Full Text of "75 Years of Sully County History, 1883 - 1958", pages 351- 371. 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. * * * PEARL TOWNSHIP Pearl Township was opened for settlement in the spring of 1883, and many settlers came to file claims on homesteads. Frank Koch, who came to Sully County in the summer of 1883, with his son and daughter, homesteaded on a large tract of land in Pearl Township. He established a fruit farm and nursery in 1886, and had growing and under good cultivation nearly five acres of fruits of various varieties; three acres of strawberries, 100 apple trees and 1500 apple grafts, 50 plum trees, 500 grape, 1000 raspberry, 600 tame blackberry and 200 currant and gooseberry roots. His son-in-law, M. C. Kelly, was in partnership with him. Jonas Olson Tree Claim [photo - Jonas Olson Homestead, 1900. On his Tree Claim. Mr. and Mrs. Olson and son in front of the house.] Another early settler was Jonas Olson, who came to Dakota Territory in 1883. He worked for a short time in Blunt and then sent for his wife and three children. He then filed on a homestead and tree claim in Pearl Township. Jonas and his wife, Mary, moved on the tree claim. Mary stayed alone on the farm while Jonas worked on the railroad in Blunt. Some week ends he would walk home. Their son, Hollie, went off to war in 1918, along with other young people of the township. [photo - Six Pearl Township Young Men, 1918. Just before they left for army service. Left to right - Holly Olson, Fred Weischedel, Charles Weischedel, Bob Serbousek and Dan Weischedel.] * * * The Wilcox Family The original Wilcox family came to the United States about 1883, from Ireland. They first located in what is now Troy Township, but soon after John Wilcox and his brother, Johnston, homesteaded in Pearl Township. They formed a partnership on their homestead which lasted until they passed away; Johnston, in 1940, and John, the following year. Another brother, William, lived in Troy Township. Johnston Wilcox remained a bachelor all his life and lived in a sod shanty. John lived in a wooden shack which was across the road from his brother's. John, married Nora Rager, who came here with her parents from Pennsylvania about 1884. John and Nora had two children, Clayton, who lives on the old homestead, and Margaret, who now lives in Salem, Oregon. Mrs. Nora Wilcox passed away at Salem in 1953. Clayton married Gladys Ripley in 1928, and to this union three children were born, Larry, who farms with his dad; Judy, who is working in Pierre, and Mrs. Dwight Peters, who also lives in Pierre. * * * The Daniel McGuire Family Early in the spring of 1884, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel McGuire, Sr., and five children, Daniel, Jr., Nelson, Emma (Mrs. Jake Weischedel), Belinda (Mrs. George Rozer), and Harriet (Mrs. John Lowery) arrived in Blunt, coming from Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Daniel, Jr.'s wife, the former Matilda Houston, whom he had married in Dakota Territory, also came with the family. She was the only member of her family to ever come West. She used to relate how she spent her honeymoon following her husband up and down the furrows behind a walking plow, drawn by one horse and an oxen. The Sully County prairie was a lonesome place for a city girl, but as her family came, time on her hands was an unknown factor in her life. Daniel McGuire made a success of farming and ranching in the new country and was also a pioneer in establishing missionary churches and Sunday Schools, and worked with untiring efforts to further education in the new and growing community. He passed away in 1909, from a throat infection, and was laid to rest in the Okobojo Cemetery, along with many of his pioneer friends and relatives. [photos - Mr. and Mrs. Daniel McGuire. Pioneer Settlers of Pearl Township.] Mrs. McGuire was left with ten of her 12 children, George and William having passed away in infancy. There are now six of the children living, Margaret (Mrs. Arthur Tagg of Highmore), Miss Hattie McGuire, of Onida, Alice (Mrs. W. J. Asmussen of Agar), Joseph of Onida, Ted and John, in Oregon, Lena (Mrs. Leonard Haverly) and Jennie (Mrs. Arthur Rinearson). Martin and Harry have passed away. Soon after her husband's death, Mrs. McGuire sold the farm and livestock and moved to Onida, where she made her home until her death in 1936 at the age of 79. The