Full Text of "75 Years of Sully County History, 1883 - 1958", pages 223 - 241. This file contains the full text of a part of "75 Years of Sully County History", edited by Mrs. E. L. Thompson. Scanning and OCR by Joy Fisher, http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00001.html#0000031 This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/sd/sdfiles.htm This book was produced by the Onida Watchman and is not copyrighted. Reproduction of all editorial and pictorial matter is explicitly permitted. The first Onida Legion Track and field Meet was held April 26, 1926, under the auspices of Sully Post No. 79, American Legion. The Legion Athletic Committee was composed of C. W. Nattress, chairman; R. L. Nelson, C. J. Crandall, E. Becker, W. C. Jordan, F. Cole and George Williams. There were seventeen schools entered in this Meet which was held at the fair grounds. Miller won the Meet with 41 points. It was the last time for the local people to see Joe Mendell represent Onida High School on the home field. He took first in each event he entered. Matt Glanzer also participated in that Meet, taking second in the 100 and the 220. Will Robinson, of Pierre acted as referee. These Legion sponsored Meets were held in Onida for several years during the late twenties. In the early 1930's, the farmers were fully aware of the seriousness of the grasshopper investations threatening to devour anything green shortly after finding them hatched by the millions everywhere. They were found on the edges of fields and in great swarms in the fields and pastures. At times they were thought to be low flying clouds or mists, when closer examination revealed a densely flying hoard of grasshoppers changing locations to devour another crop of vegetation. It mattered little whether the green was weeds, tree leaves or crops - each one rapidly disappeared when invaded by these insects. This must have been an age of insects. There were the cut worms, the green and brown army worms, the Mormon beetle and crickets, by the thousands. In the morning one might gather the early garden lettuce, radishes or onions and surmise that in about a week there would be the early peas or string beans and other plants too would look promising, but by evening the garden was a barren desolate spot, devoid of a single edible plant. After an invasion of hoppers a field would look as though a hail storm had struck. It is quite probable the insect infestations of the 1930's caused the shortage of livestock feed equally as, much as the lack of moisture. [photo - Stanley Asmussen and Orvill Fairbank Spreading poison bait for gras hopper and insect infestation.] When the seriousness of the situation became apparent, steps were taken to eradicate the grasshoppers, as well as the army worms. Poison bran was scattered throughout the countryside and nature was also helpful. A small gray fly a grasshopper parasite, made its appearance and was a most welcome event. The fly's eggs were deposited in the hopper and the maggot resulting caused the death of insect. By the end of the season the results were hopeful. Another one of natures aids were the seagulls, seldom seen in this part of the country, but at the time made their appearance. A beautiful graceful bird, and truly a gift to man. They devoured cut worms, beetles and grasshoppers, all with equal relish. It was easy to understand why the Mormons of Utah have made a statue in honor of seagull. [photo - Delores Venner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Venner, Standing beside grasshopper covered building in the early 30's.] It was impossible at times to let small children outside, or the hoppers would settle on them and how they could bite. Also the green beetle would leave a painful blister and thereby was generally referred to as the blister beetle. In the afternoon it was not uncommon to see a mass of grasshoppers on the shady side of a building, or a field of grain with two or three hoppers on every plant. On the highways, at times, cars would run onto moving masses of both Mormon bettles (wingless insects) or grasshoppers so thick the road would become slippery from their crushed bodies. When they would make mass movements, it was like a cloud passing over the sun. The trees too were as stripped of foliage as though it was winter, but there too, nature saved them. In the late summer the trunks of many trees would be covered with short new branches of leaves while the original branches would be barren. Somehow nature was a part of this phenomina as the years between 1930 and 1940, were definitely insect years. At one time the largest known Cottonwood on the North American Contintinent was located in Sully County in the Missouri River bottoms near the John Sutton home. [photo - Largest Cottonwood tree on North American Continent, Located near John Sutton ranch.] People came from far and near to see the tree. They measured and were convinced. The tree was twelve feet in diameter and 36 1/2 feet in circumference, and it took six men, touching fingers, to reach around it. An open road was kept for the convenience of the visitors and many a picnic was held under the covering foliage of this tree of trees. The bark was generously marked with the initials of the many who came. This giant of trees was blown down on August 4, 1932, and for many years big trees were often mentioned, but none officially recognized as heir to the title. A search for the state's biggest tree was sponsored by the "Keep South Dakota Green Association". All the entries were Cottonwoods and all located along the Missouri River. The heir apparent to the first tree was again found in Sully County in the Missouri River bottom, near the John Sutton home, not too far from the first largest tree and could easily have been a seedling of the original. The present big tree measures 23 feet, eight inches in girth, is 117 feet tall and has a spread of 85 feet. Before long this venerable prairie monarch will be covered by the waters of the Oahe Dam. Beginning in 1929, and until 1934, a Central South Dakota Rodeo show