Holmes.]

[Photo: EARLY ABERDEEN TEACHERS: Miss Josephine Holmes, Miss Rose Abbott, Miss 
Lucy Holmes, Mrs. McDonough, Prof. Gross, Miss Bowers, Miss Jennie Burgitt.]

[P198]

[Photo: Brown County Country School, Warner Township, District 23-5. Two miles 
northwest of Mansfield, South Dakota. Picture from 1896-97. From left to right, 
top row: Leon Graham, Melvin Smeby, Minnie Brooks, John Brooks, Tilda Smeby, 
Olaf Smeby, Edwin Lindekugel. Second row: Tom Brooks, Will Brooks, Chester 
Brooks, Dorothy Lindekugel, Jessie Briggs (teacher), Amanda Smeby, Blanche 
Schnorr, John Smeby, Christine Schnorr. Third row: Ralph Schnorr, Albert 
Schnorr, Ida Brooks, Bert Neiger, Lemana Lindekugel, Floyd Fisher. Fourth row: 
Ray Brooks, Josie Smeby, Warren Fisher, Gertie Neiger, Arthur Lindekugel, Earl 
Fisher, Emma Smeby.]

[Photo: Keegans Livery Barn Office located on 3rd Ave. S. E., in Aberdeen 
(1905).]

[Photo: Original Sacred Heart Church.]

[Photo: John Firey, one of the earliest settlers.]

[Photo: David Strauss, Mrs. Strauss.]

[Photo: James Ringrose, proprietor of the Sherman House.]

[P199]

[Photo: Frank Hedger, first county auditor, Brown County.]

[Photo: Martha Drees Ristau (Mrs. Richard Ristau, 1881)]

[Photo: Kittie Meredith]

[Photo: SEAL OF DAKOTA TERRITORY]
	
[P200]

BROWN COUNTY PIONEERS

BROWN COUNTY PIONEER DOCTORS

ABERDEEN
Dr. Edmund Backe
Dr. George Countryman
Dr. S. J. Coyne
Dr. B. J. Daniel
Dr. L. F. Diefendorf
Dr. William Duncan
Dr. M. R. Elliott
Dr. J. C. Evans
Dr. D. C. Fowler
Dr. James Gibson
Dr. Griffith
Dr. F. W. Harragen
Dr. J. J. Hendricks
Dr. E. B. Jackson
Dr. V. P. Kennedy
Dr. Lacey
Dr. William Leine
Dr. W. H. Line
Dr. Linn
Dr. C. B. Mallery
Dr. C. G. McAmmon
Dr. H. E. McNutt
Dr. E. O. Miller
Dr. Frank Miller
Dr. Robert L. Murdy
Dr. Pickering
Dr. O. S. Pine
Dr. Rock
Dr. J. W. Summers
Dr. Welsh

FREDERICK

Dr. J. E. Bruner
Dr. A. Grant
Dr. Osborne
Dr. Pettingill

GROTON
Dr. Dunn
Dr. Geib
Dr. Hart
Dr. Jones

CLAREMONT
Dr. Dinsmore

COLUMBIA

Dr. O. D. Bassett
Dr. Arthur Daniels
Dr. A. M. Morse
Dr. C. P. Smith

DENTISTS

A. W. Fossum
Carl Fossum
A. M. Huesler
C. A. Stratton
D. F. Swengel
H. H. Whitaker

Aarangen, Mathias
Abbott, B.
Ablin, Henry
Ablin, Henry
Abraham, Alfred
Abraham, John A.
Acker, P. W.
Ackerman, Eugene
Ackerman, L. E.
Ackley, Andrew
Ackley, Hiram C.
Ackley, John
Adams, A. W.
Adams, Carl E.
Adams, Charles Edwin
Adams, Francis D.
Adams, George Sheldon
Adams, Jane Ashley
Adams, John E.
Adams, John F.
Adkinson, J. L.
Adlam, Robert
Adrian, Otto
Afseth, Peter O.
Aggas, Charles R.
Aggas, William J.
Agnew, Walter I.
Aikenhead, Peter
Aiton, Charles
Aiton, James L.
Aiton, James
Aiton, John
Albert, Charles
Albert, John
Albright, S.
Alcorn, D. N.
Alden, Frank
Aldrich, Alva
Alexander, John F.
Alexon, A.
Alger, Fred L.
Allen, Ambrose J.
Allen, Chas. H.
Allen, F. W.
Allen, Hiram A.
Allen, J. C.
Allen, Louis
Allen, Walter S.
Allen, Will C.
Allen, William C.
Allen, William J.
Allerton, David
Alley, Elias H.
Alley, Fred L.
Allison, Andrew B.
Allison, Ed
Allison, James P.
Allison, Myron A.
Ambel, John L.
Ambler, George
Ambrose, George A.
Ambuel, Ludwig
Amelang, Paul
Ames, Fred L.
Ames, Stephen
Amley, Clara
Amley, Ed
Amley, Henry
Amley, Paul
Amley, Peter T.
Amphlett, John B.
Amphlett, Thomas G.
Amphlett, Thomas L.
Amphlett, William O.
Amsden, Arthur T.
Amsden, Elmer
Amsden, Fred A.
Amsden, Mrs. F. R.
Amsden, F. R.
Andersen, Andrew
Anderson, Anders A.
Anderson, Anton H.
Anderson, August
Anderson, Charles
Anderson, Charles H.
Anderson, Mrs., Clara Gorder
Anderson, Donald F.
Anderson, E.
Anderson, Francis
Anderson, Gabriella
Anderson, Hans
Anderson, Hans
Anderson, John
Anderson, John
Anderson, John
Anderson, John B.
Anderson, John H.
Anderson, L. M.
Anderson, Leo
Anderson, Robert
Anderson, Mrs., Viva Head (J. R.)
Anderson, William
Anderson, William
Anderson, William S.
Andrews, Jerome
Andrews, Samuel
Andrews, W. J.
Andrus, Homer
Ansley, V.
Antleman, Margaret Firey
Antleman, O. R.
Angerhofer, Albert
Angerhofer, Herman
Angerhofer, Richard
Appel, Charles
Appel, Isaac
Appleford, U. L.
Apted, George
Ariens, Frank A.
Armantrout, George W.
Armour, Martin
Armstrong, David
Armstrong, William
Arndt, Julius
Arndt, Morris
Arndt, W. J.
Arndt, Mrs. W. J.
Arnoldy, John
Arntz, Napoleon
Arringer, M. O.
Arten, Peter O.
Asfeth, A.
Ashford, Blanche Huntington
Ashford, Frank
Ashley, Charles
Ashley Noah
Ashmore, John C.
Askew, Edward
Assel, Bernard
Atherton, Albert L.
Atherton, Elmer E.
Atherton, Pell B.
Atkins, Charles W.
Atkins, Fred W.
Atkins, H. W.
Atkinson, William
Atwood, Carroll
Atwood, F. B.
Augtsman, Jacob H.
Aust, Charles W.
Austin, Edward
Austin, F. W.
Aves, Mrs., Etta Rashbun
Aves, William
Axtell, Sylvester
Ayerst, Mrs. Sarah A.
Aylesworth, Porter

Babcock, Charles
Babcock, Charles R.
Babcock, John L.
Bach, Edward
Backman, R.
Bacon, Abner
Bacon, Amos M.
Bacon, Charles A.
Bacon, Rollin H.
Badger, Charles
Badger, Charles E.
Badger, Will S.
Badgley, J.
Badten, William
Bahr, Mrs. Auguste
Bailey, A.
Bailey, Emerson
Bailey, Frank
Bailey, S. F.
Bain, D. William
Bain, John F.
Bain, Neil
Baird, Charles
Baird, Ebenezer J.
Baird, G. F.
Baker, A. O.
Baker, B. S.
Baker, Charles A.
Baker, George
Baker, H. S.
Baker, Mrs., Ila Worthy
Baker, Richard
Baldwin, Charles E.
Baldwin, E. G.
Baldwin, H.
Baldwin, James M.
Baldwin, Meldin R.
Baldwin, Royal J.
Baldwin, Winfield
Ballamy, Arthur R.
Ballamy, Charles S.
Ballard, Charles R.
Ballew, Edward L.
Ballew, James A.
Ballou, George
Bang, P. C.
Barber, George D.
Barker, Edwin H.
Barkley, James
Barnard, Byron
Barnard, H. H.
Barnard, H. H.
Barnes, C. M.
Barnes, E. L.
Barnes, Ira
Barnes, James, Jr.
Barnes, J. I.
Barnes, James, Sr.
Barnes, John H.
Barnes, William P.
Barney, A. W.
Barnhart, Herschel J.
Barnhart, Jacob
Barnhart, Lennie
Baron, Gus
Barrett, Major C. Boyd
Barrington, W. A.
Barron, Guss
Barron, Frank
Barron, James
Barrows, Irvin
Barry, Alfred J.
Barry, George
Barthalomew, Iva Hedger
Bartholome, Gustav
Bartholome, Mrs. Gustav
Bartlett, A.
Bartlett, Grace King
Barlett, H.
Bartlett, Herbert R.
Bartlett, Joseph
Bartlett, M. H.
Bartlett, William
Barton, Jesse
Barton, Orlando O.
Basom, Newell S.
Bassett, Angela Jewett
Bassett, Dr. C. O.
Bassett, Fred R.
Batchelor, Edwin D.
Bauer, William
Baum, L. Frank
Baxter, W. S.
Bayard, H. L.
Beachum, Walter F.
Beals, Albert W.
Beals, H. H.
Beals, Joe
Beals, Mrs. Mary
Beaman, J.
Bean, Charles
Bean, E. E.
Bean, S. B.
Bean, S. J.
Beard, Mrs. Anna M.
Beard, Frank
Beard, Fred C.
Beard, Henry
Beard, Gage B.
Beard, Lula Everson
Beardsley, Frank
Beattie, James M.
Beatty, Samuel T.
Beaur, Rev. Joseph
Bechtel, George
Beck, Sam
Beck, William J.
Becker, George W.
Becker, Joseph
Becker, Nathaniel B.
Beckman, John
Bedee, A. C.
Beebe, Julius R.
Beiersdorff, John
Belden, Olie
Belding, John
Belding, Tiberias V.
Belgum, Erick N.
Bell, Edward
Bell, Mrs. Fanny
Bell, George K.
Bell, J. C.
Bell, John C.
Belles, P. R.
Belor, Leslie
Belor, George
Benedict, A. E.
Bengs, Albert W.
Bengs, H. C.
Bengs, H. G.
Bengs, Mrs. Ida
Bengs, Mrs. Maggie
Bengs, W. F.
Bengsston, A. J.
Bengsston, C. A.
Bengsston, C. A. Jr.
Benjamin, Fred C.
Benjamin, Horace
Bennett, E. Day
Bennett, George C.
Bennett, J. O. A.
Benson, Jacob
Bentley, Robert B.
Benton, William
Berg, Anna
Berg, August E.
Berg, August C.
Bergh, Mrs. A. H.
Bergh, Andrew
Bergh, Andrew H.
Bergman, A.
Berry, James
Berry, Walter
Besse, Clark
Besse, Claude
Besse, F. J.
Besse, Frank
Besse, Norman
Bettman, Henry
Bidtness, John
Bieber, Britton
Bieber, Thomas L.
Biegler, Anton
Biegler, Balzer
Biegler, John
Biegler, Joseph
Biegler, Mike
Biele, Joe
Biele, Louis W.
Bierman, Charles A.
Bierman, Oscar I.
Bingham, A. M.
Bingham, James
Bircher, Burchard
Bircher, John
Bird, David
Birks, George
Bissell, F. L.
Bittman, Edward W.
Black, John
Blaeden, John
Blain, John
Blain, Samuel
Blair, George
Blair, J. W.
Blair, T. M.
Blair, William
Blake, David O.
Blake, Leslie
Blick, Thomas
Blighton, Edith Nauderbi
Bliss, C. A.
Blizzard, William
Bloom, Henry
Bloom, John
Blomberg, Gustaf
Blondin, John
Boardman, D. W.
Boardman, Martin
Bobke, A.
Bobke, August
Beckler, Henry
Beckler, Joseph F.
Bochard, Fred
Bochmer, Andrew
Boe, S. S.
Boelter, William
Boemeke, John
Boggs, Rev. A. R.
Boland, James
Bolander, L.
Bolger, W. P.
Bolles, George
Bolles, Henry P.
Bond, James
Bond, James H.
Bondel, Frank
Bonneau, Julian
Bonnel, Ellis B.
Bonner, E.
Boozer, Alexander
Boozer, Alonzo
Boozer, John
Boom, Gaylord
Booth, H. M.
Borchard, Fred
Borchard, William
Bordwell, A. F.
Bordwell, Louis G.
Bergen, William
Boshun, John
Bosley, Ulrick
Boston, Chester C.
Botz, August
Bouffleur, Herman P.
Boulais, Joseph
Bowen, John
Bower, J. B.
Bowers, John
Bowes, Rolland L.
Bowler, John A.
Bowler, Patrick H.
Bowles, William
Bowman, F. W.
Bowman, Mrs., H. J. Erdman
Bowman, Louis H.
Bowman, Thomas W.
Boyd, Arthur E.
Boyd, John F.
Boyer, J.
Boynton, Ira L.
Boynton, William
Brackin, Will L.
Braden, John Q. A.
Bradford, Harry C.
Bradford, William
Bradley, Grace

[P201]