homestead is now owned and farmed by Harold Sloan. Words of praise go to the Daniel McGuire family in honor of "Grandma McGuire", as she was so well known to many. Her friends and relatives soon recognized the nursing ability of this courageous woman, who acted as nurse and midwife to the people of Sully County. Her many deeds of kindness will be remembered by many in times of sickness, childbirth and the darker hours of death in the homes. Many hundreds of mothers and babies were given care, as were older people, and several orphaned children were given a home in time of need. The tender sympathy was born in her heart, and made her a mother and friend to be cherished and remembered and a heritage to be thankful for. There are 17 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren and 11 great great grandchildren. * * * It was reported that Henry Esselbrugge was one of the heaviest taxpayers in Sully County, contributing annually nearly $500.00 to the county treasurer. He was the owner of an extensive ranch in Pearl Township. His ranch is now owned by Kent MeSpadden, of Texas. * * * The Weischedel Family [photo - J. G. Weischedel, 1881. Pioneer of Pearl Township.] [photo - George Weischedel Homestead, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Weischedel in their flower garden.] Charlie, Jake (J. G.) and George Weischedel came to Sully County in 1883, and settled on homesteads in Pearl Township. At first they lived in a dugout. Charlie traded his claim for a bicycle, but the other two kept claims. Jake and George homesteaded on adjoining quarters and built a house on the joining line where they both lived. Jake Weischedel married Emma McGuire and they lived in a dugout for a time. He was the country blacksmith and carpenter by trade. In later years, they bought lumber from Old Fort Sully and built a house which is now occupied by their son, Howard, who purchased the home place in 1946. The farm has been in the family for 76 years. Charles lives on the place in a house of his own. Jake and Emma Weischedel has 12 children. Frank married Gertie Buck and they had four children. Gertie passed away when the children were small and in later years, Frank married Nellie Taylor and there were five more children. Fannie married Alex Brehe and seven children were born to them. Dan and Charlie never married, but gave their time in the service to their country. Fred married Mary Mikkelsen and they had seven children. They own and farm the Henry Evensmyre homestead. Stella married Gus Brehe and lived in Farmington Township. Minnie married Clarence Curried and four children were born to them. Howard married Olive West and they have two children. Molly, a twin sister to Howard, married Emil Flood and they had five girls. Bill married Lizzie Mikkelsen and they had four children. Ralph married Maggie Wilcox and they have one child. Ruth, a twin sister to Ralph, married Wesley Basil and two daughters were born to them. The George F. Weischedel homestead is also owned by Howard, there being no buildings left. The land is used for pasturing. Both Mr. and Mrs. Jake Weischel passed away; Emma, In 1931, and Jake in 1945, at the age of 84. Three of their daughters and three sons have also passed on, leaving two sons, still living about one and a half miles from the old homestead. [photo - J. G. Weischedel, 1940. Displaying canes and violins which he made.] Fred Weischedel's son, Jake, resides on the old Ed Dexheimer place where the township well was put down in 1900. Bill Weischedel owns the Emmanuel Leonard place and he lives on what used to be the Gus Petterson farm. * * * Perry Swenson Homestead An early day landmark of Pearl Township was the Perry Swenson stock and grain farm, homesteaded in 1887. Traces of the old stage coach road between Pierre and points north are still to be found bordering the east edge of the original homestead quarter now occupied by his son, Clinton, wife and two sons. The farm has now been in the family for 72 years. Perry lived in a dugout the first years and, upon abandonment and dismantling of Fort Sully, he hauled building materials from the fort and erected a frame home, ably assisted by Fred Ramshall, another early day settler and Swedish immigrant. Perry's closest neighbor was Fred Nystrom, who lived in another dugout about half a mile north. Around 1900, Perry married Carrie Orsborne, of Potter County. Of the four