was a summer event at the Sutton Ranch on the banks of the Missouri River. The date was usually after June 21, and continued for a three-day period. Planned by Ed Sutton and his sons and assisted by capable performers, the shows were outstanding in entertainment. The hard times in the middle thirties and Mr. Sutton's failing health were the decisive factors in discontinuing these shows. The stock used was rugged and fast and every contestant earned his laurels the hard way. Some of the attractive acts seen at this western Sully County rodeo were driving a buffalo team hitched to a chariot; riding two-year-old buffalo steers, a feat almost impossible to accomplish; riding wild horses in races, and seeing the only white faced buffalo in existence at that time. The first year, the Aberdeen Airways provided airplane sight- seeing rides. Happy Jack O'Malley and his musicians of radio fame, from the W. N. A. X. station in Yankton, provided the music for a number of years. [photo William (Billy) Wagner, Putting Sutton's jumping horse through its paces.] In 1931, Clyde Ice provided the airplane thrills, and John Geise of Aberdeen made the parachute jumps, the first seen by almost everyone in this part of the country. Another entertaining event was Sutton's amazing jumping horse. He performed with an easy grace that was breathtaking as he easily cleared the width of two cars or two horses or whatever obstacle it might have been. Some of the best known performers in the rodeo business were seen at this Central South Dakota show. Some of them were Jim Nesbit, the best among rodeo clowns, and his wife, a well trained trick rider; Francis and Joe McMacken, former residents of the Okobojo area and top all-around cowboys, and many others whose identity have been lost to time. * * * The murder of Miss Ada Carey, of Blunt, on May 21, 1937, which was one of the worst crimes ever committed in South Dakota, brought a sudden end to a planned crime career of two Chicago youths, Howard Christensen, 16, and Norman Westberg, 17, whom Miss Carey had picked up as hitchhikers, but who later beat her up and shot her in an attempted hold-up on the highway several miles north of Onida. Miss Carey, who had been teaching school in the town of Frankfort for two years, had stopped in Gettysburg to visit a friend en route to her home in Blunt. The crime terminated with the wrecking of the car near the Myers farm about four miles north of Onida. According to officials, it was thought the shooting occurred in the vicinity of the hill south of Agar, coming down to Okobojo Creek. It was about here that Miss Carey was hit over the head with a hammer by Westberg, then shot by Christensen and fell out of the car as it came to a stop in the ditch. Putting her in the rear seat the boys then speeded on until they noticed a car following them, attempted to stop for a side-road and tipped over into the ditch. The boys abandoned the car and fled westward, while Frank Hiatt of Huron, who had been following them stopped at the scene of the accident briefly and then went on for help. He stopped at the William Ruckle farm where he requested Mrs. Ruckle to return and watch over Miss Carey, and then continued to Onida where he notified officials. Dr. V. W. Embree accompanied Sheriff Jack Reedy to the scene and brought Miss Carey to the hospital in Onida for immediate treatment. Although in a very weak condition, she was able to furnish a description of the boys and sign the statement taken by Attorney F. M. Ryan. She identified Westberg as the boy who shot her and Christensen as the one who hit her over the head with a hammer. Miss Carey died at 2:50 that afternoon. Men from Onida, Agar, Gettysburg and surrounding territory searched the countryside and finally located the boys northwest of Onida on the Cottrill place hiding in a ditch among some weeds. They were brought to the courthouse for a brief questioning, then to the hospital where Miss Carey identified them, then back to the courthouse for further questioning. Sheriff Reedy then took them to Pierre when word of Miss Carey's death was announced and threats were heard among the large crowd against the lives of the prisoners. The two boys pleaded "not guilty" to the crime. The jury's verdict stated the boys "while engaged in the commission of a felony, killed and murdered Miss Carey". A life sentence is mandatory for murder in this state. At the time of the conviction a petition was signed by about 3,000 people in this area and filed with the Board of Pardons that these boys could never be pardoned. [photo - Hunting Party, 1937, Left to right-Bill Durrstein, Harvey Huffman, Pat Abbott, Merle VonWald, Maynard Knox, John Adams, Preston Starbuck, "Doe" Von Wald, Milo Brown, Frank Hoover and Bert Knox. Not pictured - Wilbur Peterson, Pete Peterson and Herb Leesman.] * * * The Fairbank Family's Original Home The Fairbank family dates back to the year 1636, when they came to the United States from England, from which family Orville Fairbank is a direct descendant. The Fairbanks located at Dedham, Massachusetts, and built a frame house that first year. That same frame house, built 322 years ago, has been preserved and has been the home of the Fairbank family for more than three centuries. Three Fairbank sisters live in this house at the present time. [photo - Fairbank Home, Dedham, Mass., 1939. Oldest Wooden Frame House in U. S. A., built, 1636.] The rambling-type home has been in the Fairbank name since it was built and has always been free of mortgage. In 1938, there were 5,000 Fairbank cousins in the United States, and each year there is a family reunion at this original homestead with several hundred relatives attending. To date, Mr. and Mrs. Orville Fairbank have not attended any of these reunions, but they plan to in the near future. * * * Mrs. Alice Adams, who was 85 years old in the year 1946, and an early-day resident of Sully County, had during her lifetime, marked the progress of the pioneer west as expressed or typified in transportation. From the early day ox team, through horse-drawn