Bradley, John
Brainerd, Albert J.
Bramble, A.
Brandes, Ernest A.
Bratten, Rose Merten
Bradshaw, R. W.
Bredlove, Thomas
Breidnbach, John
Breitkreutz, Mrs. Anna
Breitkreutz, Frank
Bremer, Charles E.
Bremer, Otto
Bremer, William
Brennan, Joseph
Brennan, Michael J.
Bretz, David A.
Brewer, Charles
Brewster, Clark
Brewster, E. D.
Brewster, M. S.
Brewster, William J.
Brick, Ernest, Sr.
Brick, Herman
Brick, Mrs. Herman
Briggs, Benj. H.
Briggs, Burt
Briggs, Henry C.
Briggs, Walter E.
Brill, Marion
Brimmer, Peter
Brininstool, William H.
Britzius, H.
Britzius, Jacob
Britzius, John P.
Broadbent, William
Brockway, Charles L.
Brockway, Henry
Broderick, Edward
Brokaw, Theron H.
Bromley, Byron
Brooks, Frank W.
Brooks, Tom
Brothers, A.
Brott, S. Fort
Brown, Benjamin S.
Brown, Charles A.
Brown, C. W.
Brown, Ebenezer C.
Brown, Edwin O.
Brown, Frank A.
Brown, Fred D.
Brown, Howard S.
Brown, John L.
Brown, John N.
Brown, John W.
Brown, L. D.
Brown, M. E.
Brown, Nathaniel
Brown, Nelson
Brown, Otis G.
Brown, Ralph L.
Brown, Walter
Brown, William F.
Brown, William G.
Brown, Rev. William W.
Bruns, Meino
Bruse, Mrs. A. G.
Bruse, H. F.
Bruse, Henry J. C.
Bruse, Ida
Bryan, James W.
Brumbough, Nana Cook
Bryant, Guy
Bryant, William
Buck, John F.
Buck, Joseph P. A.
Buckingham, John
Buckley, John
Buckley, Patrick
Buckmaster, Samuel
Buckow, Florence M. Smith
Buene, J. J.
Bugner, A.
Bugner, F.
Bugner, Fred
Bugner, Herman
Bugner, Jacob
Bugner, Paulina
Bunnell, Lamber F.
Buntrock, A. P.
Buntrock, Ida
Burchard, Paul
Burdick, Rev. F. A.
Burdick, Frank
Burdick, I. D.
Burdick, W. B.
Burdin, F. R.
Burgan, John
Burgar, Ella
Burgas, Ella Hurlbert
Burger, J. H.
Barges, Louis
Burgitt, George H.
Burgitt, Rudolphus
Burke, Alma Lee
Burke, Andrew
Burke, Elliott A.
Burke, James G.
Burke, Mrs., J. Erdman
Burke, John
Burke, Luke A.
Burke, P.
Burke, Sylvester
Burke, Thomas
Burlingame, F.
Burlock, Albert
Burlock, Thomas J.
Burnes, Peter T.
Burnette, Mrs. C. G.
Burnette, Charles G.
Burnette, Marvin J.
Burnham, Allan W.
Burnham, F. J.
Burnham, Hiram T.
Burnham, William A.
Burns, Clarence
Burns, James M.
Burns, John
Burns, Patrick T.
Burns, Mrs. Sara
Burrington, Willis A.
Burton, John
Burton, R. K.
Burton, William E.
Bush, A. H.
Bush, Bessie
Bush, David L.
Bush, Edward H.
Bush, J. F.
Bush, Peter
Busby, Ulrich
Butler, Walter P.
Butt, A. R.
Butt, Abram L.
Butterfield, Ed. L.
Buttolph, Frank G.
Butzow, William
Byrne, Michael
Byron, William
Bywater, William

Caakola, M.
Cadwell, George L., Jr.
Cady, John E.
Cady, Mrs. John E.
Cady, S. G.
Cafarelli, R.
Caffall, Charles G.
Cain, John
Calder, Kate Hills
Calkins, O. C.
Calkins, Oscar
Calkins, Miss Ruth
Callahan, C. L.
Callahan, Patrick
Callahan, Frank W.
Camburn, T. E.
Camburn, Otto
Cameron, Allen L.
Cameron, Donald
Cameron, James
Cameron, Otto
Campbell, A. J.
Campbell, A. M.
Campbell, Albert W.
Campbell, Frederick E.
Campbell, H. W.
Campbell, H. W.
Campbell, Hiram W.
Campbell, John
Campbell, Mrs. Mary W.
Campbell, Peter
Canon, Will B.
Canyne, C.
Carey, Thomas
Carl, Arthur W.
Carleton, Don E.
Carlisle, J. L.
Carlson, Alfred
Carlson, August
Carlson, Christian
Carlson, Gust
Carlson, John
Carlson, William
Carpenter, Fred C.
Carpenter, James B.
Carson, William
Carter, Alfred M.
Carter, John S.
Carter, Thomas M.
Carter, Warren
Carter, William J.
Carver, William
Cace, B. F.
Cace, William
Cacey, Frank
Cassels, Ernest E.
Cassels, Herbert W.
Cassels, William
Cassels, William H.
Casserly, Charles
Cate, Albert J.
Cate, Alfred
Cate, Frank
Cate, Mrs. Mable M.
Cavanaugh, Garrett J.
Cavanaugh, Peter
Caverly, Eva Raymond
Chadwick, L. D.
Chalfant, Edmund J.
Chalfant, W. G.
Chalfant, Wilbur F.
Chamberlain, E. E.
Chamberlain, J.
Chamberlain, John J.
Chamberlin, Charles D.
Chamberlin, William M.
Champlin, E. E.
Champlin, Oliver
Chandler, Phillip M.
Chapman, W. H.
Chase, George J.
Chase, J. R.
Cheadle, William
Cheatham, James M.
Cheney, Irving L.
Cherry, James L.
Chesebro, A. S.
Childs, Melvin E.
Chilson, William J.
Chisholm, Alexander
Christenson, Samuel M.
Christian, R.
Christian, R.
Christie, James S.
Christopher, Henry E.
Church, Allen
Church, C. H.
Church, Frank
Church, Frankie
Churchill, George H.
Churchill, Gilbert A.
Churley, John
Chute, John B.
Clancy, Mrs. Catherine
Clancy, Edward L.
Clancy, John W.
Clancy, Thomas H.
Clapp, John J.
Clark, A. J.
Clark, Chauncey D.
Clark, Christian
Clark, Dexter D.
Clark, Ezra
Clark, G. E.
Clark, George
Clark, George N.
Clark, H. K.
Clark, J. H.
Clark, Mrs., Joy Miller
Clark, L. A.
Clark, Leroy
Clark, Samuel B.
Clark, Seth
Clark, Stephen A.
Clark, William P.
Clark, William T.
Cleveland, J. Gordon
Clelland, John I.
Clemons, Dr. E. J.
Clemons, Harmon
Clemenson, Alexander
Cleveland, Fred M.
Cleveland, Selby
Cliff, Lulu Slack
Clifford, Fred J.
Clifford, Stephen
Cobden, William H.
Coburn, Edna Hurlbert
Coburn, Edwina
Coburn, Frank
Coburn, Henry C.
Coburn, Lake S.
Cochrane, George
Coe, Carril M.
Coe, George B.
Coffren, Elijah
Colbo, Christian
Colby, Charles E.
Cole, A. F.
Cole, Arthur J.
Cole, B. W.
Cole, Benjamin
Cole, Charles H.
Cole, Elmer
Cole, Emmet
Cole, Howard W.
Cole, John L.
Cole, Kalie
Cole, L. W.
Cole, Lena
Cole, Melvin
Cole, N. M.
Cole, N. W.
Cole, W. W.
Coleman, Frank
Coleman, Michael
Colgrove, Grant
Colt, George S.
Colvin, John
Colwell, Charles
Colwell, Frank E.
Colwell, Mrs. H. A.
Collier, I. W.
Collins, A. L.
Collins, Charles B.
Collins, David
Collins, Patrick
Collins, Richard
Collins, Timothy
Collins, Walter E.
Colloff, August
Colver, Frank
Comer, M. F.
Combs, Elias
Comstock, S. P.
Comstock, William
Conant, E. A.
Cone, Almer G.
Cone, S. D.
Conn, R. G.
Conn, William
Conner, John D.
Conrad, Jesse H.
Conyne, Case V.
Cook, Arthur H.
Cook, Charles
Cook, Edgar C.
Cook, F. M.
Cook, Henry C.
Cook, Isaac
Cook, James W.
Cook, Jay
Cook, Mrs. Lavina J.
Cook, Orris S.
Cook, S. H.
Cook, Stephen W.
Cook, W. T.
Cook, Will
Cole, L. W.
Cole, N. W.
Cooley, Charles B.
Cooley, Henry D.
Cooley, James N.
Cooley, Norris I.
Cooley, Walter
Coon, Will W.
Cooper, Albert L.
Cooper, Charles M.
Cooper, Charles N.
Cooper, R. G.
Cope, Charles S.
Copela, Mat
Corcoran, Leone Sieh
Cordell, A.
Corey, H. B.
Corner, Thomas
Cornian, James
Corpron, O. B.
Corry, Chester A.
Corry, C. E.
Corse, William N.
Corsett, Charles S.
Corwin, Milton T.
Couch, Eli M.
Couch, Eugene F.
Coughlin, Michael
Courtney, H. U.
Covell, George F.
Cox, E. J.
Cox, Frank
Coyne, Dr. S. Jay
Coykendall, D.
Craig, George
Craig, W. S.
Cramer, Charles H.
Cramer, H. W.
Cranmer, S. H.
Crawford, John
Crawford, Walter S.
Crawford, William
Creed, Charles H.
Cressy, Rev. Charles
Cripps, Sidney A.
Crockard, John
Crofoot, L. W.
Croft, Reese C.
Cronyne, D. H.
Cronyn, Herbert S.
Crosby, Willet E.
Cross, F. J.
Cross, Mrs. W. G.
Crouch, Thomas
Crouch, William
Crowley, Dennis
Crozier, J. B.
Cuddeback, Benjamin
Cuddeback, Edward E.
Cuddeback, Thomas
Culbert, David
Culbert, John
Cully, Jeremiah J.
Cully, Michael
Cully, Patrick
Culver, John
Culver, Lafayette
Cumming, C. E.
Cumming, Jeptha W.
Cummings, A. F.
Cummings, B.
Cunningham, Albert
Cunningham, Edward C.
Cunningham, William P.
Curry, Hector
Curry, John W.
Curry, William
Curtis, Charles H.
Curtis, Edgar G.
Curtiss, Charles A.
Curtiss, Ira O.
Cutler, W. R.
Cutler, Mrs. W. R.
Cutler, William

Dahl, Alfred M.
Dahl, Edward
Dahl, Lars E.
Dahl, Mathias E.
Dahme, Albert
Dahme, August
Dahme, Mrs. August
Dahme, Emil
Dahme, Emma
Dahme, Fred
Dahme, Mrs. Hermina
Dahme, Ida
Dahme, John
Dahme, Magdalene
Dahme, Otto
Dahme, Richard
Dale, Gale
Dale, Gale C.
Dale, James S.
Dale, William
Daley, Patrick
Daly, Alex
Daly, Austin
Daly, Chas. C.
Daly, Geo. B.
Daly, John C.
Daly, Oscar
Dam, Alton S.
Damond, Fred
Danforth, Mrs. C. M.
Daniels, Dr. B. J.
Daniels, Roy
Dare, Robert E.
Darling, Floyd C.
Daubenberger, John F.
Daulton, W. F.
Davenport, William
David, James P.
David, Reason R.
Davidson, B. J.
Davidson, G. M.
Davidson, J. F.
Davidson, N. N.
Davidson, Rayon
Davidson, William
Davies, Gerson J.
Davies, Rev. Peter
Davis, B. F.
Davis, Edward
Davis, H.
Davis, Humphrey
Davis, Ivor D.
Davis, J. H.
Davis, James H.
Davis, Judson
Davis, Oscar
Davis, Sherman I.
Davis, William H.
Davison, N. L.
Davison, Peter
Dawes, Carrie
Dawes, Charles F.
Dawson, George
Day, J.
Day, Rollin J.
Dayton, Asa H.
Dayton, Benjamin A.
Dayton, James R.
Dayton, Lyman C.
Dayton, S. E.
Dean, Albert M.
Dean, J. W.
Dearborn, Roscoe
DeForest, L. M.
DeHart, O. H.
Delmer, Anthony
Dela, W. W.
Delaware, Frank J.
Delestry, Louis
Dempsey, George
Dempsey, John J.
Dempsey, Thomas
Deneen, B.
Denison, Almert M.
Denison, Argil V.
Denison, Lock D.
Dennert, August
Dennert, Herman
Dennis, Clarence
Dennis, Leander C.
Dennis, Leslie W.
Dennison, James W.
Dennison, Ruby
DeRiemer, A. C.
Derra, Christ
Derra, John
DeSilva, Dobrick
DeSilva, George H.
DeSilva, Solomon L.
Detling, Joseph H.
Dever, Roy R.
Dewey, Charles
Dewey, Charles
Dewey, Frank
DeWitt, James D.
Deyette, Charles S.
Diefendahl, Lars
Diefendorf, Dr. Louis F.
Diefendorf, William
Dietz, Charles
Dickens, George
Dickenson, Frank C.
Dickerson, A.
Dickerson, A. F.
Dickerson, A. G.
Dickerson, Albert

[P202]

Dickerson, Chas.
Dickerson, Ena Hawes
Dickerson, Mrs. Homer H.
Dickerson, William
Dickey, Murray E.
Dickey, O. D.
Dickey, Oscar A.
Dickey, R. W.
Dickinson, Frank
Dildine, Henry
Dill, Charles H.
Dille, Melvin B.
Dillingham, Albert
Dillon, Maurice
Diment, George F.
Diment, H. W.
Dinger, L. F.
Dinger, P.
Dinger, Pohkarp
Dinger, Robert
Dinger, Robert
Dinger, William H.
Dinsmore, Rossa
Dinsmore, W. E.
Ditmar, William P.
Dixon, Edwin
Dixon, G. W.
Dixon, Joe
Dixon, Robert
Dixon, Mrs. Vera
Dixon, William
Dobberpuhl,
Doell, Mrs. John
Docken, Mrs. Marie
Dodge, B. P.
Dolan, John W.
Dolan, Owen B.
Dolan, T. F.
Doll, Mrs., Myrtle Inscho
Doll, William Henry
Donaldson, James F.
Donbrow, Mary Worthy
Doorne, Charles E.
Dorfler, Henry
Dorne, Charles E.
Doten, Albert E.
Doty, George T.
Dougherty, Michael
Dougherty, Patrick
Douglas, Marion
Douglass, Frank
Douglass, Marion
Dove, Ed
Downing, Mrs. Mary E.
Doxsie, William
Draeger, Albert
Draeger, Charles A.
Drake, John H.
Dreher, G. H.
Drom, Sol
Drum, Edward C.
Drum, George M.
Drum, Hawley R.
Drum, William M.
Drummond, James
Drury, Wilbur F.
Drysard, Mrs. F. T.
Duamas, August
Duane, Edward
Dubblefool, William
Duboise, John
Duerr, John F.
Dufford, G. S.
Dugan, George
Duncan, Dr. Wm. E.
Dunker, Henry
Dunker, Otto
Dunn, Doctor
Dunn, James
Dunn, Joseph
Dunn, Theodore
Dunn, William F.
Durkee, Carson
Durkee, P. B.
Dutcher, Ward E.
Dutsch, J. E.
Dysart, F. C.