children in the family, the three daughters became schoolteachers. Elsie, of Bakersfield, California, and Anna Dunkelberger, of Page, Nebraska, are still teaching. Jennie Samuelson married a rancher from Stanley County and they now live in Fort Pierre. Perry's love for growing things became evident after many trips to the river with team and wagon to bring back trees and shrubs for transplanting, until his farmstead was one of the show places of the county. Two cedar trees of the original planting still stand. Drought of the thirties killed most of the trees, and since that time Clinton has replanted many more. Perry passed away in 1935 and his wife, Carrie, in 1933. * * * The Serbousek Family Joseph Serbousek and wife, Thresa, an immigrant from Czechoslovakia, settled in Pearl Township in 1906, coming here from Iowa. They purchased land from Schlitzoch & Nelson Realators, and erected a set of farm buildings including an all oak granary. Their two oldest sons, Joe, Jr., and Bill (William A.) lived there the first winter in a 10x14 foot shack before the house was built. Joe remembers it was like living in a barn, and early that spring, he recalls meeting his parents and brothers and sisters in Pierre and driving them home in a triple box wagon through a blinding snowstorm. There were 15 children in the family. Frank, of Onida; Tillie Pitlick, of Pierre; Joe, Bill and Lumer, of Pierre; Josie Novy, of Flandreau, South Dakota; Otto, of California; Emil, an army man in Kentucky; and Henry, George, Leonard and Robert, all deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Serbousek retired in 1929, and moved to Onida. Both have passed away. Frank lived in a header box, covered with canvas, while building their first home. In 1909, Joe married Ella Pitlick, who came to Sully County in 1905. They settled on the Southeast of 29 where they built up a fine set of farm buildings and where they still make their home. Three children were born to them; Lawrence, who passed away while still a young man; Eva Marie (Mrs. Sig Severson), of Onida, and Charles, who lives on the home place and assists his father with the farm and ranch operations. Ella recalls boarding 20 different teachers in her life time, beginning while living in a two-room shack. She also cared for Fred Ramshall, an old Swedish bachelor, for three years before his death. Bill (William A.) Serbousek lived with his parents until 1914, when he married Elizabeth Pashaw, of Highmore, South Dakota. They lived in Hartford Township for four years and then moved back to his father's farm when his parents decided to retire. Bill and his family lived in Pearl Township for five years and then purchased their own land in Fairbank Town' ship in Section 24, known as the Pete Clarken place. Four children were born to Bill and Elizabeth. Agnes, is married to William J. Dalerden and lives in Owatonna, Minnesota; Bernice, married Elmer Lambrecht and lives in New Prague, Minnesota; Catherine, married Lowell West in 1948, and lives on the Jens Jensen farm in Pearl Township, and William E., who married Ruth Weiss, of Pierre, in 1949, lives on the old Joseph Serbousek homestead. [photo - William A. Serbousek Family, 1940.] The William A. Serbouseks made many improvements on their ranch and since 1952, have enjoyed electrical power from REA, and more recently have installed a telephone. [photo - Pearl School, 1900. Back row, left to right - Maggie Tagg, Stella Brehe, Frank Weischiedel, Martin McGuire, Charles and Dan Weischedel. Front row - Hattie McGuire, Gertrude Buck, Jenney McGuire, Minnie Weischedel, Lena McGuire, Edith Blackmore, teacher, with Joe McGuire on her lap, Bessie Buck, Fred Weischedel and John McGuire. Sitting Harry McGuire and Howard Weischedel.] * * * The J. A. Buck homestead is now owned by Mrs. John Neuman. Her father, Chester Bramblette, a settler of 1924, gave the farm to her at the time of his death. The Adele Nelson place, which at one time was rented by Emil Flood, is now owned by John Day, of Onida. The W. L. Blundin homestead is now owned by Lowell West, a son of Fred West. He came to Grandview Township in 1912. The farm has been improved with new buildings and a seven room house. At one time Pearl Township had three schoolhouses, but at present there is only one. Miss Maxine McGruder has been the teacher for the past three years. Those on the schoolboard are Mrs. Clinton Swenson, Charles