Full Text of "75 Years of Sully County History, 1883 - 1958", pages 242 - 260. 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. [photo - Mr. and Mrs. Jerry M. Pullman and 10 of their children, in 1918. Back row, left to right - Susie, Dave, Joe, Jerry, Jr., and Eli. Front row - Mrs. Pullman, Ben, Jake, Mary, Barbara, Anna and Mr. Pullman.] The Pullman Family Mr. and Mrs. Jerry M. Pullman came to Blaine Township in 1919, from Huron, South Dakota, and purchased the Clayton Gunsalus farm. They lived there until 1937, when they moved to Onida. Then in 1941, Mr. and Mrs. Pullman and seven of their children moved to Freeman, South Dakota. Mr. Pullman passed away in 1945, and Mis. Pullman is still living in Freeman. Five of the Pullman children remained in Sully County. Mary Pullman was married to John J. Hofer in 1919. Joe married Mary Hofer in 1922, and they live in Lincoln Township with their family. Susie married Paul Stahl, of Yale, South Dakota. They lived in the house now occupied by the Walter Ripley family. The Stahls had five children, Willard, Francis, Albin, Bernette and Jerald (Woody). Albin is married to Helen Youngberg and they have two daughters, Julie and Janet. Mrs. Stahl (Susie) passed away in 1939. Dave Pullman married Alma Walter in 1938, and they had two children, Dennis and Sandra. Eli married Edyth Haessig, of Mellette, South Dakota, in October, 1943. Their son, Billy, is a student at Northern State Teachers College, Aberdeen. BLAINE SCHOOL [photo - Blaine School, 1921] Blaine Township's first school was started in the home of David Hall, in the spring of 1884. Mr. Hall rode horseback to Clifton and took a brief examination before Superintendent Staples, all that was required to give him the necessary credentials to teach. The equipment and supplies were typical of those pioneer days - home-made desks, a blackboard, a miscellaneous collection of books, broom, dust pan, waterpail and dipper, or tin cups, and a coal bucket. Those first three months of school cost $73.30. As the county became more settled the school population likewise increased. In time a decision was made to consolidate and in January, 1921, the district voted unanimously to bond itself for a $15,000 school building. Work commenced in May, 1921, by the Onida Construction Company. Formal dedication of the building took place on September 27, 1921, during the session of the annual Teacher's Institute The exercises were held in the large assembly room and attended by all of the teachers of the Institute and many others from near and far, who had watched with intense interest the development of this project. Jesse T. Hayes acted as master of ceremonies; Mrs. B. M. Lister gave the history of Blaine; M. M. Guhin spoke on the value of good school organization and buildings, and Dr. Carey expressed the values to be gained as a community center. The program closed with the audience singing and being led in several school yells for Blaine with Homer Roach as cheerleader. The teachers of this new school were Ereka (Eller) Nelson and Mrs. Mable Jack. Luther Nelson, Henry Hertel and J. R. Dakan did a great deal toward this project. In 1922, Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Westower were the teachers and at that time Blaine was accredited to teach one year of high school. In 1926, two years of high school were taught and a third teacher, Miss Fern Johnson, was added to the faculty. Blaine School was the first school in Sully County to meet all requirements for state aid. Since 1930, only one teacher has been employed at Blaine. From the beginning, basketball was practiced in the basement gymnasium of the school and in the surrounding area. In 1925, a Blaine Central Independent team was organized. The team was composed of Elezer Byrum, center; Eli Pullman and David Pullman, forwards; Clarence Ludwig and Joe Roddewig, guards. - M. S. [photo - Blaine Basketball Team in 1922. Back row, left to right - Theron McKenney, Wayne Nelson and Harold McKenney. Front Joe Mendell and Jake Pullman.] [photo - First Pupils and teachers at Blaine, 1921. Back row, left to right - Ereka (Eller) Nelson, Jake Pullman, Harold McKenney, Joe Mendel, Theron McKenney, Wayne Nelson, Barbara Pullman and Mrs. Mable Jack. Middle row-Vance McKenney, Anna Pullman, Marcella Hertel, Neva Dakan and Beatrice Hertel. Front row - Burnette Hertel, Jean Hertel, Edwin Pullman, Eddie Waldner, Alice Dakan, Anna Wipf, Clara Wipf, Arlene Hertel and Edwin Waldner. BUFFALO TOWNSHIP [photo - Fred E. Leverett. First Homesteader in Buffalo Township.] Buffalo bones whitened the prairie which is known as Buffalo Township and which was so named in memory of the previous inhabitants. Naming -and organizing of township 114-75 took place in 1883, by the first school board composed of J. B. Gleason, who settled in that vicinity in April, 1883, H. Brayton and H. M. DeTray. The first school was taught during the summer of 1884, by Miss Hallie Chalfant in a 12x14 foot shack belonging to William Garner. Later this shack became the property of Gleason, and was destroyed by the cyclone in 1888. The first home filing was made by Fred Leverett on March 4, 1883,who married Miss Gertrude Boone at Table Rock, Nebraska, on April 3, 1894. To this union, six children were born, and three daughters. [photo - Children of Mr. and Mrs. Fred E. Leverett. Back row, left to right- Lucille, Robert and Florence Front row-Glenn, Maurine and Edward.] By June of 1883, homes had been erected by settlers on most quarter sections of the township which had an abundance of good quality water, plenty of grass and land that was level except along the east side. The first postoffice was established in July, 1884, on Section 33. The first child born in the township was Lotta Gleason, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Gleason, on September 10, 1884. Two new schoolhouses were erected in 1885, and L. D. Carr became the first superintendent of schools elected in the county. * * * The Winklers [photo - Frank Winkler] The old J. F. Gunsalus place was purchased in the fall of 1917, by Philip Winkler, who had rented it for six years previous to that date. A new house was built in 1933, when the old one was destroyed by fire. Mr. Winkler passed away in 1934, and his wife in 1957. Their oldest son, Frank, remains on the place which is located on the Northwest of 27. [photo - Emina Kubichek. Celebrating her 100th Birthday Anniversary at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Philip Winkler, on February, 27, 1938.] The Wipf Family Mr. and Mrs. Abe