Easton, Carroll F.
Easton, Russell B.
Eaton, Robert J.
Eaton, William A.
Eckhoff, John
Eddins, Humphrey M.
Eder, John
Edgoose, Miss Elizabeth
Edgoose, John R.
Edgoose, John R., Jr.
Edick, John H.
Edmunds, Mrs. Jennie
Edsal, James H.
Edson, C. I.
Edwards, Charles S. Jr.
Edwards, Charles S. Sr.
Edwards, O. F.
Edwards, Thomas
Eisenhood, Jeremiah
Elder, Harry G.
Eldred, N.
Eldredge, George D.
Elliott, Edmund
Elliott, Ezra
Elliott, Francis
Elliott, Dr. James W.
Elliott, John E.
Elliott, Richard T.
Elliott, Robert M.
Elliott, S. H.
Elliott, T. J.
Elliott, T. M.
Elliott, Mrs. Thos. M.
Elliott, Mrs. Will
Elliott, William T.
Ellis, E. B.
Ellis, Frank F.
Ellis, Reader S.
Elterman, E.
Elwood, Thomas
Emerson, E. W.
Enberson, Anthony
Engen, Alfred
Engen, John
Engle, Ezra A.
Engle, George S.
Ensworth, James T.
Ensworth, James T.
Eppard, J. W.
Erdman, Albert
Erdman, August
Erdman, Mrs. August
Erdman, Charles
Erdman, Emil
Erdman, F. H.
Erdman, Miss Martha
Erickson, Charles
Erickson, Erick A.
Erickson, J.
Erickson, Matto
Erickson, Peter
Errickson, Edward
Erwin, George M. L.
Erwin, William J.
Eschbaugh, Charles
Etland, Peter
Evans, C. T.
Evans, Genevive Huntington
Evans, J. C.
Evans, James
Evans, John R.
Evans, Owen
Evans, Mrs. R. A.
Evans, Richard R.
Evans, T. E.
Evans, W. H.
Evans, William J.
Evens, Theodore
Evens, W. Earl
Everett, Fred
Everson, Ben
Everson, Chris
Everson, Della
Everson, Edward
Everson, Frank
Everson, Jim
Everson, John
Everson, Ole

Face, W. J.
Fait, Charles W.
Falk, C. J.
Falk, Charles J.
Falk, F. E.
Fall, Fred
Fangen, A. W.
Fargo, J. D.
Fargo, J. P.
Fargo, L.
Farmer, Thomas
Farnham, Edward W.
Farnham, George L.
Farnham, N. H.
Farquhar, Daniel W.
Farquhar, George
Farquhar, John
Farquhar, Robert
Farquhar, William S.
Farr, Abram L.
Farr, E. G.
Farrington, Joseph
Farrington, L.
Faugen, A. W.
Fearey, Levi D.
Featherhuff, C. E.
Featherhuff, L. H.
Feek, John
Feeley, Patrick
Feeney, John
Feeney, Thomas
Feelers, Samuel J.
Fellos, Fred A.
Fellos, Mrs. Fred A.
Fellows, Isaac
Ferguson, Thomas B.
Fernald, H. B.
Ferson, James S.
Fessenden, A.
Fessenden, N.
Fewins, R.
Fewins, Miss Sarah
Field, James
Fieldhouse, James
Fielding, Stewart
Fielding, Thomas J.
Fife, Kate
Filk, Ferdinand
Finley, Mrs. E. C.
Finch, Marion Ethel
Finch, William H.
Finsand, Gilbert J.
Firey, John H.
Firey, Mrs. J. H.
Fischbein, Julius O.
Fischbein, Max F.
Fischbein, Morris L.
Fishback, Fred
Fishback, Gertrude
Fischer, Carl
Fischer, John A. C.
Fisher, Albert
Fisher, Charles A.
Fisher, Fred
Fisher, Herman
Fisher, Marcus L. "Lewie"
Fisher, W. D.
Fisk, F. R.
Fitch, Fred
Fitch, Osman
Fitzpatrick, Mrs. James
Fix, Frank
Fladeland, John N.
Flagg, Gene
Flagg, Jessie
Flanders, Charles
Flanders, George B.
Flanders, Joseph
Flanders, Samuel
Flanders, Will
Flanigan, Martin J.
Flansburg, E.
Flawzburg, E. J.
Fleming, John
Fletcher, Charles C.
Fletcher, Henry G.
Fletcher, Hon. James H.
Fletcher, John
Fletcher, Wesley C.
Fletcher, W. H.
Flick, William
Flint, Benjamin F.
Flint, Harvey E.
Flint, Luther P.
Flood, Gladys Hurlbert
Flood, James
Floyd, James D.
Fluke, J. E.
Foley, Patrick
Foley, Peter
Ford, Fred G.
Fordback, Peter
Forgensen, Peter
Forsti, John
Forsti, John Jr.
Forsyth, Charles C.
Foss, Samuel
Fossum, Andrew C.
Foster, C. A.
Foster, Charles
Foster, Harry W.
Foster, Mrs. Jane
Foster, John
Foster, Theodore M.
Foster, Waldo
Foster, Mrs. W. R.
Foster, William C.
Fountain, Charles F.
Fowler, Dr. Dewitt C.
Fox, Evert L.
Foy, Almon W.
Frank, Henry
Frank, Herman O.
Frantz, Harvey
Franz, Frank
Frazier, A. D.
Frazier, Edwin A.
Frazier, Frances Hurlbert
Freeland, Thomas H.
Freeman, A. V.
Freeman, Charles W.
Freeman, Lawrence
Freeman, Ruby
Fredell, Elof
French, Frank
Frese, Henry
Frey, Joseph
Frisby, Decatur W.
Frisby, Otis I.
Fritz, John
Froehlick, August
Froehlick, Emelia
Froehlick, Fred
Froehlick, Paul
Frommel, Fred
Frommel, Mrs. Fred
Fuglie, Mons A.
Fuhrmann, Ferdinand
Fuhrmann, Fred
Fuhrmann, H. F.
Fuhrmann, Louis
Fulker, Nellie
Fulker, Samuel P.
Fuller, Edward
Fuller, Howard J.
Fuller, John L.
Fuller, Julius A.
Fuller, Myron
Fuller, Thomas B.
Fuller, William
Fuller, William A.
Funk, Herman C.
Furnier, Francis A.
Furnier, Rev. L. G.
Furnier, Peter A.
Furrey, John
Furtney, Aaron W.
Fylpaa, Andrew A.
Fylpaa, John A.
Fylpaa, Thomas H.

Gabert, Wm.
Gadel, Peter
Gage, Charles H.
Gage, Matilda
Gage, T. Clarkson
Gage, Mrs. T. C.
Gage, Vine
Gales, Charles
Galferty, Edward
Gallagher, John
Gallett, D. J. Jr.
Gallett, Delbert G. Sr.
Galloway, Charles
Galusha, Jerome
Gamble, Aaron
Gamble, Ezra
Gamble, Joseph
Gamble, Moses
Gambler, Alexander C.
Gange, George W.
Ganiard, Frank
Gannon, Edith Mather
Gard, J. W.
Gardner, N. S.
Gardner, William
Garey, William
Garfield, Harvey
Garland, Charles R.
Garland, Hamlin
Garland, John
Garland, P. H.
Garman, James N.
Garrett, Fred H.
Gaskill, J. O.
Gaskin, Charles
Gaskin, Charles E.
Gaskin, John
Gass, Frank N.
Gass, John
Gaston, Ira
Gaston, William
Gates, A. M.
Gates, John
Gault, D. A.
Gavin, Charles E.
Gay, Lee
Gear, Charles
Gearey, Aaron M.
Geary, William
Gebhardt, T. B.
Geeslin, James F.
Geidl, J. B.
Gelber, Ferdinand
Gell, Robert J.
Gelling, P. C.
Gelner, John
Gengerke, H.
Gengerke, John
Geranen, F. H.
Geranen, Paul
Gernon, George
Gernon, Gerald
Gernon, Robert
Gernon, Robert R.
Gernon, William
Geskoot, Peter
Gibbard, Albert
Gibbs, Chapman S.
Gibbs, Henry P.
Gibbs, James
Gibbs, John S.
Gibbs, Justine R.
Gibbs, Samuel M.
Gibbony, William
Gibson, James W. C.
Giddings, Calvin M.
Giesen, Julia Sieh
Gifford, E. N.
Gilbert, Albert
Gilbert, Mrs. Annie O.
Gilbert, Mrs. Ingrie I.
Gilbert, Nils I.
Gilbertson, C. O.
Gilbertson, H. F.
Gilchrist, Stana Everson
Giles, James H.
Giles, William F.
Gilborive, Seth
Gilborne, Seth
Gilfoy, William M.
Gillam, G.
Gillam, Glen H.
Gillen, Michael
Gillespie, R. D.
Gillette, Arthur B.
Gilman, Dylone M.
Gilman, Frank
Gilman, Theodore A.
Gilmor, A. T.
Gilmor, Mrs. A. T.
Gilmor, Essie Finch
Gilmor, Theador K.
Gilmor, Theodore A.
Gilshannon, Bernard J.
Gilyard, Andrew I.
Gjerstad, John K.
Glau, August
Glau, Edmund
Glau, John
Glau, John A.
Glem, George J. M.
Gleim, Lydia
Gleim, Peter
Glover, W. T.
Goddard, L. J.
Godfrey, Emma
Godfrey, G. H.
Godfrey, John
Gomer, M. F.
Goodchap, Louis
Goodes, John T.
Goodhue, F. D.
Goodhue, James
Goodman, Charles
Goodrow, Mrs. Josephine
Goodsell, Charles E.
Goodsell, Timothy M.
Goodspeed, Merritt
Goodwin, Henry
Gord, J. W.
Gorder, J. D.
Gorder, Mathias
Gordon, D.
Gordon, Edward
Gordon, Hute
Gordon, Merritt J.
Gottschalk, Charles
Gould, A. F.
Gould, J. S.
Grace, Thomas
Graebsch, William
Graham, Charles B.
Graham, James H.
Graham, John M.
Graham, Joseph
Graham, William
Grandpre, E. A.
Grandpre, Grant
Granger, Frank E.
Granger, Mrs. Fannie R.
Granger, William H.
Grant, Lawrence W.
Grant, Philip
Grant, T.
Graves, Mrs. Agnes
Graves, E. D.
Graves, Frank G.
Gray, Anson
Gray, F.
Gray, Frank
Gray, G. L.
Gray, Gustav
Gray, John
Gray, L. W.
Gray, Louis
Green, Ansel T.
Green, Charles
Green, Charles A.
Green, David W.
Green, John J.
Green, Lester
Green, T. H.
Green, Thomas W.
Greenman, Francis Cranmer
Gregson, H. A.
Gren, Charles
Grienther, Gustav
Griffith, C. E.
Griffin, S. J.
Griffith, Byron
Griffith, Edwin E.
Griggs, Eli A.
Griggs, Ira
Grimes, Newman
Grimm, C. E.
Grines, Charles
Grinolds, J. M.
Grohnke, Mrs. Lizzie
Gronso, Mrs. Fred
Grotback, Halvor
Grote, Alma
Grote, Ben
Grow, John
Gruenwald, August
Gudheim, Arne G.
Gubin, M. M.
Guild, Joseph H.
Gullickson, George B.
Gullickson, S. T.
Gullickson, Tena
Gunderson, Martin
Gunther, Gustav
Gussman, Charles E.
Gustavson, Carl
Gustavson, P. O.