Serbousek and Lowell West. Roads have been improved throughout the township and in 1952, the Central Electric Cooperative Association installed lines through the township which gave everyone all the electricity they wanted. And in 1956, the old telephone line that came from Okobojo was torn down and a new line put up, coming from Onida. It is called Sully-Buttes Telephone Cooperative, Inc., with headquarters at Highmore, South Dakota. Pearl Township was disorganized in March, 1958, the last township in Sully County to disband under the old system. Those who were on the township board for many years were Charles Weischedel, Clayton Wilcox, Bill Weischedel, Charles Serbousek and Clinton Swenson. * * * PLEASANT TOWNSHIP The first settlement made in Pleasant Township was in the spring of 1883, when T. O. Keeland erected the first buildings. However, most of the first settlers arrived in 1884. Some of the early pioneers were Mrs. F. B. Snell, O. T. Strand, Jacob Seward, W. S. Haynes, Frank Aldrich, J. A. French and others. The first schoolhouse was built in 1885, with Miss Sarah Seward as one of the first teachers. This schoolhouse was vacant for a number of years until it was needed for the Snell children. The Pleasant School was open in 1937, when Vernie Montieth was the teacher. [photo - Vernie Montieth. Teacher at Pleasant School, 1937.] George Fanger came to South Dakota with his parents when a small boy and the family settled near Wolsey. When George became a young man, he and a brother, Walter, farmed near Holabird, South Dakota. Walter married in 1928, and the following year he and his wife and George moved to Sully County and settled on what was known as the E. J. Quirk place. The two brothers were in partnership. In 1930, George married Josephine Burger, daughter of homesteaders south of Harrold, South Dakota. They moved to the Tom Strand farm in Pleasant Township and it was then that the two brothers dissolved partnership. George and Josephine had five children. [photo - A Social Group of Ladies. Back row, left to right - Mrs. McGinnis, Mrs. Emery Hinkle, Mrs. C. C. Bayne, Mrs. Leo Hayes, Mrs. Art Lehrkamp, Mrs. Ann Duncan, Mrs. C. C. Bayne. Front row - Mrs. Walter Fanger, Bernice Lemon, Mrs. Hansen, Mrs. George Fanger and Lida Jones.] On July 14, 1938, the George Fanger house burned and in the spring of the following year, they moved to the Lawrence Osterkamp farm in Lincoln Township. They purchased the farm in 1943. Their oldest son, Joseph, is married and has three boys and farms in Sully County. The three Fanger daughters are married and have families. The youngest son, Earl, is not married. Mr. And Mrs. Harley Lemon lived on the Seward homestead where many of the social activities were held. The William Meyers family also lived on the Seward place at one time. [photo - Mr. and Mrs. Harley Lemon, 1937. Residents of Pleasant Township. ] One of the social organizations of the township was the Community Club which included a group of ladies living in the area. * * * RICHVALLEY TOWNSHIP While Indian bands were still loping their spirited ponies across the rolling South Dakota prairies, pioneers were pushing westward and taking up homesteads on the fertile lands that gave promise of good farming and excellent ranching. By 1883, such stalwart and energetic pioneers as Pete Anderson, Henry Probst and George McLaughlin were pushing west and north to find the desired spot to settle down and work out a living from the soil. As they reached the southern border of what now makes up Richvalley Township, they looked on a fertile valley of waving grass that sloped down gently to a small lakebed at the bottom where great flocks of waterfowl were giving forth with their joyful calls. It was an appealing sight for any settler. Hardly could a more appropriate name been given than Richvalley. They moved in and took up their homesteads on these rich acres of prairie that held such latent wealth. Here they could till the rich black earth, and under the blessing of God could expect an abundant harvest. However, those early settlers, along with others who continued to come in, experienced the rigors and difficulties of all pioneers who seek to open up a country to civilization. Droughts came, crops were poor, prices were low, which made for much hard work and frugal living. Pete Anderson went into raising potatoes, putting in as much as eighty