Unruh live on the place formerly owned by Clyde Gunsalus. Several families came and went, among them was Sam S. Wipf, now of Bridgewater, South Dakota, until the present occupants bought the place in 1926. Son, flarvey, lives on an adjoining farm, having erected new buildings. His wife is the former Gladys Goosen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Goosen. They too, live nearby on the Southwest of section 8, having bought and built up their place in 1925. Their oldest son, LeRoy, answered the call to Service for his country and was lost in action during the Korean Conflict. Another son, Elmer, and his wife, Joan Glassmaker, live on a neighboring farm, owned by the Mosiman brothers. * * * The Butzman Family Paul Butzman and Freida Klingbeil, daughter of the late Julius Klingbeil of Lake Township, were married in 1936, and together shared responsibilities until death claimed Mr. Butzman in 1954. Freida and their two sons, Robert and Norman, still live on the home place. Oscar Butzman lives near by on the old home place built in 1918, by the late Edward Butzman, father of Oscar and Paul. Mr. and Mrs. Duane Winkler occupy a trailer house on this place and help with farming operations. Durrstein - Thomas Ranches Mr. and Mrs. William Durrstein and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Thomas and son, Alvin, age five, and daughter, Ednamae, two years old, came here from Doland, South Dakota, and purchased the Walter Schieckoff land. In 1919, Durrstein and Thomas purchased the Northwest of Section 10 from E. W. Smith. This land was barren of buildings so a house was moved there from the original Durrstein and Thomas ranch down on the flat several miles east. An artesian well was put down and several new buildings were erected in 1926. When Durrstein and Thomas dissolved partnership in 1928, Harry Thomas took over the place. He lived only a few months after that, passing away in January, 1929, following a brief illness. Mrs. Thomas and her three children - another daughter, Marian, was born in May, 1924 - moved back to Doland for several years during which time the Harley Lemon family occupied the farm. Then in 1933, Mrs. Thomas and her children moved back to Sully County and with the help of her son, Alvin, took over the farm once again. [photo - The Alvin Thomas Family. Front row, left to right - Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, Barbara and Darlene. Back row - Deanna (Mrs. Lyle Sutton), Harry and Jerry.] Alvin and Genevieve Bandy were married in 1936, and the following year Alvin's mother had a house moved into town where she and her daughter, Marian, lived until Mrs. Thomas passed away in March, 1951. The Alvin Thomas family lived on the home place all these years, with the exception of six years when they purchased the old Hayes place in Pleasant Township. Many improvements have been made on the Thomas farm and the house has been completely modernized. All five of the Thomas children attended North Buffalo School; namely, Deanna (now Mrs. Lyle Sutton), Harry, Jerry, Barbara and Darlene. In 1929, Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Schieckoff moved here from Ontario, Canada, and lived on the Durrstein-Thomas ranch until 1950, when they became the owners of their present farm which they purchased from Alfred Rivenes. This farm was originally the property of Jake S. Tschetter, now of Huron, South Dakota. During the intervening years, it was occupied at different times by various families - the Joe L. Hofers, Ira McKenneys and the W. L. Jordans. The Schieckoffs built a new house on the place and added other improvements. The Alfred Rivenes' now reside in Rapid City, South Dakota. Lewis Schmitgen and his wife, the former Dorothy Schieckoff, live on the Durrstein ranch. Although both Mr. and Mrs. Durrstein have passed on, the property belongs to their daughter, Marjorie, now Mrs. Richard Herrman of Denver, Colorado. She also owns the family residence in Onida. The Huffmans Mr. and Mrs. Jake G. Hofer live on the place originally built by Sylvester S. Huffman, who passed away in 1915 at the age of 70. Possession of the land and occupants changed several times. Roy Clark Roy Clark came to Sully in 1931 and made his home in Richvalley Township with the Jess Clark family. He served two years in the army and was married in 1946. Mr. and Mrs. Clark moved to the H. L. Huffman place in 1954. Mrs. Clark is the former Florence Gugin, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. J. F. Gugin, who held services at the South Buffalo School for several years in late thirties. Rev. Gugin passed away in 1954, in Seattle, Washington. Mrs. Gugin has been living in Danville, Illinois. The Clark farm was purchased from Ben Klingbeil by the Gugins and after Huffmans left other families living there were the Ralph Harringtons of Harrold, South Dakota, the Crawfords and John Oshels'. The Harvey Huffmans were residents here for many years and farmed extensively until they moved to Rapid City in 1946. * * * The Jake Walters Jake and Mildred Walter live on the home place belonging to her father, A. A. Haub. Mr. Haub moved here from Illinois in 1917, first settling on what is now the B. W. Yackley farm. Then after six years, moved to the present location of the Walters. Mrs. Haub and an infant daughter were laid to rest in 1926, leaving five children. At this writing, Mr. Haub is hale and hearty at 80 and lives in Sioux Falls. The Walters have lived at their present location since 1942. * * * Mike Mileusnich Farm Mike Mileusnich has resided on the Southwest of 23 since 1923. He married Martha Klingbeil, daughter of the late Julius Klingbeil of Lake Township, in 1928. Their only son, George, is married to the former Nancy Merrill and they live in Onida. * * * The B. W. Yackley Family Mr. and Mrs. B. W. Yackley were married in 1928, and for a few months thereafter lived with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Yackley, in Richvalley Township. The young couple then had their own home and lived on the original Frank Yackley place for about seven years. They then moved on the Judge Roberts place, now owned by Corydon Ludwig, and lived there until 1941, when they purchased the original McArthur homestead, Section 33. The Yackleys modernized the house and made many building improvements, and have since acquired the land adjoining them to the west which formally belonged to J. F. Klatt. Mr. Klatt lived on the west farm for many years and was widely known as a blacksmith. [photo The B. W. Yackley Family. Left to right - Lois, Helen, Bob, Jerome (Bud), Joanne (Mrs. H. M. Brownell), Richard, Patricia (Mrs. E. J. Whatley), Mr. Yackley (Ben) and Mrs. Yackley (Vi). Taken about 1947.] Ben and Vi Yackley have seven children: Patricia (Mrs. E. J. Whatley) lives in Garden Grove, California, with her husband and two children; Richard lives in Lemmon Grove, California, and has four children, two of which are twins; Joanne (Mrs. H. W. Brownell) has a daughter, Annette, and lives in Savannah, Georgia, with her family; Jerome (Bud) lives in Onida and has five children; Bob is attending State College at Brookings, and Helen and Lois are students at Onida High School. * * * The Schmitgen Farm Stanley and Edna Foth live on the Northwest of 23 which was originally her parents place, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Schmitgen who settled there about 1917. Mr. Schmitgen passed away in 1943, and his wife in 1945. Stanley, or Bill, as he is known to his friends, worked on the police force in Pierre, South Dakota, before taking over the farm in 1953. Alvin Schmitgen, a brother of Ednes, makes his home with the Foths and helps with farming operations. Tony Schmitgen has resided on the Southwest of 11 since 1919, having built up the present home. A son, David, helps with the farming. Frances Schmitgen, a niece, keeps house for her uncle and cousin. The old Beck place, on the Southwest of 24, has changed hands many times through the years, and is now owned by Hilmer Yeager. Henry Meyers, who has been here for a number of years, is located on the Southwest of 35 and owns and operates his farm. His sister, Mrs. Pat Palmer, makes her home with him. In 1925, Joe S. Hofer built up the place now owned by Clifford Lehmkuhl, a bachelor. Jake and Bonnie Unruh live on the Northwest of 17, which belongs to his father, Pete Unruh. A former owner was Jake Decker, now deceased. The O. E. McArthur family were oldtime settlers in Buffalo Township, later moving to Lake Township. Mrs. McArthur was often an "Angel of Mercy" in those early days when she cared for the sick and needy in that area, often spending days at a time taking care of those around her. The McArthur's only child, Adeline, now Mrs. G. C. Reynolds, has also contributed a great deal of her time and energy to others of the younger generation. She was a capable 4-H Club leader for many years and served as superintendent and teacher of a Sunday School held in the South Buffalo schoolhouse. During these years, Rev. Edwin F. Walter also ministered at this Sunday School. Many improvements have been made in Buffalo Township through the years. The major ones being roads and rural electrification to every home. A long- awaited for dream of telephones became a reality in the fall of 1956. Many dams and dugouts have been constructed in effective areas to hold water in pastures for watering livestock. Many of these dams have been stocked with fish and furnish pleasant recreation for fisherman. One big project was building the Durrstein Dam in the early thirties with PWA which employed approximately 200 men from that area. This project was accomplished by hand labor, using picks and shovels, and horse-powered wagons under the foremanship of Ike Huffman. Most everyone in the township owns his own home and the population remains fairly stable. The South Buffalo School was closed in the fall of 1958; however, the North Buffalo School remains open. At the present time there are four girls attending this school; namely, Barbara and Darlene Thomas, Edith Clark and Jeanie Walter. Mrs. Ralph Campbell has been the teacher since 1956. She is the former Opal Hofer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe G. Hofer, living in Fairview Township. Building of North Buffalo and South Buffalo schools was a result of a divided township which took place years ago. ago. * * * CLIFTON TOWNSHIP There are still a few of the original Clifton Township families living in Onida and surrounding area of Sully County - John Adams and his sister, Mrs. Bertha Haverly; Mrs. Janet Chamberlain and daughter, LaVonne, and the Goddards, the two Walsh brothers and their sister, Margaret, and others. Many of the first settlers moved out of the county and many out of South Dakota, such as J. C. Thompson, J. A. Terwilliger, the Prichards, the Snow family, the Botsfords, Kenneys, Meloons, the Backus family, the Petersons, Ekes, Slaters and many others. * * * The Adams Family [photo - Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Adams. Pioneers of Clifton Township.] Daniel Adams came to Sully County from Cedar County, Iowa, on May 2, 1883. Mr. Adams had visited South Dakota in the fall of 1882, and was met at Blunt by the usual number of land agents, who located him land in the southern part of Sully County which was not then on the market, but on which he made Squatter's Claim, expecting to return in time to make filing early in March, when the land came on the market. But heavy snow prevented him from returning at the appointed time, and when he did arrive in Blunt, later in March, with his car of household goods, machinery and livestock, he found someone had jumped his claim. He then filed on both Tree Claim and Pre-emption in Clifton Township. His wife could not come with him, but followed a short time later. Mr. and Mrs. Adams were married at Douney, Iowa, on March 6, 1881. Mr. Adams broke prairie with a single walking plow, and planted corn and oats. They also planted a garden the first year and raised a nice crop of vegetables. Mr. and Mrs. Adams lived in a three room house and their stable was built of sod with a hay roof. Later a more comfortable home was built and the sod barn was replaced by one of lumber. They continued to live on the farm until Mr. Adam's failing health caused them to move to Onida in 1910, where they lived in the house now occupied by the Joe Wargo family. Mr. Adams passed away in 1916. Mrs. Adams continued to live in Onida until her passing in 1947. [photo - Homestead of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Adams, Clifton Township, in 1886. Note the sod barn to the right of the house.] The Adams' had two children, Bertha and John. Bertha was born on June 4, 1884. Her first teacher was Minnie Porter, who still lives in Pasadena, California. She is an aunt of Glenn Porter of Onida. Bertha taught school in Hartford and Richvalley Townships. She married Minor J. Haverly on May 24, 1906. [photo - John Adams] John was born on December 31, 1886. He lived on the home farm until his parents moved to Onida in 1910, and continued to live