Haas, C.
Haage, Andrew
Haasze, Emory J.
Hafner, Anna
Haga, Hans Hensen

[P203]

Haga, John
Hagan, Peter
Hager, Orson B.
Hagen, Carl
Hagerty, Frank H.
Hagerty, George
Hagerty, James
Hagerty, William
Hague, C. F.
Hague, Mrs., Effie Burns
Hackett, U. S.
Haines, J. M.
Haines, J. Z.
Haire, Elias
Haire, Elias
Haire, Mable C.
Haire, R. J.
Haire Rev. Robert W.
Halbert, J. H.
Hale, David A.
Halferty, Edward
Hall, A. S.
Hall, Alfred T.
Hall, Charles
Hall, Edward
Hall, George
Hall, George C.
Hall, Harry
Hall, John
Hall, John
Hall, Joseph E.
Hall, William
Hallett, Charles H.
Hallett, George W.
Halliday, W. I.
Hallin, Owen E.
Hallock, William J.
Halpin, Daniel A.
Halpin, William
Halvorson, Erick O.
Halvorson, Ole
Hamilton, Essie Zietlow
Hamilton, J. R.
Hamilton, Robert
Hammond, P. K.
Hancock, William
Hand, George D.
Haney, William
Haney, William T.
Hango, Jacob
Hanhela, Matts
Hanicker, Lewis
Hanisalo, Alexander
Hanks, Benjamin F.
Hanks, George
Hanlon, T. H.
Hanna, William
Hannan, C. R.
Hannigan, W. L.
Hansel, William
Hansen, A. C.
Hansen, Andrew
Hansen, Adrew G.
Hansen, Charles
Hansen, Olie P.
Hanson, Erastus
Hanson, Charles
Hanson, Chris
Hanson, Frank
Hanson, Frank G.
Hanson, George
Hanson, J. L.
Hanson, John
Hanson, John H.
Hanson, Joseph
Hanson, L.
Hanson, Nelson
Hanson, Pete
Hanson, R. C.
Hansteen, Christ
Hards, Arthur J.
Hards, James
Harkness, J.
Harley, Robert C.
Harmon, Evelyn W.
Harmon, Odber, D.
Harmon, Robert L.
Harnois, Ed
Harnois, William
Harringgton, B. F.
Harrington, Eli
Harrington Fay
Harrington, George B.
Harrington, Wood
Harris, Charles N.
Harris, Madge Taylor
Harris, Nathaniel H.
Harris, T. J.
Harron, Charles
Harron, Joseph
Harry, B. F.
Harry, C. W.
Harry, D. F.
Hart, A.
Hart, Edmund
Hart, Eugene C.
Hart, George W.
Hart, H.
Hart, H. C.
Hart, Henry
Hart, John
Hart, Michael
Hart, W. Henry
Harter, Daniel
Harter, Fred M.
Harter, George M.
Hartley, Mrs. Ellen
Hartman, Solomon
Hartson, Henry C.
Hartwell, Herbert H.
Hartwell, Herman G.
Hartwell, R. S.
Harvey, J. P.
Harvey, Robert S.
Haskins, Nye
Hasse, Geo. J.
Hasse, Mrs., Alvina Merten
Hasse, Otto J.
Hassinger, Robert M.
Hatch, Charles F.
Hatch, Marion L.
Hatch, W. M.
Hauge, Chris F.
Hauge, Frank C.
Hauge, John C.
Hauptmann, Frederick
Hauser, Capt. John H.
Hauser, Nationiel T.
Hawes, William
Hawkins, Stephen
Hawkins, William V.
Hawkinson, Olof
Hawley, Walter
Hay, Bertha Heiduer
Hay, C. R.
Hayden, James
Hayden, Martin
Hayes, Charles
Hayes, Edith Gray
Hayes, T. E.
Hays, Henry
Hays, Emily
Hays, James W.
Hays, William
Hayward, Alfred W.
Hazard, Alexander
Hazeltine, Eugene R.
Hazeltine, Ira S.
Head, Henry G.
Head, John S.
Healon, J. E.
Heasty, George
Heath, Harry
Heath, Milton A.
Heath, O. B.
Heckler, Fred
Heckman, Wihielmina Lindekugel
Hedbloom, Pete
Hedger, Rev. B. H.
Hedger, Clement C.
Hedger, Frank C.
Hedger, Samuel C.
Hedin, Andrew
Hedley, William
Hegels, Henry
Hegerty, Henry F.
Heidner, Bertha
Height, Watson
Heinaich, Mrs. Theo., Grace Cate
Helcher, Charles
Helgandorf, Ernest
Hellberg, William
Helm, Frank
Helmka, Charles
Helmuka, John
Hemen, H. L.
Hemenway, Asa G.
Hemenway, Howard V.
Henchel, John
Henderson, Robert
Henderson, Thomas
Hendrickson, Arni
Henhouser, Charles
Heninger, Martin R.
Henley, Mrs. John
Hennessy, Patrick
Henrickson, Samuel
Henry, Charles E.
Henry, Norton
Henry, Samuel
Hens, B. J.
Hensel, Louis W.
Hensel, William
Hepp, Daniel
Hepp, C. R.
Hering, Max W.
Hering, Mrs. Max
Herman, Michael
Herman, Mrs. Christ
Herron, J. M.
Herseth, Lars
Hertges, Joseph
Hibner, George
Hickenbotham, Alice
Hickenbotham, Charles
Hickenbotham, Edith
Hickenbotham, Frank
Hickenbotham, James E.
Hickenbotham, Walter H.
Hickenbotham, William
Hickenbottom, S.
Hickey, S.
Hickman, William
Hicks, Sylvester B.
Hicks, W. B.
Hielscher, Rev. George W.
Higgs, Lainie
Higgins, Richard
Higley, Arthur
Hilbert, Amelia
Hilbert, John
Hilbert, Leonard H.
Hill, George E.
Hill, John
Hill, Thomas
Hillman, S. A.
Hinds, David
Hines, David
Hines, John
Hinvashari, Isaac
Hirsch, S.
Hoag, E. L.
Hoag, E. L.
Hong, George
Hoag:, George
Hoag, Mrs. Maiy E.
Hoag, Samuel A.
Hoagland, Peter
Hobe, Charles
Hoeffler, Florian
Hoffer, Nathaniel D.
Hofmaster, O.
Hogerty, George
Hohnsay, William
Holland, Olof
Hoilien, H. E.
Hoit, Fred B.
Hoit, Col. James B.
Hoit, James W.
Holby, Harry
Holborn, James
Holcomb, Augustus G.
Holcomb, Charles G.
Holcomb, J. E.
Holcomb, Walter E.
Holl, Christian
Holland, Christovher C.
Holland, Daniel
Holland, Dorn
Holland, James
Holland, James
Hollander, Gust
Hollingshead
Hollister, H. E.
Holm, Frank
Holmes, C. F.
Holmes, Earl B.
Holmes, George
Holmes, Moses N.
Holmes, Noah
Holmes, W. W.
Holmquest, Frank
Holt, Monroe
Holt, W. J.
Holth, Christ
Holzer, Jacob
Honey, George
Honey, James
Honka, John
Honnegar, Gust
Honnegar, Jake
Hood, Benjamin F.
Hoover, George S.
Hoover, Harry
Hoover, Jennie Kilpatrick
Hopkins, A. S.
Hopkins, Charles M.
Hopkins, Eugene
Hopkins, Robert S.
Hoppin, George, S.
Horn. Joseph
Horn, Z. D.
Hornbeck, Abram
Horne J. E.
Horning, Eugene
Horning, Fred
Horsley, F. W.
Horsley, Washington M.
Horsley, William
Hoskin, A. R.
Hosley, Hubbard
Hosley, William E.
Hotchkiss, Charles
Houghton, William C.
Houlahan, John A.
Hove, E. O.
Hove, Tore T.
Hovey, Charles A.
Hovey, James
Hovorn, George
Howard, Charles A.
Howard, Grace Brown
Howard, J. F.
Howard, Samuel
Howarth, William
Howe, George
Howe, Major F.
Howell, Brooke
Howell, Gideon
Howell, Lawrence R.
Howell, S. P.
Hoyt, Byron
Hoyt, T. Freeman
Hubbard, Jackson
Hubbard, Lyde Ward
Hubble, James P.
Hubert, F.
Hudler, Daniel
Hudson, James
Huestis, Dr. Oswell M.
Huettl, Teresa
Huey, John N.
Huff, David I.
Huggins, J. F.
Hughes, Mrs., Lulu Mellon
Hughes, O. E.
Hughes, Thomas
Hukari, Gus
Hulbert, Noah
Hulburd, Mason O.
Hull, Walter
Halt, John E.
Humphrey, Mrs. Anna M.
Humphrey, Anna M.
Humphrey, Charles I.
Humphrey, James E.
Humphrey, Kittie D.
Humphrey, Milo J.
Humphrey, S. E.
Hunsberger, Isaiah
Hunsberger, J.
Hunstad, Ole
Hunter, Freeman S.
Harter, Willis G.
Huntington, S. W.
Hurelle, Francis
Hurlbut. Lucius
Hurst, William
Hute, Charles J.
Hutchinson. C. E.
Hutt, Spencer
Huttalls, F. A.
Hutton, D. H.
Hyde, Rev. William J.
Hyke, Mrs. Mary

Iberg, Gottlieb J.
Indret, John B.
Ingalls, John G.
Ingersoll, C. M.
Ingersoll, Percy A.
Imgraham, M. F.
Inscho, Guy S.
Irish, James W.
Irvine, William H.
Isackson, W.
Isham, Sheridan E.
Iverson, Peter
Ives, Lester J.

Jaakala, Matti
Jackson, James
Jackson, John H.
Jacobs, Captain Jelin
Jacobs, Joseph M.
Jacobson, J.
Jacques, S. W.
James, Frank
James, J. R.
Janecke, Herman
Jansen, Fred
Jasmer, Carl
Jeffers, J. E.
Jehring, Edward
Jenne, E. S.
Jenkins, George W.
Jenkins, J.
Jenkins, James M.
Jennings, Frank
Jennings, George G.
Jensen, Mrs. Chris
Jensen, Hans
Jensen, C. H.
Jenson, Palle H.
Jesmer. Charles
Jett, Effie Gaskin
Jewell, Clark A.
Jewell, Rev. G. F.
Jewett, Charles A.
Jewett, Harvey C.
Jewett, John
Jewett, Otho C.
Jewett, R. N.
John, C. D.
John, Charles
Johns, Charles
Johnsen, Mary
Johnson, A. T.
Johnson, Abraham W.
Johnson, Alfred
Johnson, Miss Allie
Johnson, Andrew
Johnson, Andrew J.
Johnson, Angus
Johnson, Anna Dell
Johnson, C. E.
Johnson, Charles A.
Johnson, Charles M.
Johnson, Evan
Johnson, Frank
Johnson, Fred
Johnson, Frederick C.
Johnson, Gus
Johnson, Gustaf
Johnson, Hanna H.
Johnson, Hector
Johnson, Henry F.
Johnson, John
Johnson, Larman G.
Johnson, Lars P.
Johnson, Mrs. Mary
Johnson, Minnie
Johnson, N. H.
Johnson, Peter N.
Johnson, William L.
Johnson, William M.
Johnson, William N.
Johnson, William S.
Johnston, Samuel
Jones, A. P.
Jones, Alfred W.
Jones, Charles W.
Jones, Clara M.
Jones, D. C.
Jones, Daniel D.
Jones, David
Jones, Emry
Jones, Even J.
Jones, Fannie Harmon
Jones, G. W.
Jones, George I.
Jones, H. H.
Jones, H. M.
Jones, John J.
Jones, Lester H.
Jones, Lydia
Jones, M. E.
Jones, M. E.
Jones, Mary L. Griffiths
Jones, Mrs. Maggie E.
Jones, Mortimer J.
Jones, Nell
Jones, Orin S.
Jones, Owen F.
Jones, R. M.
Jones, Reuben W.
Jones, Richard H.
Jones, Robert H.
Jones, R. W.
Jones, Sue
Jones, Thomas A.
Jones, Thomas M.
Jones, Rev. Thomas R.
Jones, W. O.
Jones, William
Jones, William A.
Jones, William H.
Jorgenson, Anton
Judkins, F. M.
Julson, James
Jumper, Samuel H.

Kanaly, William
Kean, Peter
Karst, Matthew
Kastriner, Morris
Kearney, Edwin E.
Kearney, James H.
Kearney, William H.
Kearns, Pat
Keating, John
Keegan, Charlie
Keeling, Rev. Dr. R. J.
Keenan, J.
Keene, Walter B.
Keerl, Robert D.
Kehl, Adam
Keiser, Samuel
Keiser, Samuel
Keiser, William
Keith, Ernest B.
Kelley, Larry W.
Kelly, Adeline Crowley
Kelly, Allen
Kelly, Charles E.
Kelly, D. B.
Kelly, Joseph E.
Kelly, Michael
Kelly, Morris H.
Kemnitz, E. W.
Kemnitz, John
Kemnitz, William
Kemp, Fred
Kendall, Frederick
Kenitser, Henry
Kennedy, John
Kennedy, M.
Kennedy, Rodney
Kennedy, Samuel A.
Kennelly, Thomas C.
Kenney, Robert
Kenny, Katie Kruse
Kentz, Frank
Kenyon, Frank J.
Kenyon, Grant B.
Kenyon, Ray E.
Kepke, Augusta
Kepke, Herman
Keppler, C.
Kern, Jerome
Kerr, John
Kessel, Louis
Kestie, Mrs. Johanna
Ketchum, Frank E.
Kettle, John
Keylberg, Louis
Kichner, F.