acres of this crop. He received the nickname of "Potato Pete." He built a large underground cellar to store the potatoes, and then as the market permitted he sold or traded them for other necessities of life. He even took a wheelbarrow loaded with potatoes and pushed it to Blunt in exchange for groceries. With this caliber of men and women making up the settlers of Richvalley Township, there came continued progress. More and more of the lush, waving grassland was being broken up as many ambitious settlers moved in with an eye for farming. In the early 1920's, the winding trail roads, which many times headed out across country and were so confusing to strangers, were giving way to graded roads that followed the section lines. The farming that had been carried on by big, sleek workhorses and the old-time machinery was gradually giving way in the late 1920's and early 30's to the faster and more effective means of tractor power. This made possible the farming of much larger tracts of land by each operator. During the depression, drought and dust storm years of the 1930's, quite a number of families were forced to move out. This left vacant buildings. The land was later purchased by other farmers in Richvalley with the buildings being moved away or torn down and the many acres of farmland being added to the ever increasing one-man acreages of the machine age. The elementary education of the farm boys and girls was a vital part of pioneer life. Three schoolhouses were situated in convenient locations throughout the district. For many years these were known as the Rivenes, Schriever and Vetter Schools. During the earlier days these schools were quite well attended, but with families moving away and a lull in generations, both the Schriever and Vetter Schools were closed. This shifted the children of the township to the Rivenes School, which became known as the Richvalley School. This schoolhouse in 1957-58 was redecorated and completely modernized. In the fall of 1958, ten children were enrolled with the prospects of a continued rise with 30 children of elementary school age and younger in the township. Mrs. Vernon Brandt, of Agar, has been the teacher for the two years 1957-58. An efficient schoolboard, has always added its faithful part to the progress of the school system. The board members in 1958 were John Heasley, Conrad Huse and Clarence Shoup. The many hours spent in hard work didn't keep these farm families from enjoying the gay social times together. Surprise parties were organized once a month to shift from home to home in the community. While the older folk spent the evening visiting, the children and young folk enjoyed the gay frolic of sparkling party games. Later years found many of the folk attending card parties and dances in some of the homes. The new barn that was erected on the Mike Rivenes farm was the scene of several barn dances. A baseball team was organized by the young men of the community. They played many well-fought and enthusiastic games on a fine regulation ball diamond that was situated on the Ernest Shoup farm. Richvalley Social Club In 1916, the ladies of Richvalley organized what they called "The Ladies Aid." They met once 4 month, on the first Thursday, and worked as a group for the welfare of the community, as well as a social group. When the need for Red Cross workers became evident during World War I, the name of the organization was changed to "Richvalley Branch of the Sully County Chapter of the American Red Cross" at a meeting held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Shoup on February 7, 1918. Mrs. Andrew Spencer acted as president pro tem. The following officers were elected at this meeting: Mrs. T. E. Conklin, chairman; Mrs. Andrew Spencer, assistant chairman; Mrs. Willard Hines, treasurer, and Mrs. Hugh Parman, secretary. All the ladies learned to knit and made many sweaters, quilts and layettes which were sent overseas. Again, in 1927, the name of the organization was changed to "Richvalley Social Club," with many of the charter members still active. The following is a list of charter members, as nearly correct as was possible to obtain, as the original records were destroyed in a fire: Mrs. T. E. Conklin, Mrs. Alex Peterson, Mrs. Fred Kuhns, Mrs. Mike Lange, Mrs. Jake Mosiman, Mrs. Lloyd Clark, Mrs. Emelia Rivenes, Mrs. Gus Westphal, Mrs. E. R. Shoup, Mrs. Mode Shoup, Mrs. Ray