there after his marriage to Estella Downing, of Peoria, Illinois, which occurred on February 18, 1911. Their daughter, Sylvia, was born March 4, 1913, while living on this farm. In 1914, they moved to Onida where John engaged in the implement and hardware business. He had taken a course in mechanics at Omaha, Nebraska, several years before. He continued in this business for many years. His wife passed away at Rochester, Minnesota, on October 26, 1937. Their daughter, Sylvia, married Floyd Schenk of Yankton, South Dakota, and they have a daughter, Janet. John served many years as a member of the city council. He is affiliated with and a past master of Onida Lodge No. 173, and served as the Grand Master's District Deputy for this District for three years. He is also a member of the Huron Chapter and Commandery and a member of Yelduz Temple, of Aberdeen. During the years John was an implement dealer, he became interested and active in the affairs of the South Dakota Retail Implement Dealer's Association, serving as president and member of the board of directors. In 1940, he was appointed secretary-manager of that association and served them for fifteen years. Eight years of that time were spent in Huron. Retiring in 1953, the Implement Association Convention in Huron voted him a life-time membership on the Advisory Board as a reward for having assisted in building it into the largest Retail Organization in the state. After John's retirement, he came back to Onida and built a home on his farm land two miles south of Onida where he now lives. Since John is one of Sully, County's original "old-timers", his memory takes him back many years, and he has numerous recollections of the old days. He remembers the famous "County Seat Quarrel" between Clifton and Onida. After Onida finally won the battle, Clifton began to dwindle away. At one time, Clifton was a fair-sized city, even having a small college one half mile east of town. The last person to leave Clifton was a harness maker by the name of J. Henry, who was also the last Postmaster in Clifton. John and his sister, Bertha, were the last ones to get mail from the Clifton Postoffice and Mr. Henry left the next day. The last building to remain at Clifton was the schoolhouse and John and his father helped move it to its present location which is five miles west of Onida and three and one half miles south. John remembers the first time he had ever seen our American Flag was the sight of it flying atop the flag pole at northwest corner of the Parade Ground at Fort Sully. He was at the Fort with his father when the Fort was abandoned and the horses and equipment sold, and again the next year when the buildings were sold. Many of the buildings from the old Fort were moved away by John's father. Several of these buildings are still serving Sully County families on their farms. John remembers the Wounded Knee Massacre and the Indian scares which were prevalent during the early days and the time that Sitting Bull sat down for the last time, and was shot. He also helped deliver the first death message of a South Dakota boy in the Spanish American War. It came to Blunt and was sent to the Adams' place by a traveler and John rode horseback to the Tom Goddard place to deliver it. He remembers that it read, "Jim Goddard died this morning. Tell his people and prepare for his reception." Mr. Adams remains active in civic and social affairs in Sully County, and since his retirement has had more time to pursue his activities as an avid sportsman. Feeding wild fowl is one of his hobbies, and his premises is a haven for pheasants and a beautiful sight to behold as the colorful birds leisurely feed and strut around as though they were the sole owners of the premises. * * * The Chamberlain Family Frank M. Chamberlain came to Sully County in 1884, took a homestead on the Southwest of Section 27, in Clifton Township, and then sent to Illinois for his wife, Fannie, and small son, Wallace. Fannie, as she was known to all her friends, was a lady of culture and refinement, and to come to the wilds of this country at that time was truly a trying situation, but being of a staunch character and strong Baptist faith, she soon became a community leader. After moving to Sully County, Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain had five more children -Luther, Jessie, Henry, Clarence and Florence, who all grew to man and womenhood in this county. Being a firm believer in education, Mrs. Chamberlain saw to it that each child received some college education. During the season of 1902, Mr. Chamberlain raised, harvested and threshed 1500 bushels of No. 1 wheat, 200 bushels of macaroni wheat, 800 bushels of oats, 600 bushels of barley and 100 bushels of broome grass seed, worth at least $3.00 a bushel. He also raised 200 bushels of potatoes, 10 acres of corn and 40 acres millet, besides putting up a large quantity of hay for wintering his stock. Mr. Chamberlain was one of the hard working farmers of the county and the above is an example of what could be produced in Sully County on the best cheap land on the market. Of this pioneer family, the father, mother, sons Wallace and Luther, and daughter Jessie have passed away and all are buried in the Onida Cemetery. Henry lives on a cattle ranch near Pierre, and Clarence and Florence moved to California during the 1930 depression and still reside in Los Angeles. Henry Chamberlain and his wife, Ona Nelson, had two daughters and a son. Frances, the older daughter, married Boyd Bloom and they live in Pierre. Harriet married Will Brown and they run the Ben Franklin store in Pierre. Kenneth lives with his parents on the ranch out of Pierre. [photos - Mr. and Mrs. Frank M. Chamberlain. Pioneers of Clifton Township.] Jessie Chamberlain grew to womanhood and homesteaded on the land now known as the George Becker farm. She was a school teacher for a number of years. She married Walter Hunsley and they had three sons-Maurice, who was drowned in the Missouri River, Clement, of Fort Pierre, and Lyle, who married Annis Alleman, of Pierre. Luther Chamberlain was married to Janet Robinson and they had one daughter, LaVonne. Janet is Sully County Treasurer and LaVonne is employed in the ASC office. They live in Onida where they recently built a new home. * * * The Goddards Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Goddard were born and raised in Sully County, married and raised seven children-Frank, Theoma, Guy, Worth, Delmar, Claire and Roberta. The first four of the children attended 12 years of school in Sully