carriages and later, automobiles, Mrs. Adams experienced all modes to travel. The culmination occurred on Sunday, April 28, 1946, when she took her first airplane ride. Going aloft with Dwight Poage, who piloted his own craft, Mrs. Adams thoroughly enjoyed the experience. * * * Mrs. Van Ludwig, a daughter of Sully county pioneers, was named a South Dakota Eminent Homemaker at Brookings on March 4, 1948, at a dinner climaxing the annual Farm and Home Week activities. Her portrait was hung in the Agriculture Hall of Fame in the Administration Building of State College, along with other previous eminent homemakers from throughout the state. [photo - Mrs. Van Ludwig, South Dakota Eminent Homemaker, 1948.] Mrs. Ludwig is a home product. Something of that stamina of spirit of our early pioneers carries over in her to the second generation and she has always been an inspiration to those about her. Mrs. Ludwig, formerly Mary Alice Lister, of Danville, Illinois, was born October 29, 1875, and attended country school in Illinois. In 1883, her father homesteaded near Onida. She was married in 1898, and after farming in Illinois for eight years, she and her husband purchased a piece of bare prairie which is now Blaine township. The farm grew to 1,800 acres. The Ludwigs had four children: Corydon, the eldest who is now operating a neighboring farm; Ralph, who now operates a tourist court in Huron; Pauline, (Mrs. Everett Stewart) is presently in business in Onida with her two sons, and Clarence, who now operates the old home farm. Van Ludwig passed away February 14, 1942. Mrs. Ludwig has been an active member of the extension home demonstration work since it was started in the county in 1923. She has served as chairman of her club for six years, chairman of the county extension organization for six years, chairman of the northeast district of federated clubs for two years, and has held numerous other offices of extension work. In 1947, she went to Europe as of the South Dakota delegates to the Associated Country Women of the World Association at their meeting held in Amsterdam, Holland. She has been active in work, connected with the annual county fair. One year she was a leader in a project in which Sully women presented their pageant at the State Fair. Mrs. Ludwig has won many prizes with her canning and crocheting, both at the county and state fairs. * * * Dairy cattle, good cropping methods, adapted crop varieties, family co- operation and extensive community activities were the winning combination for Henry Hertel, 1949 Eminent Farmer from Sully County, South Dakota, who was 64 years old at that time. After 36 years of farming on the same farm, seven miles southeast of Onida, he found that by having worked these projects together he could take it a little easier in the later years of his life with the feeling that he had not exploited his soils' resources and that he had contributed his share, at least, in the building of a great agricultural society. [photo - Henry Hertel, South Dakota Eminent Farmer, 1949.] Henry Hertel was born November 26, 1884, on a dairy farm near Sheboygan Wisconsin. He was next to the youngest of 14 children. When he was 25, he married Elenor Ries; they took over the homestead and operated it until 1913. On March 12, 1913, Henry and Elenor and their three children came to Sully County and located on the unimproved half-section which is a part of their 1370-acre farm. They brought their household goods, some farm equipment and ten head of high-quality Holstein milk cows. For several years he grew certified seed for the Seeds Stock Foundation at State College, and helped increase new varieties in co- operation with the county agent and the state experiment station. He also grew variety and fertilizer test plots in co-operation with State College. During the six years he was chairman of the Crop Improvement Association, the organization grew in membership from 24 to 75. Mr. Hertel spent much of his time in his office keeping up his correspondence and interest in community activities. * * * Former Secretary of Interior Douglas McKay visited with Kenneth Sutton, 15, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Sutton, Onida, when Ken won the state high school cutting horse contest with Major's Traveler at the High School Rodeo at New Underwood in May, 1954. The secretary, who was attending the event to dedicate the new rodeo arena, is an experienced horseman and admired the horse. [photo - Former Secretary of Interior Douglas McKay visiting with Kenneth Sutton shortly after he had won the state high school cutting horse contest with Major's Traveler at New Underwood, 1954.] Five Indoniasia government officials visited the Lee Warne ranch in February, 1957, to look in on large-scale winter cattle feeding operations. Warne, like many other Sully County ranchers, uses stack movers and tractorpowered forks in his feeding operations. This is in great contrast to most Indonesians, where the, prime movers are a team composed of a water buffalo and a steer. * * * A rough box and coffin, containing the remains of a three or four-year-old child, was discovered in September, 1958, in the embankment of a gravel pit located on the Francis Ripley farm in West Sully. Albert Trumble made the discovery, sighting the partly exposed rough box and casket in the gravel wall of the pit which was uncovered by cave-ins. The pit was opened about a year ago by the county road crew. Trumble summoned Sheriff Jack Reedy, who brought the remains to Onida where the local authorities, Coroner Lyman Carr and Dr. G. I. Westland examined the contents of the coffin and ordered its reburial in the Onida Cemetery. Edward Klix constructed a new rough box and burial was made in Lot 2, Block 68, Northeast Addition of the local cemetery. On exposure, the rough box crumbled, but the coffin appeared to be an expensive commercial type with glass vision plate and silver handles. Examination of the remains by Dr. Westland and Coroner Carr revealed the skull structure, jaws with perfect set of teeth and bone structure