Vader, Mrs. Willard Hines, Mrs. Tom Dwyer, Mrs. Clara Crosby, Mrs. Robert Burlingmire, Alva Conklin, Mrs. William Vetter, Mrs. Don Campbell, Mrs. Lena Clouse, Mrs. Velma Swenson and Mrs. Mildred Tennant. [photo - Richvalley Social Club, 1956. Taken in Pierre Park. Standing, left to right - Mrs. Marion Pierce, Mrs. Maude Culp, Mrs. Willard Hines, Mrs. George Sorenson, Mrs. Mike Lange, Mrs. Bert Clouse, Mrs. Carmel Larson, Mrs. Emelia Rivenes, Mrs. Jacob Mosiman, Mrs. Gus Westphal and Mrs. Anna Shoup. Seated - Mrs. Pat Kane, Mrs. Lawrence Venner, Mrs. Donald Tennant and Mrs. Bill Fischer. Members not pictured were Mrs. Leon Tennant, Mrs. Clarence Shoup, Mrs. Lloyd Clark, Mrs. Ray Vader and Mrs. C. R. Garner.] [photo - Richvalley Sunshine Sunday School, about 1925. Back row, left to right - Noah Fritz, Mrs. Chester Scott, Mrs. Alex Peterson, Mode Shoup, unknown, Mrs. Noah Fritz, Wallace Fritz, Bert Shoup, Raymond Cairns, Charles Probst, unknown, Mr. and Mrs. William Vetter, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Heuer and George Wolforth. Front row - Elsie Shoup, Dorothy and Vivian Peterson, Mrs. Elva Probst, Mrs. Emma Conklin, Gladys Crosby, Elsie Fritz, Edna Shoup, Mrs. Mode Shoup and Clarence Shoup. Children pictured are members of these families.] Richvalley Sunshine Sunday School Many of the early pioneers had a strong desire for religious worship. Since churches were few, Sunday School and church services were conducted in various schoolhouses in the township. In the spring of 1904, Mrs. M. B. Dunlap organized a Sunday School in what was then the Schriever schoolhouse and was superintendent for several years. Previous that time Noah Fritz was superintendent during the very early days. Among the many superintendents were Mrs. Mary Scotland, William Vetter, who was followed by Ben Klingbeil. There were very many who were very faithful in coming, and often times there were 60 in attendance. Often a visiting minister from the Agar Methodist Church, along with others conducted worship services as a spiritual addition to the Sunday School. From the early 1920's until 1947, these were conducted in the Richvalley Schoolhouse. This type of worship continued from the homestead days until 1947 when the building of more churches and easier means of transportation made it possible to travel farther and attend the church of each one's choice. There has been a continued advance of improvements throughout the community. Many new buildings have been built to add their prosperous effect to the farms. Through a well-planned program by the Federal Government, tree planting became a special project on many farms and by 1958, large groves and shelterbelts were beginning to put a protective wall of green around many of the farm buildings. Up to 1950, electricity was only provided by the farmers' own private generating plants, but in 1950, the Rural Electric Association made electricity available to the farms on an efficient, economical basis. Most of the farms had telephone service through the Bell System by 1956, but in that year the Rural Telephone Association completed the project of making telephones available to all the farms. By 1956, there were almost a score of farm families living in Richvalley Township, with over half the farms being in the same family for more than 30 years. Some of the farmsteads that once graced the countryside during the earlier years disappeared, with the William Schriever farm vanishing in 1958. Mr. and Mrs. William Schriever came to Richvalley Township shortly after 1890. In 1902, they purchased the H. B. Turk farm, who then moved to the state of Washington. The Schrievers retired in the spring of 1946, and moved to Onida, where Mr. Schriever passed away in 1948. Mrs. Schriever still makes her home there. Carl Minder purchased the Schriever farm in 1952, using the land for farming and pasturing purposes, the buildings being disposed of. The Schrievers had one son and four daughters. Albert is residing in Aberdeen; Mrs. Anna Dillon is in Fort Pierre; Mrs. Hilmer Yeager (Elizabeth); Mrs. Dorothy Lewton lives in Altus, Oklahoma, and Mrs. Elsie Tunnell passed away in August, 1952. One of the oldest farms is the one now owned by Wilson Heasley. This was originally homesteaded by George McLaughlin. In 1916, he sold it to John B. Dirks. His daughter, Helen, was married to Wilson Heasley in 1919, and upon the death of her