County. Four of the five boys served in World War II. In 1917, Mr. and Mrs. Goddard made a down payment on a grass quarter of land, the Southeast of 33-114-78, in Clifton Township. Mr. Goddard dug a well and built a house the summer of 1918, and that is when the family moved into Clifton Township. Although retired, they still live there. Mr. Goddard has been a commissioner of Sully County for 20 years. Frank and Delmar Goddard formed a partnership in 1946, and built a house and other buildings on the Northeast of 33, and it was here that Mr. and Mrs. Delmar Goddard began their married life. Mrs. Goddard is the former Roxanna Heuer, who was born and raised in Sully County and attended 12 years of school here. The Goddards have seven children -Vaughn, Arletta, Cecelia, Rhea, Don, Robert and Roberta. Mrs. Goddard's father, Henry Heuer, is now living in a trailer house in their yard. Mr. Heuer is an old timer in Sully County coming here "in 1904. He built several houses in Onida and vicinity, and then in 1913, he discontinued the carpenter trade and started farming. He retired at the age of 82 and moved to his daughter's place. Frank (Bud) Goddard was married in 1949. He and his wife built up a place across the road from the Delmar Goddard farm. Mr. and Mrs. Bud Goddard have two sons, Joe and Lee. * * * There are fourteen pupils attending the Clifton School at the present time representing seven families - Delmar Ripleys, Lyle Hunsleys, Lyle Eberts, Wilson Evans', Arlen Kilpatricks, Delmar Goddards and Frank Goddards. Mr. and Mrs. Delmar Ripley have five children - Douglas, Darwin, Thomas, Barny and Merlin. Mrs. Ripley is the former Deloris Weischedel. She was born and raised in Sully County and received her 12 years of schooling in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Hunsley have one son, Larry. Lyle was born in Hughes County, but has lived most of his life in Sully County. His wife is the former Annis Alleman. Lyle's father, Walter Hunsley, is one of Sully County's old timers and at present is making his home on his son's farm, having a house in their yard. Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Ebert are living on the old Wallace Chamberlain place. They have two daughters, Nancy and Carol. Mrs. Ebert is the former Beverly Spaid. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Evans moved to Sully County in 1951, from Texas, and purchased the George Becker farm. They have four children - W. H., Larry, Brian and Crista. Mrs. Evans taught the Clifton School for three years. Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Kilpatrick and family live on the former Luther Chamberlain farm. After Mr. Chamberlain's death, the farm was sold to Lester Spaid who later sold it to the Kilpatricks. They have three children, but Linda is the only one home. Louis Spaid came to Sully County in 1935, and purchased a farm from the Federal Land Bank. Improvements on the farm include two quonsets, two wooden granaries, a new hog house, nine steel bins, several other new buildings and a modernized house. Mr. and Mrs. Spaid had three children - Beverly, Virginia and John. Mrs. Spaid passed away in 1954. Virginia and John now make home with their father. Mr. Spaid is one of Sully County's largest wheat farmers. [photo = Louis Spaid, (left) shown with Lester Spaid in one of the quonsets full of wheat in 1948.] Mr. and Mrs. Phil Seaman are Clifton's dairy farmers, having a dairy herd of 175 head. The Seamans have six children-Edward, Millard, Maynard, Richard, Leonard and Claribel. Richard is in partnership with his father and with the help of a hired man, they farm and milk an average of 75 cows daily. Richard married the former Rosella Pollman, who spent all of her school years in Sully County. They have three children - Barbara, Betty and Bradford. Mr. and Mrs. Ted Baker came to Clifton Township in September of 1951. They came from Lubbock, Texas, where Mr. Baker was employed by the Santa Fe Railroad and Mrs. Baker worked for the Federal government. The Bakers purchased the land known as the Thomas Wolf place which consists of 2390 acres of land and operate the place as a ranch. They have one son, who, at the time they came to Sully County, was entering Medical School at the University of Texas in its branch at Dallas, from which he received his M.D. He is now in the Armed Services located in Augsburg, Germany. * * * J. C. Thompson, one of the first settlers in Clifton Township in 1883, wrote from Honolulu on March 7, 1902, that after much traveling, if he were 20 years younger, he would return to South Dakota and engage in the stock business on the Missouri River. Mr. Thompson was one of many who became discouraged in the early days and started out to seek a location where there was more comfort and money came easier than here in Sully County. * * * Henry Chamberlain, John Adams and his sister, Mrs. Bertha Haverly, are the only living old-timers born in Clifton Township of early-day families. * * * CORA TOWNSHIP The first settlement in Cora Township was made in August, 1883, by James A. Stone, on what is now known as Stone Lake. Mr. Stone came to Cora Township primarily for the purpose of putting up hay for sale the coming spring. He was so well pleased with the location that he entered a homestead claim. Minnie L. Corwith, who became the wife of James Stone, Pamela A. Stone and others entered claims on which they came to live in the spring of 1884. John I. Campbell, Charles Bailey, Philip Walters and S. Green arrived in Cora Township on November 7, 1883, and November 9, the land was open for en[tering on] that date, tree claims were entered in every section of the township. Mrs. Campbell was the first woman in the township, arriving there in December, 1883. She passed the winter without female companionship, in company with her husband and little son, Claude. There were others arriving and experiencing many hardships during the coldest part of the winter of 1883. Some of them being William Reed, Moses Young, Anter Eder, W. 1. Carver, William Roeckel, Ed Hackett and S. L. Dean. With the spring came N. W. Porter and family, Louis Soper and brother, Chancy Haven, Chauncy Ferguson, John Seaman, Schofield Jeffrey, Daniel Schult, and Mary Warner. Also the Blizzard outfit, consisting of C. N. Van Hosen, Byron Gill, A. L. Wood and Mr. Dowell. They established their offices on the line between Potter and Sully counties. George B. Thomas came to Sully County in the winter and selected land in Potter County, but later took a homestead in Clifton Township. His