[P204]

Kidd, Hampton E.
Kidd, William H.
Kight, Daniel
Kile, Fred C.
Kile, Martin
Killen, James P.
Kilpatrick, A. G.
Kilpatrick, D. V.
Kilpatrick, Dece
Kilpatrick, George
Kilpatrick, Jennie Hoover
Kilpatrick, Nellie
Kimball, Charles D.
Kimball, Charles R.
Kimble, Erastus B.
Kimnitz, F. F.
Kimnitz, Henry
Kindschi, Andrew
Kindsehy, John C.
King, George R.
King, H. H.
King, Harvey
King, Miss Jessie A.
King, Nathaniel
King, Samuel F.
King, Willis D.
Kingman, W. D.
Kingsley, Charles
Kingsley, F. F.
Kingston, William P.
Kinnear, Frank D.
Kinney, Thomas F.
Kinney, William F.
Kipple, Mathias
Kirk, Robert E.
Kirklin, Henry F.
Kirklin, John C.
Kiser, George
Klabunde, J. C.
Klock, Frank
Kluck, James
Kluck, Joseph
Klyberg, Lars T.
Knapp, D. S.
Knapp, Frank
Knight, Edgar X.
Knott, John
Knox, James
Knudson, Syver
Koch, Chris
Koch, William H.
Koehn, Peter
Kohlhoff, A.
Kohlhoff, Laura
Kohlhoff, Lydia
Kohlhoff, Minnie
Koning, Henry
Korsedahl, Bastian H.
Korta, Emil
Korte, Esther Zimmerman
Korte, Fred
Koutz, Searight C.
Kraft, George
Kraft, Jacob W.
Kranhold, Fred G.
Kranhold, Charles W.
Kretlow, Charles E.
Kriksman, Alexander
Krohne, Andrew
Krueger, August W.
Krueger, Julius H.
Kruger, Mrs. Elizabeth
Kruger, Ira
Kruger, John
Kruger, Louis
Kruger, Lucinda
Kruger, Paul
Kruger, Pearl
Kruger, Sylvia
Krum, George W.
Kruse, William
Kuehnert, Frederick H.
Kuehnle, Martin
Kuney, Jacob C.
Kuntz, John F.
Kurtz, A. Isaac
Kurtz, Wm. F.
Kyle, Charles
Kyle, Charles
Kyle, Senator J. H.

Lacey, Clarence E.
Lacey, Seth C.
Ladd, E.
Lager, Louis
Lahman, Edward H.
Lahman, Frederick A.
Laidlaw, Miss Clyde
Laidlaw, Robert D.
Lamb, Elbert F.
Lamb, Eugene A.
Lamb, N. H.
Lamb, William
Lambert, A. A.
Lambert, Rosa
Lamont, Byron C.
Lamont, Margaret Mather
Lane, Hiram F.
Lane, John P.
Lange, William
Lange, William F.
Langhousen, Mathew
Langland, John
Lanktree, Benjamin F.
Lanz, Carl
Larsen, Sivert G.
Larson, Andrew L.
Larson, Edward
Larson, Gunder
Larson, Jacob
Larson, John
Larson, Louis
Larson, Susanna
Lascelle, Cora
Lascelle, G. Frank
Laseelle, Harvey W.
Lasker, George C.
Latham, Halbert
Lathrop, Henry G.
Lattus, Thomas
Lauermann, Edna B.
Laurence, Anna Johnson
Lavin, John D.
Lavin, Miss Sarah J.
Lawrence, Isaac E.
Lawrence, Hallie Hurlbert
Lawrence, Thomas J.
Lawrence, Thomas J. Jr.
Lawrence, Wilbur
Lawrence, William
Lawson, James M.
Lawson, Rev. Orr
Leach, Dwight
Leach, Frank B.
Leak, James
Leak, Mauric J.
Leander, Wilson
Lee, John
Lee, Knudt O.
Lee, Thomas
Lee, Thore N.
Leeson, Charles
Leigh, Mrs. Charles
Leigh, Frank H.
Leigh, Leon
Lehms, Gus
Leister, Jacob S.
Lenertz, A. N.
Lenling, Charles
Lenling, Henry
Leonard, Watson C.
Leoken, Hans
Leposki, Tony
LeSuer, William H.
Lettuse, William
Lewis, Aaron
Lewis, Anson C.
Lewis, Frank N.
Lewis, Homer A.
Lewis, Jerry
Lewis, Lyman M.
Lewis, Nelson
Lewis, Philip
Lewis, S. J.
Lewis, Thomas E.
Lewis, William W.
Lied, Tore N.
Liedtke, Charles
Liedtke, Dick
Liedtke, Lewis
Lietz, C. H.
Lietz, Charles
Lietz, Gustav
Lier, Ernest
Light, Marvin T.
Lighthouse, Henry
Lillibridge, H. F.
Lincoln, Isaac
Lind, Frank
Lindekugel, Arthur
Lindekugel, Chas. A.
Lindekugel, Edwin
Lindekugel, Ethel Runyrey
Lindersmith, Curtis L.
Lindersmith, George B.
Lindgren, Gustaf
Lindley, Mrs. T. A.
Lindsey, Michael
Line, William M.
Lingren, John
Links, Paul
Linn, Dr. Frank
Linn, Levi P.
Linn, Oscar
Lipond, Wendelin
Littleton, William
Litts, John H.
Lloyd, N. E.
Locker, John B.
Lockington, Henry J.
Lockington, William
Lockwick, Eugene K.
Lockwood, E. T.
Lockwood, James W.
Loebs, John L.
Loehrke, Charles E.
Lohr, C. W.
Londerville, Louis
Long, Amos J.
Long, John
Long, Leama Plummer
Long, Vanalen
Longley, William N.
Loomis, Ashmun
Lorber, Joseph A.
Lorber, Leo
Lorber, Lewis Jr.
Lord, James
Lorenson, Cornelius
Lorenzen, Fred
Lorscheider, J.
Lott, A.
Lott, Abram
Lott, J.
Lott, J. M.
Lott, W. F.
Lotus, Joseph
Lounsberry, George
Love, Robert
Lovejoy, Mrs. E. M.
Lovejoy, George
Lovejoy, William E.
Lovelace, John A.
Loveless, John
Loveless, L.
Loveless, Nate
Loviess, Mortimer
Lovit, Harry J.
Lowe, Edward W.
Lowen, Frank
Lowitz, Mrs. Bertha
Lowitz, Mrs. John
Lowman, T. C.
Lowry, William H.
Luce, Julius C.
Lueck, Ferdinand A.
Luessen, Charles F.
Luffman, Martin M.
Luke, August F.
Luke, William F.
Lum, Charles A.
Lum, Clifford
Lum, Oscar
Lum, Solomon
Lumbra, J. B.
Lund, A.
Lund, Fletcher
Lund, John H.
Lundberg, John
Lundt, J.
Lunga, Jacob
Lungreen, Frank
Lurnbull, William
Luse, Carl
Luse, Frank A.
Luse, Miss Laura
Luttio, John
Lottie, Lauri
Lyman, J. W.
Lyman, J. W.
Lyman, J. W. Jr.
Lynn, Irene
Lynn, Lewie
Lynn, Oscar
Lyon, George M.
Lyons, F.
Lyons, George W.
Lyons, Lillian Fulker
Lyons, P.
Lyons, William E.
Lytle, J. W.

McAllister, Abner C.
McAllen, Joseph
McAlpine
McAnally, Peter
McArthur, Fred J.
McArthur, John
McArthur John C.
McBride, Rev. Joseph M.
McBride, Mary Buck
McCabe, George B.
McCall, Silash
McCammon, Dr. Colin G.
McCann, Daniel B.
McCann, William A.
McCarthy, Mary
McCaull, James L.
McCaw, Frank
McCaw, Henry H.
McCaw, Mrs. Louise
McChesney, James W.
McChesney, John T.
McColl, Silas M.
McConnell, George
McConnell, M. D.
McCord, Fred
McCordic, Robert
McCormack, John J.
McCoy, Charles T.
McCoy, Edward F.
McCowen, George
McCreedy, William J.
McCrossen, Charles H.
McCulley, John D. D.
McDaniel, Gerry S.
McDearmon, Frank
McDearmon, Fred
McDearmon, F. R.
McDearmon, Joseph
McDiarmid, James A.
McDiarmid, Alexander
McDonald, A. B.
McDonald, Belle Holburn
McDonald, Miss Bessie
McDonald, Miss Maggie
McElhone, Scott
McEwan, Eva Marshall
McFall, Daniel
McFarland, Andrew
McFarland, Duncan
McFarland, Walter
McGlachlin, Dighton
McGinty, Michael
McGlynn, George
McGovern, Fred
McGovern, Magdelene Grace Gernon
McGregor, H. C.
McHugh, Mrs. Maggie
McIntosh, Jewitt F.
McIntyre, Norman C.
McKean, David
McKeever, Rev. Edward I.
McKenzie, Don C.
McKenzie, Kenneth
McKenzie, L.
McKenzie, Peter
McKibben, Foster D.
McKillop, Malcolm
McKinley, D.
McKinney, M. J.
McKinnon, Archie
McKinnon, Bessie
McKinnon, Margaret
McKinzie, Alexander
McKinzie, Simon
McKiver, Angus
McKiver, Anna
McKiver, Charles
McKiver, David
McKiver, John
McKiver, Margaret
McKiver, Mary
McKiver, Thomas
McKiver, William
McKiver, Victoria
McLain, Hugh
McLain, William H.
McLaughlin, David G.
McLaughlin, Eli
McLaughlin, Winnie Harris
McLeod, Charles J.
McLeod, Mrs. C. J.
McMann, M.
McMaster, Samuel L.
McMillan, W. H.
McMillin, Roderick
McMillin, R. H.
McMullen, George
McNally, William M.
McNamara, Rose Irene Sieh
McNames, Fred
McNaughton, Robert
McNaughton, Don T.
McNeary, John
McNiff, Mrs. Ida M.
McNutt, E. L.
McNutt, Fannie
McNutt, Dr. Hiram E.
McNutt, Mrs. Rebecca K.
McPartland, James
McPartland, Owen
McPherson, Angus
McPherson, John C.
McTighe, James
McVeigh, John
McWilliams, Evans B.
McWilliams, R. A.
Maber, F. S.
Mabie, William
Macauley, B. F.
Mace, Levi
Mack, William A.
Maclcod, Charles J. C.
Madden, Daniel A.
Madole, Alexander C.
Magone, Joseph
Mahon, Florence Cole
Mahone, Mrs Bud
Maine, Nelson W.
Mallett, Jerome H.
Mallon, Patrick
Malone, Patrick F.
Manning, Henry E.
Manning, Jaynes
Manning, William
Manning, William C.
Manny, Helen
Manny, Mayme
Manny, R.
Manny, Mrs. R.
Mansar, Daniel
Mansfield, James
Mansfield, Thomas
Marchessault, Victor
Marcks, Louis G.
Markham, Wayne J.
Marlett, Mable Cate
Marple, Henry M.
Mare, B. 
Marsh, J. W.
Marsh, W. H.
Marshall, Rev. James A.
Marshall, J. S.
Marshall, Thomas F.
Martillo, Hendrick
Martilla, J.
Martin, Andrew
Martin, Andrew
Martin, Daniel R.
Martin, I.
Martin, Israel
Martin, John
Martinsen, Carl
Mason, J. D.
Mason, Jane A.
Mason, John S.
Mason, Meda
Mason, Noel
Mason, W. F.
Matheis, Ed
Mather, Edwin J.
Mather, E. J.
Mather, Roy A.
Matheson, Mrs. Dan
Mathieu, Edward
Mathieu, Joseph
Matteson, Edward
Matterson, J. J.
Matteson, Orlin C.
Mathews, Earl M.
Matthews, Frank
Matthews, Ira B.
Matthews, William
Matthews, William H.
Mattison, W. B.
Maunee, Alexander
Maunee, Gustaf
Maurer, William F.
Maxon, O. P.
Maxwell, James
May, Richard
Maynard, Benjamin L.
Maynard, Mrs. Dora
Maynard, Levi
Meacham, J.
Meacher, Sibley B.
Mead, Ellery. O.
Mead, S. Ernest
Medley, Miss Lizzie
Meehan, James
Meek, J. S.
Mehner, Roxanna
Meisenback, Lyda Sidow
Melburg, E. M.
Melcher, Arno
Melcher, Edward
Melendy, Daniel W.
Melgaard, A.
Melgaard, Harold
Meloche, A. Phil
Mentor, Mare
Mentor, Walter H.
Melcier, Scott B.
Meredith, C. H.
Meredith, Charles G.
Merrill, Mrs. F. M.
Merritt, W. E.
Merten, Gustave E.
Merten, Lydia Rahskopf
Merton, F. C.
Merton, F. E.
Metcalf, Mrs. Melinda
Meyer, Henry
Meyers, Winnie Perry
Michaelis, William
Mickleson, H.
Mikalson, Alfred C.
Mikalson, Andrew S.
Mikalson, Carl E.
Mikalson, Christine
Midbust, Ole L.
Middleditch, Henry
Mielke, Charles
Milber Ben F.
Milbrandt, Herman
Miles, Miss Alice
Miller, Adolphus H.
Miller, Benjamin B.
Miller, Benjamin F.
Miller, Byron G.
Miller, Charles
Miller, Charles D.
Miller, Dr. E. O.
Miller, E. S.
Miller, Dr. Frank
Miller, George
Miller, George F.
Miller, George W.
Miller, Henry
Miller, Henry
Miller, Henry B.
Miller, James
Miller, James E.
Miller, John Q.
Miller, Lucien W.
Miller, Orrin H.
Miller, V. M.
Miller, Victor
Miller, William B.
Milligan, Albert F.
Milligan, W. E.
Mills, Henry O.
Mills, Hon. Romulo A.
Mills, Vital S.
Millspaugh, Harry
Miltenberger, Anton
Minard, Jessie Minard