parents, she and her husband inherited the farm. It was in World War I that Wilson Heasley served ten months overseas. Since then, he and his wife have been busily engaged in farming. After their son, John, was married to Doramae Peery, of Eugene, Oregon, they built a new house for themselves a short distance south of the home place, while John and his family live on the original homestead. They have two daughters, Judy and Janet, who attend the Richvalley School. [photo - Sod house on George McLaughlin Homestead. Richvalley Township.] [photo - Neils P. (Potato Pete) Anderson Homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson and Grandson, William J. (Bill) Asmussen.] Mr. and Mrs. Neils P. Anderson were one of the first homesteaders in Richvalley Township. Neils, or "Potato Pete" as he was called, was an ardent gardener and one of Sully County's best farmers. He devoted a great deal of his time to potato culture, from which he received his nickname. He also was a well digger and had many hazardous experiences. The first writing desk brought into South Dakota, was claimed by Mr. Anderson. This desk was unloaded at Old Fort Sully in 1864. It was a heavy, black walnut desk of quaint design and remained in the office of the Fort Commandant until the late twenties, when Mr. Anderson secured [photo - Early Pioneers of Richvalley Township. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson and daughters Hannah, left, and Laura.] it at auction. The desk was offered to the county as part of its collection of antiques. The Andersons had two daughters Hannah and Laura. Hannah married Christian Asmussen, of Richvalley Township, in 1894. She passed away shortly after birth of their son, William J., who was reared by his maternal grandparents. Laura married Carl Falkenhagen. About 1900, Chris Anderson sold his land and moved to Carstairs, Alberta, Canada, where he remarried and lived for about 40 years. He passed away in 1940. The homsetead of Pete Anderson was sold to William Vetter in 1916. A real selling point was a shallow well 16 feet deep that Mr. Anderson had dug by hand. He was so sure of it giving an ample supply of water that he staked the giving a quarter section of land if it went dry. Mr. and Mrs. Vetter have lived on this place since purchasing it. They have four children. A son, Ben, passed away in December, 1925. David is with his folks on the home place. Helen, who in World War II served as an army nurse in the Philippine Islands and Japan, caught a vision then of missionary work in other parts of the world. She is now serving her second four-year term as a missionary under the Sudan-Interior Mission in Nigeria, Africa. Herbert, who married Arlene Roddewig in 1947, lives at Isabel, South Dakota, where he is pastor of the Baptist Church. And Myron, who married LaVon Hofer in 1955, lives in a new house on the home place and farms in partnership with his father. They have one boy, Danny, who is a year and a half old. [photo - Christian Asmussen. Pioneer of Richvalley Township and father of W. J. (Bill) Asmussen.] Mr. and Mrs. Madison Haverly and family settled in Richvalley Township after taking out a claim in Blaine Township near the Blaine School where they lived six years. The family had come from the state of Iowa on May 31, 1884. Mr. Haverly made improvements on his farm and raised sheep and cattle. He was county commissioner until he passed away on May 20, 1903. His son, Minor, was appointed and then elected to fill his vacancy, which he held until he moved out of the district. Louisa Haverly married Walter Spencer in 1899, and they are presently living in Santa Ana, California. Elizabeth married Otis French and lived in Onida where they had a store for many years. They finally moved to Tacoma, Washington, where they passed away. Minor married Bertha Adams, of Clifton Township on May 24, 1906, and lived on the home place until 1910. They moved to Onida in 1910, and purchased a half interest in the Frank Johnson Hardware Store and built the garage building south of the hotel where they had the Ford Garage for many years. Minor passed away in Onida in April of 1934. Manley married Myrtle Neuhauser, of Pierre. They moved to Tacoma, Washington, where they now live. Bert married Grace Dunlap on March 25, 1914, and they lived in Onida all their lives until he passed away in May, 1958. They had two children, Grace and Carl. Grace