ideas of this country were well expressed in one of his letters: "When I left Wisconsin to settle in Sully County, I imagined buffalo roaming over the prairies. Indians in their war paint, cowboys and desperadoes, driving everything before their unerring aim. But to my surprise I found men and women settling in Sully County just like myself. Industrious, intelligent, hard-working, peace-loving citizens, perfectly honest, and with a great capacity to manfully fill the best-paying office in the whole county." The first white child born in the township was a girl, Cora, born to Mr. and Mrs. John Lawrence, on May 5, 1884, and when the township was organized, it was named in her honor. Other residents at this time included Morton F. Howard, Sam Leighty and family; Millie Beach and brother; George and Henry Rood; George Travess and family; Wilson McConnell and family; John Hardman and family; Ted Godden; Frank Welch; Harry Bollinger; Ted Dakin and family; Joseph and John Wilding. Robert Bown and family were also early settlers. James and Joe Bown are still there. J. W. Millar came at the time when Porter, Thomas and Walters came, in 1883. Millar married Lizzie Kline and now has one of the best modern homes in the county. They have raised a family of six boys and six girls and still live on the claim where he and his six oxen went to work in 1883. [photo - Early home of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Millar, in Cora Township, with five of their children.] [Photo - Mr. and Mrs. James Rown and son Robert, in 1908.] The first school was held in a 10x10 shack and was taught by Millie Beach, in 1887, at $20.00 per month. She had eight pupils. That season a schoolhouse was purchased from Norfolk Township and was used until 1916 when it burned. Two new schoolhouses opened in September, 1922, with about 15 pupils at each school. Miss Clara Herr taught the West School, and E. B. Green, the East School. Of all the early settlers in Cora Township, two are still living on their same farms, Mrs. Lizzie Millar and Mrs. Clara Bown. [photo - Edna Kreuger and Great Grandma Bown in 1907. Edna, who lived in Waukesha, Wisconsin, had taught school in the Cora area, and was visiting Mrs. Bown when this picture was taken.] Mrs. Millar has lived on this same place for sixty five years. Her husband, J. W. Millar, passed away in 1944. Her son, Jesse Millar, now owns and operates the farm. A daughter, Joyce, lives with her mother and brother. Mrs. Millar has lived in three different houses; the present one being a fine modern home. She will be eighty-two years old on June 19, 1959. She is the mother of twelve children all born at home, of which ten are living. Most of her children and grandchildren live close enough to enjoy frequent visits at the old home. Mrs. Clara Bown also lives on the same farm that was her first home fifty- two years ago. Her husband, the late James Bown, passed away in 1947. She is the mother of eight sons. A very interesting fact is that six of them chose to make their homes in Cora Township. James, unmarried, lives with his mother; Verne and family reside in the same yard; Kenneth, Fred, Sidney and Marion, with their families, have fine farms surrounding the old home place; Robert and his family live a quarter of a mile into Hyde county, and John lives in Agar. Mrs. Bown was born in Gettysburg, March 19, 1889, the daughter of Joseph Wilding, one of the earliest pioneers of Cora Township, where she grew up, and taught one of the first schools in the township. The Bown brothers have grain and livestock farms. They all raise Hereford cattle. [photo - Lucy Bown feeding pet lambs, about 1908.] [photo - James and Joe Bown and John Travess shearing sheep, about 1906.] Arthur Mielke has lived on the Northeast of Four since 1933. He lived just two miles north in Potter County for fourteen years prior to moving to his present location. He owns a fine herd of Black Angus cattle which is an attractive sight when strung out in a grazing line. Mr. and Mrs. Lauren Bloodgood live on the Southwest of One. They moved to Cora Township from Cavour, South Dakota, in 1924. Their son, Stanley, and his family live a quarter of a mile south. He and his father farm together and have a herd of two hundred registered Black Angus cattle. Probably the only adobe house in the county is occupied by the Stanley Bloodgoods. George Walforth moved to Cora Township from Onida in 1939. He is located on the Southwest of 19. His wife is the former Edna Shoup, daughter of the late Ernest and Anna Shoup, pioneers of Riclivalley Township. They have four sons and two daughters. George is engaged in farming and livestock raising. The Willie Fischers have lived in Cora Township since 1939. They have three sons. Chris lives in Cora Township, on the Alf Hayes farm which he purchased in 1953. His wife is the former Anna Scott, whom he met and married in England, while serving in World War H. They have two daughters. Chris and his father have a large herd of cattle. [photo - Hauling hay on the Lyle Nelson ranch in 1956.] Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Nelson moved into Cora Township from Morton where they had lived for five years, after leaving Onida, in 1940. They purchased the McCamly farm, one of the oldest in the township. Three generations of the McCamly family had lived there for over fifty years. Mr. Nelson feeds livestock and the principal grain raised has been corn. J. C. Bieber, of Gettysburg, owns the Northeast of 28. He bought this ranch in 1937, which is known as the George Dudley place. His son, Jerry and family, live there. Mr. Bieber and Jerry keep four hundred registered Hereford cattle. Alvin Heier, a son-in-law of J. C. Bieber, lives in Cora Township on the former Chris Kock place. He also raises registered Hereford cattle. Mrs. Heier taught the East Cora school for several years. [photo - Sam Travess, playing the banjo, and Dave McCamly, playing the violin. Taken the summer of 1913, where the Kasper postoffice was located.] Cora Township, along with Sully County, has enjoyed twenty years of prosperity which one can see as he drives through the township. All the farm homes are enjoying rural electrification and nearly every home is completely modern. Many new buildings have been added to the farms for garages, machine shops and grain storage. The township roads are all good grades, and for the most part are gravel. It has daily mail service from Onida with W. L. Jordan as mail carrier. Stone Lake is completely dry, for the first time, in twenty years and the