[P205]

Minard, Judson S.
Mincks, Myron
Miner, G. C.
Miner, James
Mitchell, Henry
Mohler, S.
Mohr, Mrs. Adelaid
Mohr, John
Moline, John
Molka, Fred
Molka, William
Moll, J.
Momford, Warren
Money, Frank J.
Monk, Jerome
Monroe, George
Monroe, John
Monroe, Paul
Monroe, William
Monsen, Mrs. Annie
Monsen, Lars S.
Monsen, Mathias M.
Montgomery, John G.
Moody, Robert
Moore, John B.
Morcott, Demoss
Morgan, A. J.
Morgan, Chas.
Morgan, Davis H.
Morgan, E. R.
Morgan, Frank
Morgan, Jenken
Morgan, John E.
Morgan, Thomas
Morgan, W. H.
Moriarity, Timothy J.
Morin, Sam P.
Morrill, L. A.
Morris, Henry W.
Morris, Thomas
Morrison, Arthur J.
Morrison, Benjamin B.
Morrison, Thomas
Morrow, John
Morrow, John L.
Morrow, L. J.
Morrow, Rollin D.
Morrow, William M.
Morse, A. H.
Morse, Frank M.
Morse, John
Morse, Samuel B.
Morton, George
Moody, Robert
Moore, Frank
Moore, John
Moore, J. M.
Moore, John B.
Moore, William A.
Moore, William J.
Moore, William R.
Mott, Charles M.
Mott, Katherine
Moulton, A.
Moulton, Amos
Mount, Charles B.
Mudge, William
Mueller, Arthur W.
Mueller, August F.
Mueller, Carole W.
Mueller, Fred
Muir, Frank H.
Mulligan, James
Mundy, James
Munger, Alphonzo
Munger, Charles S.
Murphy, Allen
Murphy, Daniel
Murphy, Elizabeth
Murphy, James
Murphy, John L.
Murphy, Michael
Murphy, Thomas
Murphy, Mrs. Thomas
Murray, Emma Washburn
Musey, P.
Musser, Jerome J.
Musser, Oliver S.
Mutz, William E.
Myers, Joseph
Myers, Winnie Perry
Myrhagen, H. H.

Naftsgar, J. F.
Naftzger, J. L.
Narnock, Ray E.
Narregang, George B.
Narregang, Lynford
Narregang, Spencer W.
Nash, Charles B.
Nason, N.
Needham, Mrs. Mary G.
Neer, A. D.
Neer, James R.
Neff, Caroline Ashley
Neff, Francis F.
Neff, Lambert H.
Neiger, John Jr.
Nell, K. C.
Neilan, J. E.
Neilan, J. F.
Neilan, P.
Neilan, R. W.
Neill, William J.
Nelsen, Anton
Nelsen, John
Nelson, Mrs. Alma
Nelson, Andrew
Nelson, Anthony
Nelson, Mrs. C. F.
Nelson, Frank T.
Nelson, Hans
Nelson, John
Nelson, John
Nelson, S.
Nemeyer, J. H.
Neudigate, Clare Besse
Newell, Mahlon
Newkirk, C.
Newland, D. M.
Newman, Alfred
Newman, B. C.
Newman, Clyde James
Newman, Erick G.
Newman, Francis
Newman, Roy L.
Newton, Robert
Nichols, James A.
Nickle, Thomas T.
Nime, Daniel
Nisbit, Samuel
Nitsche, Fred
Nixon, Emil
Nixon, Fred
Nixon, John A.
Nixon, Matts
Nobick, George R.
Nobick, Mrs. George
Noble, Edward E.
Noble, Henry
Nolan, Thomas J.
Nolting, Henry
Norby, Benjamin J.
Norman, George W.
Norris, W. I.
North, James
Northrup, Charles
Northrup, Clarence
Northrup, R. M.
Northwood, James
Norton, Fred D.
Norton, James
Norton, L.
Nubson, G.
Nusser, Louis J.
Nuttals, Edward
Nuttals, F. A.
Nuzum, Richard W.
Nye, Clark O.
Nye, Edward P.
Nye, Ira A.
Nygaard, John
Nygaard, M.
Nyman, John

O'Brien, Bridget
O'Brien, John J.
O'Brien, Mrs. John J.
O'Brien, Phil
O'Brien, Mrs. Phil
O'Brien, W. J.
O'Donnell, James
O'Haire, James
O'Harrow, F. A.
O'Leary, Mrs. John
O'Neill, Frederick
O'Neill, Laura Zimmerman
O'Neill, William N.
O'Riley, Margaret O'Donnell
O'Toole, Michael
Odell, Frank
Odell, Major E. A.
Offsett, Peter
Olds, Henry
Olmsted, George E.
Olmstead, Stephen
Olsen, Andrew
Olsen, Christian
Olsen, Gilbert
Olsen, Gus
Olsen, H. P.
Olsen, Hagan
Olsen, Karen
Olsen, Toren
Olson, Alfred
Olson, Mrs. Annie
Olson, C.
Olson, Charles
Olson, Christ
Olson, Edward B.
Olson, Edward J.
Olson, G.
Olson, G.
Olson, Gus
Olson, Hans
Olson, Hans P.
Olson, Olof
Olwin, A. Harry
Orth, Casper
Orth, Paul P.
Osborn, Arthur D.
Osborn, Eben F.
Osgood, John C.
Osman, Halvor O.
Ostrem, Ole E.
Ostrom, Charles A.
Otting, Henry
Outcelt, George A.
Outcelt, John N.
Owen, Josiah F.
Owen, Morris J.
Owen, R.
Owen, Robert
Owen, T. J.
Owens, H. R.
Owens, T. J.
Oyhus, Ole M.

Paddock, C. H.
Paddock, Fred
Paepke, Carl
Page, Lester L.
Page, Louis F.
Pahlman, Henrich
Paine, Bruce R.
Paine, Frank E.
Paine, Robert F.
Palm, E.
Palmer, Abraham S.
Palmer, Henry W.
Palmer, John
Palmer, John O.
Palmer, Victor O.
Palmer, Will H.
Palmquist, Albert
Pansegrau, Fred
Pansegrau, Mrs. H. A.
Pansegrau, Herman A.
Papke, Herman
Papke, Robert
Papke, Win.
Pardee, William H.
Parkkari, Johan
Parks, Belle
Parker, Arthur L.
Parker, B. F.
Parkinson, Almond F.
Parmeter, Addison J.
Parvi, Andro
Pasco, J. H.
Pattel, W. L.
Patten, H. S.
Patterson, Edward
Patterson, John
Patterson, William
Pattie, George
Pattison, Edward A
Patton, James L.
Patton, James M.
Paulhamus, Jay F.
Paulhamus, Mrs. Therese H.
Paulhamus, William H.
Paulsen, Carl
Payne, Edward G.
Payne, Frank
Payne, J. R.
Payne, W. A.
Pearson, Isaac
Peck, C. B.
Peck, Charles
Peck, Horace
Peets, Charles W.
Peldo, Abraham
Peldo, John A.
Pellikka, Joseph
Pepper, A. H.
Pepper, William
Percy, H. V.
Perkins, F. E.
Perkins, Francis W.
Perkins, L. C.
Pemberton, Rose Ballweg
Perrin, James W.
Perry, Albert
Perry, E. G.
Perry, George
Perry, George
Perry, Henry
Perry, John H.
Perry, M.
Perry, North E.
Perry, William
Perry, William A.
Persons, M. P.
Peterson, A. C.
Peterson, August E.
Peterson, Charles
Peterson, Charles
Peterson, Halvor
Peterson, John A.
Peterson, Klase
Peterson, Lars
Peterson, Mrs. Lena
Peterson, P. G.
Pettibone, Charles
Pettingill, Adelbert E.
Petty, E. E.
Petty, George
Petty, Judson J.
Pew, Howard
Pfeifer, Mrs. A. E. Ida
Pfeifer, William
Pfutzenreider, Adolph
Pfutzenreider, Fred
Pfutzenreuter, Anna
Phelps, Walter J.
Phen, Charles
Phen, Charles
Phillips, A. F.
Phillips, C. E.
Phillips, Hiram W.
Phillips, Nathaniel
Phillips, Rev. O. A.
Phillips, S. S.
Phillips, Thomas E.
Phillips, Walter P.
Pickard, John W.
Pickering, Dr.
Pierce, A. J.
Pierce, Levi
Pierce, Marvin
Pierson, Edward
Pierson, Frank
Pierson, George
Pike, George M.
Pikkarainen, Erik
Pikkarainen, Peter
Pine, August
Pine, Oran S.
Pinkerton, W. G.
Piper, E. M.
Piskie, August
Pitts, George
Pitzneck, Frank
Place, William W.
Placek, P.
Placek, E. F.
Platt, Frank
Pleasants, Charles H.
Pion, Christ
Pion, Christian
Pion, John
Plummer, Amos
Plummer, Mrs. Anna
Plummer, H. H.
Plummer, Warren C.
Podoll, E.
Polo, Abram
Pomplum, T. R.
Pond, James H.
Pontine, Captain George
Poole, Henry
Popke, W.
Porter, Joshua W.
Potter, L. J.
Powell, Charles
Powell, David S.
Powell, H. E.
Powell, Riley
Powers, E. W.
Powers, George G.
Powers, Estelle Elliott
Powers, John
Powers, M. M.
Powers, Mary
Powers, P.
Powers, William
Pratt, Anson W.
Pratt, Miss Florence W.
Pratt, Frank A.
Pratt, Herman A.
Pratt, Hiram A.
Pratt, J. M.
Pratt, M.
Pray, Francis M.
Pray, Frank
Preston, Cassius E.
Preston, Guy H.
Preston, William
Price, Harry
Price, John
Prichard, Thomas
Proud, C. J.
Proud, Mrs. Jessie
Proud, John
Proulx, Mrs., Ina Everson
Puntine, Frank
Purdy, Jerome
Putnam, M. J.

Quackenbush, Abner
Queen, Edward
Quinby, F. M.
Quinlan, Thomas
Quinn, Edward
Quigg, James A.
Quigg, Thomas J.
Quiggle, Jay B.
Quiggle, Mrs. J. B.
Quiggle, Peter

Rabel, Charles
Raddatz, Wilhelm
Railway, W. O.
Raedel, George
Raff, Frank
Ragan, John
Ragels, Mrs. Ethel
Rahskopf, L.
Ramharter, Anton F.
Ramharter, Carl A.
Ramharter, Carl J.
Ramharter, Gus G.
Randall, Edward
Rapp, Amelia
Rapp, Casper
Rapp, Elizabeth
Rapp, Mrs. Elizabeth
Rapp, Frank A.
Rapp, George
Rapp, H. S.
Rapp, Joseph
Rapp, Josephine
Rapp, Julius
Rapp, Mary
Rapp, Peter
Rasmussen, Agnes Sieh
Rasmusson, D. K.
Rathbun, Giles
Rathbun, Virgil
Rathburn, William
Rathburn, R.
Rauma, Abram
Rauma, Isaac
Rauma, Matt
Rawson, William J.
Ray, J. M.
Raymond, Ruby Osborne
Raymond, Frank W.
Raymond, Bessie
Rea, John
Read, William L.
Reaman, William
Reed, Albert L.
Reed, Albert S.
Reed, Charles B.
Reed, Charles E.
Reed, Charles O.
Reed, Mrs. M. J.
Reed, Thor G.
Reed, William H.
Reese, C. B.
Reeves, A. J.
Reeves, J. D.
Reeves, Stephen H.
Regan, Daniel E.
Rehfeld, A. D.
Rehfeld, Mrs. A. D.
Rehfeld, Louis
Rehfeld, William
Rehfus, Jacob
Reid, James
Remde, F. A.
Renderneck, Charles
Rendsland, Folden V.
Renziehausen, Charles
Renziehausen, Fred
Retz, A.
Rexinger, Mrs. Bertha
Reynolds, Daniel
Reynolds, E. L.
Reynolds, F. B.
Reynolds, Harvey T.
Reynolds, James M.
Reynolds, John
Reynolds, Mrs., Persis Adams
Riblet, Byron
Riblet, Royal
Riblet, W. J.
Riblet, Walter S.
Rice, Michael
Richards, August
Richards, C. M.
Richards, Charles H.
Richards, James H.
Richards, John
Richards, John B.
Richards, William
Richards, William L.
Richardson, Adelbert E.
Richardson, George
Richardson, John
Richardson, William
Richie, George W.
Richter, Louie B.
Richmond, C. T.
Richter, Patrick
Richert, Clara
Rick, Gustav
Rickman, George W.
Rieck, Gustave
Riesland, William F.
Riggs, George
Rigney, John
Riley, Thomas
Ringrose, Mrs. Ann
Ringrose, James
Ringrose, Martin
Ringrose, Nora
Ringrose, Patrick M.
Ripley, E. A.
Ristau, Mrs. Emilie
Riter, Samuel
Ritter, Anthony
Ritter, Elmer G.
Ritter, Isaac
Ritter, William
Ritz, A.
Rix, Chas.
Rix, Wilber
Robbins, D. F.
Robbins, David R.
Roberts, Albert F.
Roberts, C. D.
Roberts, Henry
Roberts, Mrs. M. E.
Roberts, Moses
Roberts, R. D.