of a child from three to four years old. The examiners indicated that the burial perhaps was made 50 years ago or longer. There was no indication of the identity. The gravel pit, in which the remains were found, is located in the southeast corner of the SW 1/4 of section 24-114-79. * * * One of the few effigies still intact, left by the Sioux Indians in the early days as a memorial of a notable event in their history, is a pony in outline located near the south bank of the Okobojo Creek on the NW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of 16-115-77 in Garner township. The pony lies with its head facing west and is very perfect in form. It is 14 feet long and six feet high. It is located somewhere near the old William Ruckle farm. * * * A Sully County girl won the junior division of the 12th South Dakota "Make It Yourself" Wool Contest held at Belle Fourche, South Dakota, in November, 1958. Winner in the junior division was Jean Garrett, 16, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Geoff Garrett, of west Sully. Miss Garrett, a five-foot, six inch brunette, modeled a blue and gray chemise dress. She will receive an expense-paid trip to the national contest in Portland, Oregon. [photo - Miss Jean Garrett, Winner in the junior division of South Dakota "Make It Yourself" Wool Contest, 1958.] Sully County's Firsts . . . The first newspaper printed was the Onida Journal on May 24, 1883. Charles H. Agar was the first treasurer of Sully County, being appointed in May, 1883. [photo - Mary D. Goddard] It is reported that Mary D. Goddard, daughter of Frank and Clara Goddard was the first white child born in Sully County. The first marriage took place at Okobojo on July 25, 1883, uniting William Oman and Miss Hattie A. Kelm. The first quit claim deed recorded was placed on the books by Register Meloon on August 17, 1883. Mary Minar to Ralph W. Cavanaugh, piece of property in the west end. The first instance of the right of suffrage in Sully County was exercised January 16, 1886, when votes were cast at an election to bond the Farmington school township for $700.00, in order to build a school house. In February, of the same year, the Territorial Superintendent decided that women were not entitled to vote at school elections. The first corn picking machine was purchased by Burton Egbert, from 0kobojo Township in July, 1909. Robert Williams was the first man in Sully County to be called to the Colors under the selective draft. A Toast To The Old Pioneers Backward, turn backward, oh time, in thy flight, The beards of Onida are doing alright; From the teenager's side-burns, so silky and lush, To the handle-bar mustache and full-throated brush. Oh, its many a day since that memorable year When those first early settlers unloaded their gear; With sweat on their brows and dust on their boots, Watched the sun slowly set or'e the Fort Sully Buttes. But time has a habit of loping right through, And the old steps aside to make room for the new. Where the Colt .45 once was law by demand, Jet fighters patrol; keeping watch or'e the land. And here as we watch this antiquity show Of how and who done it a long time ago; We thrill to our thoughts of the old Pioneers Who founded this town with both laughter and tears. We smile as we view the capricious parade Exhibiting that with which history was made; As slowly it moves amidst laughter and cheers, Depicting the progress of seventy years. Yes, gadgets and "do-dads" repeatedly change, But faces and people stay mostly the same. For the eye fills with tears or will sparkle and glow, Just the same as they did in that long, long ago. So, backward, turn backward, oh time, in thy pace, While we look at sunbonnets and ruffles and lace, And glimpse through a mist those illustrious years, With a prayer in our hearts for the Old Pioneers. George H. Green The Land of Their Choice BLAINE TOWNSHIP A man by the name of Bacon possibly had the distinction of being the first settler in Blaine Township, and within a few short months the Matusch family arrived. Then David and John Hall and Wilson Webster filed claims in March, 1883. J. L. Sheffer and B. M. Lister were also some of the early pioneers to homestead in the county. Noah Fritz Family Noah Fritz came to Dakota Territory from Illinois, in 1883, and homesteaded in what is now Blaine Township. The land was all prairie and had to be broke with a walking plow and horses. The railroad had already been established through Blunt, so all supplies and lumber for dwellings had to be hauled from that point by team and wagon. In 1887, Mr. Fritz married Lizzie Klein, whose parents had come to Dakota Territory from Iowa to homestead. The Fritz family experienced all the hardships of pioneer days including the blizzard of 1888, prairie fires, droughts and Indian scares. Water was also a problem as wells were dug by hand. It was necessary for many of the early settlers to haul their water for several miles until they were able to find water on their own place. The winter food supply was stocked up in the fall of the year. Apples and flour were purchased by the barrel and dried fruits in 25 pound boxes. The meat was butchered and cured at home and pork was put down in salt for summer use. There was already plenty to eat as long as there was a sack of dried navy beans and plenty of corn meal. Milk was put in pans and the cream skimmed off the top and churned into butter which had to be taken to Blunt by team and buggy and shipped to Chicago. During the summer months this meant leaving home very early in the morning in order to get the butter to Blunt before the day became too hot. Fuel also created a problem during those early years. Hay burners, dried cow chips and corn cobs were used. Wood was hauled from the river and then later coal was shipped in. Mr. Fritz taught school a number of terms and was superintendent of various Sunday Schools for many years. There were no churches, so Sunday School was held in the country schoolhouses which were moved about a great deal. [photo - J. L. "Link" Sheffer and his crew at work in 1897, using a steam thresher.] [photo - Mr. and Mrs. Noah Fritz, son Wallace, and daughter Elsie (Mrs. Ben Klingbeil) in the summer of 1921.] Mr. and Mrs. Fritz have passed away; he in 1927, and she in 1958. Three of their children died in infancy. Their son, Wallace, still resides on the homestead and has since added land to it, known as the C D. Fanton place. He married Selma Klingbeil, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Klingbeil, who homesteaded in Lake Township. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Fritz have two children, Mrs. Norman Bloom and Mrs. Paul Sack. Elsie Fritz married Ben Klingbeil, son of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Klingbeil. Elsie and Ben have built up a place a half-mile west of the Fritz homestead and added surrounding land to it. They have two children, Mrs. Harry Hofer and Maynard Klingbeil. [photo - Aerial view of the Ben Klingbeil farm in Blaine Township in 1958.] * * * The Gross Family John G. Gross who moved here with his family from Olivet, South Dakota, purchased his farm from a local real estate firm on May 1, 1919. He participated in all church activities and taught adult Sun day School for many years. His hobbies were raising honey bees and playing the violin. Mrs. Gross has also been active in church work and is a member of the Good Deed Circle. All new, modern buildings have replaced the original structures since the farm was purchased in 1919. In 1936, a windstorm did considerable damage to every building on the farm and some of the buildings had to be replaced and others repaired. During the summer of 1958, a 36'x80' Armco steel granary was erected. Today, the combination stock and grain farm is operated by the two Gross brothers, John and Benny, who live with their mother, Mrs. Mary Gross, Mr. Gross having passed away on January 19, 1949. [photo - Aerial view of the Gross farm in Blaine Township, showing the shelter belt, in 1958.] There are five children living; the youngest member of the family, Danny, passed away in 1942 at the age of twelve years. Elizabeth, the oldest child, is married to David Walter. They live on a farm near Freeman, South Dakota. Benny, living on the original farm served in the Marines during World War II. He took part in the fighting in the Pacific and was wounded on the Island of Iwo Jima. Katherine is now Mrs. Merle Bloom. She and her husband, Rev. Merle Bloom and two children, Mark and Marsha recently returned from Southern Rhodesia, Africa, as missionaries. They are presently on a year's furlough, living in Chicago, and plan on returning to Southern Rhodesia, for four more years in the missionary field. Mary Gross is now Mrs. William P. Janzen. They live on a farm near Mountain Lake, Minnesota. John, also living on the home place served in the Air Force and was stationed in both the Philippines and Japan. * * * Henry Hertel Family Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hertel and three daughters, Marcella, Beatrice and Bernette, came to Blaine Township in March of 1913, from Sheboygan, Wisconsin. They located on an improved half-section of land belonging to Mrs. Hertel's father, Carles Ries, which he had purchased in 1909. [photo - Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hertel and their nine children. Standing, left to right - Joycelyn (Mrs. Leo Pietrus), Magelle, Lenore (Mrs. Ward Yeager), Arlyne (Mrs. Delmar Huffman), Bernette (Mrs. Allen Junkman), Beatrice (Mrs. Harlow Howard) and Marcella (Mrs. Richard Howard). Seated - Eugene, Mrs. Hertel (Nora), Henry Hertel and Henry, Jr. Taken in 1949.] The Hertel family brought their household goods, some farm machinery and Holstein milk cows with them. One of the machines shipped out was an ensilage cutter-the first in the Onida area. A year later they erected an upright wooden silo which is one of the very few remaining upright silos in the vicinity. The rest of the family of nine children was born in South Dakota; namely, Eugene, Arlyne, Lenore, Magelle, Joycelyn and Henry, Jr. All the Hertel children attended Blaine school, and Beatrice, Bernette and Arlyne went on to college and taught school. The depression was the undoing of some, but one of the projects the Hertels relied upon was the Hertel Orchestra which supplemented the family income and provided a source of recreation. The group was booked under the name "Henie Hertel" with Henry at the guitar; Mrs. Hertel at the violin; daughter Magelle at the piano; son-in-law Allen Junkman, trumpet and saxophone, and Ted Warne, drummer. Mrs. Hertel was active in club work and was a charter member of the Blaine-Lincoln Extension Club. Mr. Hertel was active in Farm Bureau, Crop Improvement Association, was a charter member of the fair association, a director of the Central Loan Association of the Federal Land Bank, and for many years chairman of the Sully County Infantile Paralysis chapter. In 1949, he was declared eminent farmer. Shortly after Henry's death on May 13, 1952, Mrs. Hertel and Magelle moved to their new home in Pierre. This residence was short due to the sudden death of Magelle on October 13, 1955, and Mrs. Hertel's death on September 26, 1956. [photo The Hofer family in 1926. Back row, left to right -Mike, Susie, Jake, Josh, Rose, Kate and Joe. Front row - Mary, Elizabeth, Joseph, Ann, Goldie (above), Katrina, Maggie and John J.] The remaining members of the family, all of which are married, are: Marcella, now Mrs. Richard Howard. The Howards, of Blunt, have three sons, RichardAmes, Thomas John and Phillip. Beatrice is now Mrs. Harlow Howard, of Playa del Ray, California. They have two daughters, Ann (Mrs. James Hunts) and Gail (Mrs. Morris Bennett) and son, Clay David, who was the first great grandchild of the Hertels. Bernette is married to Allen Junkman, of Blunt. They have five children, Lynette, Carol, Sandra, Joseph and Mary. Eugene is married to Georgie Kimmett and live in Sheybogan, Wisconsin. They have three daughters, Jean Ann, Jackie and Joele. Arlyne is now Mrs. Delmar Huffman, of Pleasant Hill, California. They have five