clouds of alkali dust blowing from there on a windy day resemble a huge prairie fire. ELK TOWNSHIP Elk Township was settled in the early spring of 1883, and because the township to the north was not open for filing, Elk ,was settled very rapidly. Although many newcomers homesteaded in that area, a good share of them returned to their homes back East because of the many hardships and lack of schools. Some of those early settlers were Mr. and Mrs. Ed Smith, who homesteaded on the Northwest of Two. They built a small house where three children were born. The family moved back to Wisconsin about 1890, where there were better advantages and schools for the children. Milton Smith also took a homestead in the early spring of 1883, and built a sod shanty. His mother, Mrs. Ellen Smith, a brother Grant, and a sister Sarah came in the spring of 1884. They purchased farm implements and horses with the intention of making their home on the prairie. They all worked hard, cradling the grain and mowing the hay with a scythe to feed the stock. Mrs. Smith passed away the following year which broke up the home. Grant and Sarah found a home elsewhere, and Milton later married Maggie Mackie, who had proved up on a redemption during the summer of 1883. Miss Mackie's shack stood on a high ridge of land and was used as a land mark for travelers. She taught in the first school. Milton and Maggie built a large house on the Northwest of 10 where a son was born to them. Sickness and hard times caused them to move away and leave their home. George Walker and his son G. Frank were among those early settlers, filing on homesteads in March of 1883. The family joined them that fall and they settled on Section 11 where they built a large house. Many hardships were encountered besides hauling water for 20 years for the home. Later an artesian well was put down which supplied the house and yard with running water. A second son, Charles W., took charge of the farm in later years. G. Frank held several offices in the township and in Sully County. He married Ida Shepherd, of Onida. A son, C. Marion, was born to them. Following the death of G. Frank in March of 1904, his brother, Charles W., married his widow and to them a son, Francis E., was born. They lived on the ranch until 1919, when they moved to Highmore, South Dakota, where the boys could attend high school. Florence Walker was a teacher for many years and in 1909, married A. E. VanCamp, of Highmore. George Walker lived to be 80 years old and passed away in 1910, at the home of his daughter. Byron Taylor and his bride homesteaded on the Northwest of Two in 1884, where two children were born. When they reached school age, the family moved back to Illinois. Ephriam Schultz and his family was another one of the early settlers. They homesteaded on the Northwest of Nine. The youngest daughter, Emma, married Nels Johnson and moved out of the township. John Hanson, son-in-law of Mr. Schultz, lived on the Southwest of Nine, but they finally moved back to Chicago. Others coming here in the early years, but leaving for other locations, were August and Ed Byers, Henry Thiel, Fritz Meine, Peter Nauman, George Chadwick, George Howard, Anton Max, Frank Niehaus, Frank Dollenback, Lauritz Udby, August Burghardi, W. Porter, Nels Hanson and others. Two schoolhouses were built in the spring of 1885, one in the east part of the township and the other in the west, and during the years were moved several times for the convenience of the pupils. The east schoolhouse was taught by Sadie Marso, Georgia Summerside, Florence Walker and Miss Hannagan. Some of the teachers at the west school called the Marso School, included Maggie Mackie, Laura Grass, Viola Howard, Miss Glessner, Mrs. Ross, Gus Howard, Hal Hoover and a Mr. Graham. Sunday School was held at the Marso School during the summer months for several years. Not all of those pioneering people with a zest for living left for "greener pastures." The Garrett family, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Garrett and three daughters; Mrs. Garrett's mother, Grandma Oakes, and Mr. and Mrs. Dick Garrett, were one of the earlier families to settle in Elk Township. They acquired eight quarter sections of land and two homestead rights. This large acreage was sold to Mr. and Mrs. B. B. Wells for $5.00 per acre, a total of $30,000.00, in the fall of 1901. The John Marso family were also one of the early families to make their home here. Miss Mary Marso later became Mrs. Jim O'Donnell. [photos - Mr. and Mrs. George Beckett. Pioneers of Elk Township.] George and Ira Beckett came to South Dakota early in December, 1901 to file on homesteads. The George Becketts were on the Southeast of 31 and Ira and his wife, Agnes, had the one two miles west. George and Erma Beckett sold their homestead to her aunt, who had land close by, and then purchased the Southwest of 19 where they built their home. The Becketts moved into their new home in January, 1908. Their children, Verna and Roy, were five and three years old, respectively, at that time. Verna Beckett was married to George Salathe on March 27, 1920, and moved into their new home, across the road west of the Beckett place, in the fall of 1920. They have two sons and three daughters. Harold is married to Marie Bloom, and they have a daughter, Valerie Kay. Jerauld is married to Marlys Morford and works with his father on the ranch. Dorothy married George Winckler, of Harrold; Shirley is married to Victor Auch, and Delores is married to Elmer Mehrer. Roy Beckett and Anna Salathe were married in October, 1926, at a double wedding ceremony, at which time Jess Salathe and Irene Shoup, of Onida, were also married. Roy and Anna have six children; Hazel, who is married to Paul Mueller; Delmar, who is stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Ronald and Donald, who are attending Harrold High School; Charlotte, who is married to Nick Meyer, and Viola, who is married to Gordon Magness. When Mr. and Mrs. B. B. Wells moved into their new home in 1920, the old house was remodeled for the Southeast Sully Club meetings. They formed a baseball team which included Fred and Joe Galinat, Enos Thorn, Clarence and Ed Metz, Bill Peterson, Roy Beckett and Lewis Wells. The team was called "S.E.S." (South East Sully). One Sunday, when they were playing in the rain, some one asked, "What does S.E.S. mean?" and Roy Beckett answered, "Soaked Every Sunday." Mr. and Mrs. P. H. Peterson and family moved here in the spring of 1910 from Newark, Illinois, and settled on the Frank Allen farm. That fall, their sons, Wilbur and Irving, started school, the only pupils attending, and by spring there were 26 pupils in attendance. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Miller moved to North Elk Township in the spring of 1917, from Lake County, South Dakota. They settled on the Joe Marso place. The Millers had six children. In 1928, the family moved to South Elk Township where Paul passed away in 1930. His sons, Charles and John, then took over the farming operations. In 1931, Charles moved about a half mile north to the Joe Freeland place which he purchased and has made a home for his mother, Anna Miller. Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Bayne settled on the old Nick Marso farm in May 1919. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ogle moved on the southeast part of Elk Township the spring of 1919, with two of their children. Later the other three children came to make their home there. Mrs. Ogle passed away in 1948. Mr. Ogle is retired now and makes his home with his youngest son Lowell, who lives on the home place with his wife, the former Kathryn Schmitgen and their six sons. Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Barnes settled on a place three and a half miles northeast of Harrold in 1923, and later moved into their own home five miles northeast of Harrold. The Barnes' have six children, five of which are married. In 1956, moved to Highmore and sold their home place to their son, Marvin. Rollin, who married Virginia Wakefield in 1948, moved on what was known as the Klebe place, owned by his father. In 1951, Rollin and Virginia purchased the place from Mr. Barnes. Herman and Alvina Gluhm came to Sully County in 1925, from Miner County, and settled on a farm seven miles northeast of Harrold in Elk Township. They lived there for 30 years and then retired, moving to Huron, South Dakota. Their son, Wilbur, is now on the farm. The Ed Misterek family moved to Elk Township in 1925, and built up the farm which they now own and live on. Mr. and Mrs. William Hoffman moved to North Elk Township from Parkston, South Dakota, in 1926, and built up a nice farm. Mrs. Hoffman has since passed away, and Mr. Hoffman continues to live on the home place. The Hoffmans had three children. Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Hoffman moved to South Elk Township in the spring of 1931, the former Hanson Brothers place. Their daughter is married to Enos Thorn and they settled on the former Joe Hall place in 1933, later moving the buildings to a mile northwest to a better location. The August Bauer family settled on the Northeast of 31 in the fall of 1943, moving there from Hughes County. This place was originally the Hunt place, later belonging to Gregory Weber, who sold it to Bauer. The Bauers have remodeled the house, built a large barn, a new chicken house and added a new steel granary. For many years, before the advent of modern plumbing, the flowing artesian well provided a "ready made" shower, and during the summer months one could see cars coming from all directions with people wishing to take advantage of the little shower house on the Bauer farm. The Hulan Barbee family, originally from Quanah, Texas, now live on the place formerly known as the Andrew Markisen farm. The Markisens are now living on the Allen farm. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Pietz, who moved here from Newton, Kansas, purchased the farm formerly occupied by Gus Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Ebert moved to the former Charles Walker place in northeast Elk Township in the fall of 1958, which was recently vacated by the Roland Rivenes family. FAIRBANK TOWNSHIP The spring of 1883, saw numerous young pioneers from the East heading towards the unsettled parts of Dakota Territory in search of new land and independence. George H. Dunkle, a young man of 22, and his brother, Miles, 24, were among the first to file on pre-emptions in Fairbank Township early in May, 1883. George filed on the Southwest of 21, now owned by Gilbert Smith. The Dunkle brothers came here from Pennsylvania, being decendants of a pioneer family settling there in 1730. The two brothers worked at many jobs, such as driving a stagecoach, cattle raising, working in a general store and operating a ferry boat across the Missouri River. On one of his many trips to Fort Sully, where he delivered milk, George gave the late Mayor LaGuardia, of New York City, then a small boy at the Fort, a ride, along with several other small boys, to the top of a hill near the Fort in his milk ranch wagon, and then sent them back home. The Dunkle brothers returned to their home state in the 1890's. George passed away on December 24, 1955, at the age of 95. Another early settler was the Cavanaugh family who proved up the land on section five. A son, Ralph C., became president of the Missouri River Townsite Company. Miss Louise Cavanaugh was married to Tom Tolton in 1889, by the Rev. J. M. French, and later they moved to Fort Bennett. [photo - Richard Cavanaugh and David Nichol. Pioneers of Fairbank Township.] David C. Nichol was another pioneer and one of the early postmasters at Fairbank, a little town that boomed during 1884, but soon after disintegrated. Miss Agnes Nichol fell heir to a large legacy in Scotland in the early fall of 1888. The W. J. Johnston place was sold in November, 1903, to Joe Pitlick, of Iowa, who, with his three sons, Paul, Ed and Joe, Jr., made extensive improvements. They planted several rows of walnut trees around the house, which was unique. Mr. Pitlick purchased a steam plow to sink an artesian well in the spring of 1904. He left his three sons to take over and they settled just across the line in Grandview Township. The Pitlick place has been occupied by the Hughes family. Two schoolhouses were ready for use in the fall of 1884, and the school located in Lower Fairbank was taught by Miss Nottie Carley. H. C. Paull and Miss Carrie Arnold were also early-day teachers in the district. Other pioneer families settling in this township included the Nystroms (Miss Louisa Nystrom had a barn erected on her farm, 100 feet long, with a solid stone basement, costing about $1600.), the Spencers; B. P. Hoovers; the Johnson brothers; the Chris Rodenburgs; James A. Howardson, Sr., and Jr.; Charles Nelson, who sold his land in January of 1904 and departeq for Sweden, after living alone on his farm for more than 20 years; the Holset family, and many others. The Rev. Dr. Thalbert, of Norway, Sweden, located in Fairbank Township in February of 1886.