[P206]

Robertson, Andrew
Robertson, John A.
Robertson, Robert
Robinson, Allen P.
Robinson, Arthur B.
Robinson, J. Andrew
Robinson, James M.
Roby, Mrs., Effie Worthy
Roche, Edmund H.
Roche, James
Roche, John G.
Rockfellow, J. H.
Rocky, Thomas
Roda, Charles H.
Rode, Christ
Rodkey, Fred
Rodkey, William
Rodman, Edward
Roe, August
Roedel, George
Roemer, Fred
Roemer, Paul
Rogers, Fred W.
Rogers, Joseph
Rohe, John
Rolfe, Furman
Root, C. M.
Root, J. B.
Root, Norman
Rose, David
Rose, Harrison
Rosholt, James
Rossbrook, H.
Rossman, Andrew
Rougett, Lester A.
Roundy, Mrs. Anna
Roundy, J. E.
Roundy, Mrs. J. H.
Rowe, L.
Rowe, S. B.
Rowlands, D. S.
Rowlands, J. J.
Rowlands, John E.
Rowlands, R. R.
Rowlands, Robert
Rowlands, W. J.
Rowlands, W. J.
Rowley, Alonzo A.
Rowley, Millard M.
Rowley, William
Royce, Frank B.
Rozme, Rudolph
Rozell, Charles
Rozell, Mrs. Charles
Rudisill, P.
Rumrey, E. D.
Rund, Oscar
Runge, C. W.
Runge, Charles
Runge, J. E.
Runyon, Mrs. Roxana
Rusko, Mark
Russell, Dwight I.
Russell, George
Russell, J.
Russell, John K.
Russell, Joseph
Rustad, Henry
Ryan, Dora M.
Ryan, Geo. A.
Ryan, Michael J.
Ryan, Nina Nanan
Ryckman, James H.
Ryder, Gideon C.
Ryman, John
Ryman, Melch
Ryman, Michael
Ryman, Ruth Tollifson

St. Clair, Reuben
St. Helen, Harry
St. John, Porter
Sackruter, M. J.
Salisbury, Miss Clara
Salisbury, Elmer E.
Salisbury, Miss Jennie
Salisbury, Mrs. Mary
Salisbury, Seneca M.
Salmonson, Samuel
Salverson, S.
Sampson, Jacob
Sanborn, Horatio
Sandberg, Christ
Sandburg, John
Sanders, E.
Sanders, Larry
Sanders, R.
Sankey, Clyde J.
Sankey, J. Lee
Sargent, Harvey H.
Satterlee, Champie
Satterlee, Jay F.
Saul, Lewis
Saunders, Ed
Saunders, Frank
Saunders, George W.
Saunders, Nathaniel
Saunders, R.
Sayles, Frank
Sayre, C. W.
Scarborough, H.
Schachte, Henry A.
Schachte, Martin
Schaeffer, Frank
Shafer, George
Shafer, Henry
Schaffer, Tony
Scharff, J. M.
Schemerhorn, Norton
Scherf, Peter
Schinkle, John
Schlichting, Charles
Schliebe, William M.
Schlosser, George
Schlueter, John A.
Schmidt, A. F.
Schmidt, Edith Lascelle
Schmidt, Fred
Schmidt, Herman C.
Schmidt, J. F.
Schmidt, Mrs. Philip
Schmidt, William
Schneider, John
Schnider, Frank
Schnoor, Charles
Schoppe, F. J.
Schrager, William
Schrarn, Julius
Schreiner, Mrs., Nora Freeman
Schraudenbach, Edward
Schuldt, William
Schumeman, Charles F.
Schwab, Aurilla Snyder
Schwandt, Mrs. Emma
Schwartz, Mrs. William
Schwellenbach, Ernest
Schwellenbach, Frank W.
Scott, Charles J.
Scott, E. J.
Scott, E. T.
Scott, Edward
Scott, Horace F.
Scott, James
Scott, Leonard P.
Scott, Peter
Scribner, Martin V. B.
Scully, Edward A.
Seal, E.  E.
Seaman, Charles L.
Seanor, James T.
Searle, Alice
Searle, H. R.
Searle, James T.
Seeley, C. H.
Seeley, John C.
Seeley, N. L.
Seimann, Jacob
Selden, A. M.
Selden, Charles M.
Selleck, Mrs. E. F.
Selleck, Rev. William H.
Sem, August
Serrens, Mrs. A. M.
Sessions, Henry C.
Severson, Sever
Seyman, Henry
Seyman, Jake
Seymour, Miss Josephine
Seymour, Truman W.
Shafer, Jessie
Shaffer, Albert
Shaffer, Walter W.
Shaft, Frank
Shaft, Grant D.
Shaft, Willis S.
Shanks, George
Shannon, Clestin
Shannon, Mrs. Mary
Shannon, William
Shunter, Seth
Sharp, E. C.
Sharp, Thomas
Shattuck, Jessie Briggs
Shaul, Charles L.
Shaw, Fred
Shaw, George K.
Sheehan, John E.
Sheehan, Phillip
Sheldon, Albert H.
Sheldon, Leslie
Shell, Phillip W.
Shelters, W. A.
Shepherd, George
Shepherd, Gordon
Sheppard, Hiram S.
Sherburne, George A.
Sheridan, J. S.
Sheridan, J. T.
Sheridan, Leo
Sheridan, William T.
Sherman, George
Sherman, John T.
Sherwood, Daniel W.
Sherwood, L. D.
Shilton, Daniel P.
Shimel, Dana Smith
Shinsky, John
Shippy, John
Shippy, Lester J.
Shoal, Fred H.
Shoals, George L.
Shoals, Louis F.
Shoel, George
Shold, G.
Shonio, George
Short, Elwood M.
Short, Thaddeus H.
Shoudy, William S.
Shoup, Harry
Shouse, Charles B.
Shrack, F. C.
Shrimp, Phillip S.
Shuck, J. Edward
Shuter, D. A.
Shuler, John H.
Shuler, D. A.
Sibley, Aaron
Sibley, C. A.
Sidow, Charles E.
Sidow, Mrs., Sara Comstock
Sidow, William F.
Sieh, Charles A.
Sieh, Frank
Sieh, John H.
Sieh, Josephine Bradie
Sieh, Louis T.
Sieh, W. J.
Siegel, Mrs. L. W.
Siegel, Sena Gullickson
Sill, Herbert L.
Simmons, John C.
Simmons, Rev. Thos.
Simonds, Morgan W.
Simonds, W. W.
Sipple, Charles F.
Sire, John
Skaar, Andrew
Skillman, Phil
Skinner, Mrs. Jane L.
Skinner, R. N.
Slack, Benoni
Slack, Hattie Geary
Slack, Henry H.
Slack, Harrison
Slack, Mace T.
Slack, Irene Churchill
Slagle, R. L.
Slater, Benjamin F.
Slater, Henry
Slater, George
Slater, Harry
Slater, James H.
Slater, Lyman S.
Sleeper, W. J.
Slingerland, Elmer L.
Slocum, A. J.
Slocum, Floyed B.
Slye, William O.
Small, Edward
Small, Sylvester J.
Smeby, A. M.
Smiley, Charles E.
Smiley, Frank B.
Smith, A. J.
Smith, A. Moses
Smith, Abraham
Smith, Adelbert
Smith, Alvin
Smith, Amos
Smith, Atwood
Smith, Benjamin
Smith, C. F.
Smith, Dr. C. P.
Smith, Charles
Smith, Charles
Smith, Charles
Smith, Eli
Smith, F. L. R.
Smith, Forester H.
Smith, Frank
Smith, Fred B.
Smith, George
Smith, George E.
Smith, George E.
Smith, Rev. George H.
Smith, George H.
Smith, George P.
Smith, George S.
Smith, Guy
Smith, H. H.
Smith, H. L.
Smith, Henry
Smith, Homer
Smith, Horace C.
Smith, Ida (Mrs. J. A.)
Smith, Ida Mickalson
Smith, Isaac
Smith, J.
Smith, J. G.
Smith, James W.
Smith, Joseph H.
Smith, Joseph H.
Smith, Lars
Smith, M. W.
Smith, McClellan
Smith, Orville A.
Smith, Rollo A.
Smith, S.
Smith, Miss Sarah B.
Smith, W. F.
Smith, W. H.
Smith, W. J.
Smith, W. M.
Smith, Walter G.
Smith, William
Smith, William T.
Snipes, Ernest C.
Snipes, Jessie L.
Snobble, Lewis
Snowden, Andrew C.
Snowden, Edwin H.
Snyder, A.
Snyder, Alice
Solomon, Samuel
Solverson, Sander
Somerville, Mrs. Dell
Song, Henry
Sonveid, William F.
Souther, A. J.
Southard, Newell
Southwick, William J.
Soverign, Frederick
Soverign, Henry
Sowden, George J.
Spear, Daniel L.
Spear, Edgar D.
Speeze, Henry G.
Spellman, Albert
Spellman, Patrick
Spencer, Thomas H.
Sperry, Charles W.
Sperry, Harvey W.
Sperry, Leigh A.
Spink, Charles A.
Spink, Mrs. Charles
Spitler, Zecharian
Sprague, N. J.
Springen, John
Springer, Mrs. Frank
Spry, S.
Spurr, Clarence
Stablein, Simon
Stabnaw, William
Stacy, John P.
Stafford, John A.
Staleup, George W.
Stamm, Frank J.
Stanley, George W.
Stantlin, T.
Starkweather, M. L.
Starling, C. W.
Starr, Henry
Staurs, Dutton
Stearns, Albert
Stearns, Benjamin F.
Stearns, Elmer E.
Stearns, James M.
Stearns, J. D.
Stearns, Joseph D.
Stearns, Miss Neenah
Stearns, William G.
Steele, Frank K.
Steele, Miss Louisa H.
Steele, O. S.
Steele, S. H.
Steensland, Eunice Harmon
Steere, William I.
Steinhauer, Henry
Stellner, Herman
Stephenson, John H.
Sterns, Edward R.
Stevens, E. H.
Stevens, Frank
Stevens, George
Stevens, J. B.
Stevens, Louis
Stevenson, Thomas
Steves, Ross L.
Stewart, Duncan G.
Stewart, John M.
Stewart, Joseph
Stewart, Milo B.
Stewart, William H.
Stiff, Burt L.
Stinchfield, C. H.
Stocking, Milton J.
Stocks, Henry
Stodd, Alfred
Stoddard, William
Stone, Andrew
Stone, Andy
Stone, Joe B.
Stoneman, A. S.
Stoole, William
Storrey, Charles
Storrey, George
Storrey, John
Story, William
Stott, L.
Stouffer, Jacob A.
Stout, Cyrus B.
Stowell, Jacob R.
Straight, Dexter
Straight, Dyer
Strain, Lewis M.
Stratton, Dr. C. A.
Stratton, William
Strauss, David
Streegle, H. G.
Streete, G. W.
Streeter, Wesley G.
Streigle, Charles G.
Strelow, Fred
Striegel, George
Strohmeier, Richard
Strom, Frederick S.
Strong, C. F.
Strong, Charles
Strong, Fred
Strong, Lyman
Strong, Lyman T.
Stroupe, Mathew P.
Struck, Henry
Struck, Henry C.
Struck, Louis A.
Struck, Mrs. Mary
Sturgis, Norman
Suhr, John
Sullivan, Daniel
Sullivan, Daniel C.
Sullivan, George
Sullivan, Jno, F.
Sullivan, Tom
Sullivan, Wesley
Sueltz, Alma
Summer, A. J.
Sunderland, Edward
Sunderland, Nathan
Surdam, G. B.
Survey, Ezra
Survey, John
Svarstad, Emma
Swayne, S. C.
Swanson, F. P.
Swanson, Henry
Swanson, Ole A.
Swanson, Peter
Swartstod, Ole
Swartwout, Frank R.
Swartwout, Henry
Sweesy, Luella Melcher
Sweet, Arthur E.
Sweet, George
Sweet, Col. Wheeler B.
Sweeter, Charles
Swengel, Dr. David F.
Swengel, Rosa Zimmerman
Swenson, Peter
Swift, C. W.
Swift, John A.
Sykes, A. Eugene
Sykes, Frank
Sykes, T. F.

Tallman, James
Tallman, Smith
Tann, Mark A.
Tannehill, Alfred
Tanner, A. E.
Taubman, Edward T.
Taylor, B. Seth
Taylor, Henry
Taylor, J. Howard
Taylor, J. Nelson
Taylor, James H.
Taylor, Joseph H.
Taylor, M. C.
Taylor, Pollock E.
Taylor, Dr. Rood
Taylor, W. C.
Taylor, Walter
Teets, George
Tennant, Miss Sadie A.
Tennant, William
Tessin, Mrs. Geo. Bell Hubbell
Thayer, A. L.
Thayer, George A.
Thayer, William H.
Thomas, Benjamin
Thomas, Charles
Thomas, Dorsey W.
Thomas, George W.
Thomas, Miss Lizzie
Thomas, Robert S.
Thomas, William
Thorne, A.
Thomly, Hans
Thompson, A. R.
Thompson, Charles H.
Thompson, Clayton B.
Thompson, Mrs., Carrie Rumrey
Thompson, D. C.
Thompson, Frank B.
Thompson, Frank F.
Thompson, Frank L.
Thompson, Franklin
Thompson, Harry O.
Thompson, John
Thompson, John
Thompson, Lee
Thompson, Ole T.
Thompson, Theodore
Thompson, Thomas H.
Thonn, Alex
Thorne, Alexander L.
Thorne, Edwin P.
Thorne, James
Thorne, John
Thorne, Richard
Thorp, C. E.
Thorp, Dorsa V.
Thorson, Theodore
Thorsen, Jins
Thorson, Jennie Lund
Thunn, Joseph
Thunn, Joseph
Thurston, D. E.