children, Delmar, Jr., Dixie, Darlene, David and Dannie. Lenore is married to Ward Yeager, of Blunt, and they have seven children, Billy, Maria, Teresa, Gerry, Lenore Ann and twin sons, Richard and Roy; and four step-children, Phyllis, Lois, Carol and Cletus. Joycelyn, now Mrs. Leo Pietrus, of Pierre. They have four children, Charles, Cheryl, Stephen and Mary Jo. Henry, Jr., married Jean Main, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Main, of Onida. Henry and Jean, who live on the home place, have one son, Terry, who is the only grandson to carry on the family name. * * * [photo - Aerial view of the John J. Hofer and Son ranch in 1958.] John J. Hofer Mr. and Mrs. John J. Hofer, as newlyweds, moved to Blaine Township in March of 1919, from Yale, South Dakota. Mrs. Hofer was formerly Mary Helen Pullman, and she and John were the first Hofer family to settle permanently in Sully County. They first settled on the Shore place where the Maynard Hofer family now reside. In the spring of 1921, the Hofers began remodeling the house and that fall they built a barn. John and Mary Hofer lived on that same place for 24 years, and their seven children were born there. LaVerne was born in 1920; Maynard, in 1923; Darlene, in 1927, Kenneth, in 1931; Darryl, in 1934; Joanne, in 1936, and Judy, in 1938. Baby Joanne died of pneumonia that year. In 1943, the family moved to the place on which Mr. and Mrs. Hofer now reside. A fire, caused by lightning took its toll, in August, 1951. A large barn, in which was stored 6,000 bushels of newly-harvested oats and rye, was struck by lightning, causing the blaze which resulted in almost complete loss of both building and grain. John replaced the barn with a new 40'x128' steel quonset building. Four of the Hofer chldren are married. Maynard was married to Barbara Naanes in 1949. They have one child, and are living on the farm upon which his parents first settled. Darlene became Jim Lomheim in 1950; they have three children. The family is living in Brazil, South America, at present. Both Jim and Darlene are in the missionary field. Darryl married Patty Rappana in 1953 and they have three children. Darryl farms in partnership with his father. Kenneth married Eileen Koch Waitman in 1955. They have three children, and live on a farm east of Blunt. LaVerne chased a home in Anaheim, California, where she is employed as a registered nurse, specializing in anesthesia. Judy is taking nurses' training at St. John's School of Nursing, Huron, South Dakota from which she will graduate in 1960. * * * Jake J. Hofer Jake J. Hofer came to Sully County in 1919. Edna Unruh, who later became his wife, came to Sully County in 1926 with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Abe Unruh. Jake and Edna were married November 19, 1933, at Yale, South Dakota, shortly after the first big dust storm, the worst that most people had ever seen, and settled on the farm in Blaine Towns where they reside at the present time. The house was moved in from Agar has been remodeled and modernized. There are five children in the family none of which are married. Shirley was born in 1936, and at the present time is employed by J. C. Penny Company at Pierre. Arlys was born in 1939, and has been employed at the Onida Bank for the past year. Dean is a freshman in Onida High School; Gary is in the third grade at Blaine School, and Debra is two and a half years old. One child, a baby boy, died in 1934. [photo - Mr. and Mrs. Jake J. Hofer celebrate their 25th Wedding Anniversary in 1958.] * * * Joe S. Hofer Joe S. Hofer and Elizabeth Wipf were married on July 7, 1921, in Beadle County. and moved to Sully County five days later. They lived with his brother, John J. and his wife, Mary, in Blaine Township for a few months. That fall they moved to the Lister place where their oldest son, Jake, was born in 1922. The following year the family of three moved to South Buffalo Township where they built the home in which the next four of the children were born: Valeria, in 1923; Eddie, in 1925; Wilbur, in 1927, and Loretta, in 1930. The family lived in several places during the next fifteen years; Minnesota among them where Marzella was born in 1935. The family moved to Onida in 1947 where they are living at the present time. Loretta was the victim of severe burns by fire in 1948. A can of gas, which she was holding, was ignited by a fire in the wood range close by. She suffered third degree burns, and the house was badly damaged by the flames. All of the children, with the exception of Loretta, were at one time in the service of their country with the armed forces. Of the seven children, a baby girl died in 1938, and four are now married. Valeria was married in 1945 to F. M. Ellis. They now reside in Arvada, Colorado, and have four children. Loretta was married to Glen Stokes in 1948. They now reside in a home on the James Sutton ranch, and have four children. Wilbur married Eileen Sack in 1950. They now have two children and live in Onida where Wilbur is manager of the Peavey Lumber Yard. Eddie married Jenny Naanes Jackson in 1953, and they have four children and reside on a farm owned by John J. Hofer, east of Onida. Jake is living at home and is an employee of the railroad. Marzella is in Minot, North Dakota, training for work in evangelism. Josh J. Hofer Josh J. Hofer and his wife, Mary, came to Sully County in 1924, and settled on a farm known as the Kinder place. There was no house on the farm at that time, so Josh and Mary lived in what is now the barn until they could start building, which was the following year. Their four children were born at this place. Pearl was born in 1926; Virgil, in 1932; LaVon, in 1934, and Carol, in 1939. In 1940, the family moved to the Lula B. Dakan farm where they lived until 1944, and then moved to a farm just outside of Onida where they now live. They remodeled the house and put in new fixtures, and added a steel quonset to the buildings already on the place. Their oldest daughter, Pearl, was married in 1946 to Arnold Asmussen and they had two children, Jim and Wayne. Arnold