[P207]

Thurston, Larry E.
Tice, F. W.
Tice, H. A.
Tichborn, William Y.
Tiffany, Albert J.
Titus, A. O.
Titus, N. J.
Titus, Watson A.
Tobin, Alexander
Todd, John W.
Tofson, Martin
Tompkins, Frank
Tompkins, J.
Tompkins, John H.
Tooker, George G.
Tooker, Holsy
Tooker, William D.
Torgeson, Mrs., Susan Harmon
Tormey, Mrs., Mary McNeary
Torrey, Edwin C.
Torsen, John
Tostenrud, Mrs. E. H.
Tower, Joseph W.
Townsend, F. J.
Townsend, Freeland H.
Townsend, William
Toyeen, John O.
Tracy, Patrick
Traphagen, Henry
Trask, Irving
Treichler, Jacob
Troge, Fred
Troge, M.
Trembley, Mrs. Dorothy
Troy, James
Tucker, H. C.
Tucker, Mrs. Jane A.
Tucker, Mrs. Mary
Tucker, Zelmon C.
Tunby, Otto
Tunstall, John
Tunstall, William
Tupper, Martin F.
Turner, Fletcher L.
Turner, James F.
Turner, L.
Turner, Lester C.
Turner, Lyman
Turner, Lyman Jr.
Turner, Montgomery B.
Turner, Nelson E.
Turner, William J.
Tweed, O. J.
Tweed, Ole
Twichell, Lewis F.
Twist, George W.
Tyler, Albert H.
Tyler, George W.
Tyres, John

Udell, Britton L.
Underhill, Charles W.
Utendorfer, George P.

Vaaler, Thomas
Vail, Philander
Vaille, Miss Anna
Vale, Jacob
Vallandigham, Eugene R.
Vanderbilt, Barton J.
Vanderpool, George L.
Vanderveer, Orland W.
Vanderwater, Abram
Vanderwater, Gilbert
Vandervere, Wilson
VanEpps, Andrew F.
Vaniar, Joseph
VanLoon, Charles W.
VanLoon, Henry E.
VanLoon, Samuel M.
VanMeter, Edward W.
Vannatter, George
Vanness, George
Vansickle, Frank
Vanslett, Joseph
VanSlyck, H.
VanSlyke, George H.
VanSlyke, Jacob S.
VanSlyke, Vadar
Varian, James H.
Varian, Nina
Varley, James
Vath, Charles
Vaughan, D. C.
Vaughan, Marian L.
Vaughn, Anslon P.
Vaughn, Erastus O.
Vaughn, Mrs. S. A.
Vernon, W. H.
Vest, Bert W.
Vest, Gilbert H.
Vetter, John S.
Vetter, Elizabeth Miller
Vincent, James G.
Vinger, Otto C.
Vingoe, John
Voeller, Leon
Voight, Carl
Vold, Christian
Vroom, Clarence S.
Vulrich, Thomas

Waak, Charles J.
Wade, John
Wade, John
Wade, John
Wade, Stephen
Wade, Stephen Jr.
Wadsworth, Dexter C.
Waggoner, Rufus G.
Wagner, R. F.
Wagner, Rich
Wagoner, James
Waisanen, Andrew
Waite, Benjamin
Waliman, Charles
Walkey, William
Walker, Margaret Vaughan
Wall, Charles H.
Wall, John
Wall, John H.
Wallace, Mrs. Harriet A.
Wallace, William B.
Waller, Charles
Wallin, Nels
Walsh, Miss Annie M.
Walter, A. G.
Walter, Miss Mary A.
Walters, Anthony
Walters, Carl
Walters, G. B.
Walters, Jerry
Walters, S. M.
Walworth, Chancellor R.
Wampler, D. F.
Wampler, Dan S.
Wangen, John P.
Ward, Alonzo L.
Ward, Benjamin B.
Ward, Mrs. Elizabeth G.
Ward, Miss Emma
Ward, Jerome R.
Ward, Joseph
Ward, Patrick
Ward, William
Ward, William A.
Warner, Mahlon M.
Warner, William
Warninger, Jacob
Warren, A. G.
Warren, Melville B.
Washburn, N.
Wassen, Ole M.
Waterbury, Eugene
Waterbury, Grace Hoilien
Waterbury, Willard K.
Waterman, Arthur G.
Waterman, E. C.
Waters, Samuel M.
Watt, Andrew
Waumpler, D.
Waus, J. T.
Warts, T. E.
Way, Abner M.
Weatherwax, Lewis E.
Weaver, John R.
Webb, Aspah W.
Webb, Erastus
Webb, Frank
Webb, George H.
Webb, William A.
Webb, William B.
Webb, Theodore E.
Webber, Samuel W.
Weber, George
Weber, George
Webster, Douglas
Weed, Charles
Weed, George T.
Weeks, F. O.
Weeks, Mrs. Jewett
Weeks, Robert C.
Weeks, Stephen
Weeks, William D.
Weik, Bertha
Weinreis, Henry
Weihrauch, Mrs. Emma
Weirough, Henry
Welch, Clark
Welch, G. R.
Welch, George
Weller, Charles
Weller, David
Wellington, C. G.
Wells, Mrs. Ada J.
Wells, Mrs. Celia
Wells, James
Wells, Lambert
Wells, T. B.
Welsh, George
Welts, Robert E.
Wendell, Carl
Wendell, Howard N.
Wentworth, Fred G.
Wentworth, George
Wentworth, James
Wenz, Alfred
Wenz, Christ
Wenz, Frank B.
Wenz, Titus
Wenz, W. H.
Werth, Carl F.
Werth, Carl Sr.
Werth, Charles
Werth, Mrs., Louise Froehlick
Werth, Wilhelm
West, DeWitt C.
West, Hiram S.
West, J. J.
West, John
West, John B.
West, Robert
Westbrooks, James
Westby, Mrs. Olga
Westgate, Joseph L.
Westler, Charles H.
Wetelainen, Jacob
Wetter, John
Wetzel, Mrs., Mertie Harmon
Wheaton, Mrs. Marion
Wheeler, Mrs. Caroline
Wheeler, L.
Wheeler, L. J.
Wheeler, Lawrence
Wheelihan, James
Whipple, Fred W.
Whitaker, Dr. H. H.
Whitcomb, J.
Whitcomb, S. J.
White, Adelbert W.
White, Andrew
White, C. M.
White, Orlin
Whitfield, John M.
Whitfield, Miss Minnie
Whitford, R.
Whitlinger, Helen Manney
Whitlinger, Wm.
Whiting, Miss Delia E.
Whiting, Miss Julia E.
Whyland, Edgar D.
Wickwin, E. T.
Widdis, Murray D.
Widdis, Robert
Wigh, Mrs. Caroline C.
Wilber, Jerry
Wilber, M. J.
Wilber, O.
Wilbur, Laura Holborn
Wilbur, M. J.
Wilcox, James
Wilder, Frank
Wilder, Samuel A.
Wilkins, George
Wilkins, Henry
Wilkins, Will
Wilkinson, Harry M.
Wilkinson, W.
Will, Charles
Willard, Charles
Willard, Frank J.
Willard, Norman
Willard, Otis B.
Willents, L. M.
Willetts, Leonard
Williams, A. L.
Williams, Mrs. Ben
Williams, Bert
Williams, Charles
Williams, Mrs. E. L.
Williams, E. R.
Williams, Frank P.
Williams, H.
Williams, Harry
Williams, Henry S.
Williams, J. R.
Williams, James S.
Williams, John
Williams, John
Williams, M.
Williams, Maymie Jones
Williams, R.
Williams, Sarah
Williams, Sodah
Williams, Thomas E.
Williams, William
Williams, William O.
Willis, Frank H.
Willis, Perry K.
Willis, Richard
Willitts, S. B.
Willsey, Lewis H.
Wilmot, Allen F.
Wilsey, William H.
Wilson, Alfred
Wilson, Andrew
Wilson, Anson
Wilson, Byron
Wilson, Charles D.
Wilson, Charles E.
Wilson, Charles M.
Wilson, Frank
Wilson, Fred D.
Wilson, Frederick G.
Wilson, George B.
Wilson, George W.
Wilson, H. C.
Wilson, Henry H.
Wilson, J. F.
Wilson, John
Wilson, John B.
Wilson, Mrs. John B.
Wilson, John M.
Wilson, Josiah
Wilson, Miss Margaret
Wilson, Orion J.
Wilson, Otis Gordon
Wilson, Robert
Wilson, Seth H.
Wilson, Sidney
Windmiehle, Peter
Windmuehle, Peter
Windsor, Walter B.
Winslow, M. S.
Winston, George P.
Winston, William H.
Witt, Delia Mathens
Wittams, John
Witte, August C.
Wobick, George R.
Wobick, Mrs. George R.
Woddell, F. E.
Wohlfarth, Richard A.
Wolaver, A. M.
Wold, S. S.
Wolf, F.
Wolfe, H. P.
Wolfe, John C.
Wolfe, Martin L.
Wolff, Max S.
Wolter, A. G.
Wolter, Mrs. A. G.
Wood, C. L.
Wood, Emmons
Wood, Frank
Wood, G. B.
Wood, George A.
Wood, George D.
Wood, George K.
Wood, Homer W.
Wood, Horace
Wood, Terry
Woods, Charles H.
Woods, Charles L.
Woodburn, D. B.
Woodhull, Rev. Gilbert T.
Woodis, Harry E.
Woodman, William H.
Woodruff, Henry H.
Woodworth, C. D.
Woodworth, O.
Worswick, John A.
Worthy, William
Worthy, William W. Sr.
Wray, James R.
Wright, Miss Clara M.
Wright, C. S.
Wright, Charles
Wright, Emery I.
Wright, F. W.
Wright, Frank
Wright, George
Wright, Harry
Wright, Joel A.
Wright, S. M.
Wrigley, Miss S.
Wycoffee, Levi
Wycoffee, Sylvester
Wylie, James H.
Wylie, John
Wyman, Fred O.
Wynn, Guy
Wynn, Hiram

Yager, Lafayette
Yeasdale, Joseph
Yeoman, Joseph S.
Yeoman, Thomas
Yeske, Albertena
Yeske, Anna
Yeske, August
Yeske, Herman
Yeske, Ida
Yeske, Otto
Ylyan, Gustof
Yoe, John
Yonker, John
Yonker, Stephen
Yorks, Byron C.
Yorks, Charles B.
Yorks, Theodore D.
Young, A. A.
Young, Mrs. Annie E.
Young, Charles
Young, Eleanor M.
Young, George S.
Young, Horace S.
Young, John A.
Young, John E.
Young, Robert
Young, S.
Yunker, John

Zakszeuaski, John
Zastrow, Chas. H.
Zastrow, Lena Yeske
Zeller, John T.
Zeller, Samuel J.
Zick, Charles M.
Zick, Edward
Zick, Mrs. Kate
Zietlow, Edith Witzel
Zietlow, J. L. W.
Zimmerman, Archie A.
Zimmerman, John G.
Zimmerman, Patrick F.
Zimmerman, R. A.
Zirbel, Charles F.

[P208]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page                                            page   1
Brown County Territorial Pioneer Committee            page   2
Poem of Dedication                                    page   3
Map of Historical Sites in Brown County               page   4
Dedication                                            page   5
Preface                                               page   6
History of Brown County                               page   7
The Lay of the Land                                   page  13
The Acquisition of Land                               page  15
Judicial History of Brown County                      page  16
The Nettie Baldwin                                    page  18
Columbia Township                                     page  21
Aberdeen Township                                     page  29
Early History of Aberdeen                             page  36
Allison Township                                      page  64
Bates Township                                        page  65
Verdon                                                page  71
Bath Township                                         page  73
Brainard Township                                     page  78
Cambria Township                                      page  79
Carlisle Township                                     page  83
Claremont Township                                    page  84
Detroit Township                                      page  88
Oneota and Franklin Townships                         page  90
Frederick Township                                    page  92
Garden Prairie Township                               page  96
Garland Township                                      page  99
East Gem Township                                     page 101
West Gem Township                                     page 105
Liberty and Greenfield Townships                      page 109
Groton Township                                       page 111
Groton City                                           page 114
East Hanson Township                                  page 120
West Hanson Township                                  page 125
Henry Township                                        page 127
Highland Township                                     page 132
Lansing Township                                      page 134
Lincoln Township                                      page 135
Mercier Township                                      page 137
New Hope Township                                     page 138
Ordway Township                                       page 140
Osceola Township                                      page 145
Palmyra Township                                      page 147
Portage Township                                      page 148
Putney Township                                       page 150
Ravinia Township                                      page 153
Richland Township                                     page 154
Riverside Township                                    page 156
Rondell Township                                      page 158
Savo Township                                         page 166
Shelby Township                                       page 168
Warner Township                                       page 170
Westport Township                                     page 177
Early Artists                                         page 181
Pioneer County Women                                  page 186
Father Haire Story                                    page 188
Pioneer Chapter                                       page 191
Pioneer Doctors and Dentists                          page 200
List of Names of Pioneers                             page 200
Table of Contents                                     page 208