and the two men with him were killed in 1951, when the plane they were flying crashed in the heavy fog over the state of Washington. Pearl and her boys lived at home until 1953, when she married Benny Fauth, who had three children. The family now reside on a farm at Emery, South Dakota. Virgil is not married as yet, and is living at home and farming with his father. LaVon became Mrs. Myron Vetter in 1954. They lived in a trailer house on the Vetter place until they built the new home in which they now live with their one son, Danny. Carol married Lloyd Dale in 1958. They now live in Denver, Colorado, and have one child. * * * [photo - Van Ludwig home in 1909. Left to right - Mrs. Van Ludwig (Alice) and daughter, Pauline; Van Ludwig and son, Clarence, and two hired men. To the far right - Corydon and Ralph Ludwig.] Van Ludwig Family Van Ludwig, of Oakwood, Illinois, son-in-law of B. M. Lister, arrived with a carload of household goods in March of 1906. Mrs. Ludwig and three children, Corydon, Ralph and Pauline, remained in Illinois until April when they joined their husband and father. They lived on the Lister farm in Blaine Township for three years and it was during that time that Clarence was born, September 16, 1907. The Ludwigs then built a home on the Northeast of 19, which was just a piece of raw land which they improved. Here the family grew up. Van was an ambitious and progressive farmer. In August, 1916, he installed a milking machine on his farm the first of its kind in Sully County -and established himself as one of the leading and most successful dairy farmers. He also purchased a new three-horse gasoline engine to run his milking machine. [photo - Mr. and Mrs. Van Ludwig at the State Fair in 1910.] Corydon married Ava Phillips, of Blunt, South Dakota, on December 4, 1925. They lived on the Lister farm for sixteen and a half years and it was during that time that their three daughters, Beverly, Betty and Berniece, were born. They then purchased a farm in Richvalley Township from Judge C. Roberts, of Pierre, where they now reside. [photo - Corydon and Ralph Ludwig attending the State Fair in 1914.] Beverly was married to Phi Zebroski on August 1, 1951. They have four children, Tom, Tim, Twana and Trena. The family lived on the Beckman farm south of Onida, for a short time and then moved to the Clarence Ludwig ranch near Okobojo where they are now living. Betty was married to Pierre Barnes, of Pierre, on October 11, 1958. They live on a farm about six miles east of Blunt. On August 30, 1957, Berniece was married to Larry Kiel, of Highmore, South Dakota. They lived in Minnesota the first year they were married and then came back to the Corydon Ludwig farm and are assisting with farm work there. They have one daughter, Kami, born July 1, 1958. Ralph Ludwig married May Finney, of Faulkton, South Dakota, in 1930. They lived in and near Onida for the first years of their married life, then on the home place for a short time before purchasing the Bauman General Store in Onida. They retired from the mercantile business in 1956. They are now living in Huron where they purchased the Isabelle Motel. Their three children, Phyllis, Leona and Keith are married. Phyllis was married to Darrel Mikkelsen, of Onida, in October, 1949. They have two daughters, Cindy and Mona. The family now lives in Huron. Leona married Charles Morris, from the state of Tennessee, in October, 1953. They have three children, Allan, Billy and Karla. The family is now stationed in Germany. During the time that Keith was in the service, he married a girl from Harrington, Delaware. Pauline Ludwig was married to Everett Stewart, of Blunt, in March of 1931. They have four children, Darwin, Judy, Van and Sandra. After living west of Blunt for some time and operating a filling station, they moved to Onida where Everett was engaged in various businesses. In 1955, he established an implement and gas business, together with his sons, which is known as Stewart & Son Implement. Everett passed away on August, 31, 1957. The business is being carried on by his wife, Pauline, sons Darwin and Van, and son-in-law, Jack Schall. Darwin married Coletta Sack on August 30, 1955. He was in the service, but after the death of his father, he and his family came back to Onida to help with the business. Three children were born to this union, Kim, Pam and Dianne Lynn. Judy Stewart was married on June 15, 1955, to Jack Schall. They lived on the Clarence Ludwig ranch near Okobojo for a short time and then moved to Onida where Jack is assisting with the Stewart & Sons business. They have three chiIdren, Dawn, Monica and Jacqueline. Van Stewart is a senior in Onida High School and also helps with the family business. Sandra is in the seventh grade. Clarence Ludwig married Cecile Kleinschmidt on October 12, 1930, and they lived on the home place with his father. One son, Newell, was born. Mrs. Ludwig passed away on January 18, 1935. Then four years later, on December 31, 1938, Clarence married Hazel Sorenson, of Lincoln Township. Three children were born to this union, Karen, Kay and Martin. On February 14, 1942, Van Ludwig passed away. Mrs. Ludwig then moved to Onida where she still resides. Except for a short period of time, Clarence has lived on the Van Ludwig farm since it was built. The only original building on the farm at the present time is the house which has been remodeled and enlarged. Two other buildings have been replaced and new structures and trees added to the farm. Newell Ludwig who is assisting his father with the farming operations, was married on June 8, 1958, to Lila Blaisdell, of Onida. Karen is a junior and Kay, a sophomore at Onida High School. Both the girls graduated from the eighth grade at Blaine School. Martin, a sixth grader, is now attending Blaine School. * * * [photo - The L. P. Nelson Family, about 1908. Standing, left to right - Charles, Mrs. L. P. Nelson, L. P. Nelson, Ed and Andrew. Seated - Wilfred, Emma, (Mrs. Lister), Otto, Luther and George.] The Nelson Family Charles was the first of the Nelson family to migrate to this country from Sweden in 1878. Stopping in Boston, he worked in an iron foundry until he saved enough money to send back and bring the entire family here, which then included his parents, Lars and Augusta, his sister, Emma, and his five brothers, Edwin, Andrew, Wilfred, Otto and Luther. Docking at New York, the Nelson family boarded a train for Chicago, arriving there on April 1, 1881. Securing employment in a Pullman factory, they stayed for about a year and then moved to Spink County, South Dakota, where they filed on a pre-emption and lived there a short time. Hearing about the homestead and tree claims, and needing a larger acreage, they made the trip overland from Hitchcock, South Dakota, by ox team in the fall of 1883, and filed on the homestead, Northwest of 28-114-76, in Blaine Township. One of the first necessities was building a home which consisted of a three room sod house in which the entire family lived for about six years. Interesting is the fact that the youngest child George, was born in that sod house which was about forty feet from his present home. The original quarter section was a homestead and joining to the north was a tree claim quarter on which the government required ten acres of trees to planted and cared for. The younger children had the task of helping with this tree planting job which required considerable time and effort. About 1900, Charles moved to Bowdle, South Dakota, where he farmed and operated several threshing rigs during the harvest season. Later he returned to the old homestead where he spent remaining years. Wilfred and Edwin Nelson moved to North Dakota and built up a fine improved farm near Sykeston. Wilfred plowed fire guards around many townships in Sully County and in North Dakota. He married and had three daughters and one son, all living in North Dakota. The son, Dave, lives on the original place. Edwin Nelson also built a farm near his brother where he resided until his death. Andrew Nelson finally settled in Pleasant Township, running a large herd of cattle and many horses. He dug many wells by hand, some 100 feet deep, and experienced several close calls. He married Jennie Breke and five children were born to them. Those living are Lyle, Floyd and Emma. Lyle, who married Jessie Mason, owns and operates a large ranch in Cora Township. They have a son, Paul, and raised another boy, Dwayne, Who is married and also lives on the ranch. Floyd is a drawbridge operator in Portland, Oregon; and Emma, who married Paul Randall, lives in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where they operate several Super Markets. Emma Nelson spent her entire girlhood in Blaine Township, assisting her mother in the household work. After graduating from Madison Normal, she taught several Sully County schools before becoming county superintendent of schools, which position she held for several terms. She married B. M. Lister, himself an early pioneer of Blaine Township. They had one daughter, Dorothy, who is married to Glen Patterson, an attorney in Watertown, South Dakota. The Pattersons have a son and daughter. Emma was chairman of the committee who published the History of Sully County in 1939. Otto Nelson spent his entire life in Sully County. At one time he operated the King Ranch, starting one mile east of Onida and covering many acres, and ran many head of fine cattle. After some time this ranch was sold out into several smaller ranches. He then operated on a smaller scale in Blaine for many years. In August of 1942, he was fatally injured, while asleep, by a freak tornado in Iowa Township. Luther Nelson also spent all of his life in Sully County. He helped operate and manage the family farm for years. He married Bessie Coquillette and they had one son, Wayne. Luther's wife passed away when Wayne was two years old after which they lived with Grandma Nelson for 12 years. In 1924, Luther married Ereka Eller. They bought the old Dave Hall place just across the road from the homestead and lived there until they moved to Onida in 1943, where they still reside. Wayne lives on a farm joining Onida city. This place is known as the old Barber place. He and Luther continue to operate their Blaine holdings. Wayne married Sady Bingamen of Olivet, South Dakota, and they have one daughter, Julie, who is married to Jim Sutton of Onida. They have two children, Teri and Steven. George Nelson, the youngest of the original Nelsons is celebrating his 75th birthday during this Jubilee year. In 1912, he was married to Elva Hyde, daughter of Dwight W. Hyde, of Goodwater Township, himself one of the early pioneers. They have three daughters, Marcia, Patricia and Benni Bee, and a son, Dean. Marcia is married to Dr. Robert H. Lamb, an orthopedic surgeon from Troy, Alabama. They live in Salt Lake City, Utah, and have four daughters. Patricia is married to Colonel Henry A. Smith Jr. from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, head of the 147th Artillery Group of the South Dakota National Guard. They have three daughters, and one son and live in Onida. Benni Bee i3 married to Marvon Severson, formerly of Onida. They have a daughter and a son and live in Cleveland, Minnesota, where they own and operate a Super Market. Dean is married to Harriet Adams of Gettysburg, South Dakota. They have two daughters and one son and live on the original homestead helping operate the farm, thus making Dean's son the fourth generation of Nelsons to continuously live on the same homestead. It would not be complete without mentioning another near-member of the family. With the exception of two school terms as Dean of the Boys Dormitory in Onida in 1933 and 1934, Matt Glanzer has lived with the Nelson family for 33 years, helping operate the place. Watching and helping George's four children grow up, he is now a favorite playmate of their children whenever they are around. [photo - George Mathew Nelson, three-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Dean Nelson, taken in 1956, with his namesake, Matt Glanzer, who has been with the Nelson family for 33 years.]