married W. T. Williams. They have five children, JoAnn, Jeanne, Michael, Janet and Peggy Lee. Carl married Phyllis Wakefield, of Chicago. They have four daughters, Cheryl, Dawn, Janis and Penolope. Both families live in Onida. Leonard moved to Tacoma, and has since passed away. Lissa, the youngest, married Cliff Howard and moved to Medford, Oregon. [photo - Early Day Social Gathering Richvalley Township. Back row, left to right - George Wolforth, William Vetter, unknown, Ray Carnes, Alex Peterson, Mike Lange, Mrs. Lange, Mrs. Vetter and Mrs. Peterson. Front row-David and Ben Vetter, Vivian Peterson, Helen Vetter and Dorothy Peterson.] [photo - Madison Haverly Family, about 1892. Richvalley Pioneers. Back row, left to right - Louise Minor and Elizabeth. Front row - Manley, Mrs. Haverly holding Lissa, Leonard, Mrs. Haverly and Bert.] Henry Probst was a prosperous farmer in Richvalley Township who owned 800 acres that he would not consider selling for $16.00 per acre by 1903. He annually sold more butter and eggs than was required to keep up the expense on the farm. [photo - Mr. and Mrs. William Vetter. And sons, Ben, and David.] [photo - Henry Probst Farmstead, about 1890. Richvalley Township.] Irvin Scott and his oldest son, Walter, came to Sully County from Washington County, Iowa, in the spring of 1906, and purchased a farm in Richvalley Township. Mrs. Scott and five of their children came in the spring of 1908 to make their home. Four of the younger children attended the Pete Anderson School. Another son, Chester and his family, came in 1915, and rented the Beck farm until his father passed away in 1917. Chester then took over the management of his father's farm for about two years and then returned to their original home in Iowa. Soon after, Mrs. Scott and daughter, Gladys, also returned to Iowa. Saloma married Hugh Palmer in 1915, and settled in Morton Township. Velma married Monroe Shoup in April of 1917, and lived on the old Matt (Madison) Haverly farm until the spring of 1918, when they moved to the Henry Probst place for one year and then purchased the old Dr. Kendall homestead in Fairview Township. Edna attended God's Bible School in Cincinnati, Ohio, for four years. In late years, she married John Kenyon and they live in Ashburo, North Carolina. Cyrus passed away in 1913. Mike Lange and his wife moved from Indiana to Riclivalley Township in 1906. After living on several farms, they bought the Matt Haverly farm from Johnson & Spears in March, 1919. Here in the years that followed, they built a large new house and barn that added much to the appearance of the farm and community. They lived on this place until 1055, when they bought the Lee Rappana house and moved into Onida. They have one daughter, Louella, who is married to William Ruckle, the postmaster of Onida. After Mike Lange retired and moved to Onida, he sold the farm, in 1957, to Albert C. Lomheim. Mr. Lomheim, a young man of Sully County, was married in 1947 to Shirley Balster of Gann Valley, South Dakota. They have two sons, Michael and Steven, with the oldest a first grader at the Riclivalley School. A farm improvement made by Albert in 1958 was a big steel granary in which to store his bumper crop of grain. The homestead of Dick Rawling was sold to Ernest Shoup in 1903. Some years later he and his wife added to this farm the fine improvements of a large new house. They have seven children who all live in Sully County. They are all farmers, with the exception of Ralph who is a mechanic at the Lamb Garage. Their children are: Edna (Mrs. George Wolforth), Elsie (Mrs. Lloyd Clark), Florence (Mrs. Lester Wagner), and, Clarence, Ralph, Ben and Francis. After Ernest Shoup's death in 1941, Mrs. Shoup continued to live on the home place. [photo - Irvin Scott Homestead, 1909. Richvalley Township. Scott family in foreground.] [photo - Mr. and Mrs. Mike Lange and Daughter, Louella, 1916. Pioneer residents of Richvalley Township.] Clarence Shoup, who in 1943 married Margaret Uphoff, of Appleton, Minnesota, lives on and farms the home place. They have two children, Kenneth and Audrey, who are enrolled at the Richvalley School. In 1919, Mike Rivenes moved with his family from Colton, South Dakota, to Richvalley Township, where they bought the Henry Probst homestead from Mike Lange. A short time later they built one of the first ready-cut houses in this community. It was in 1936 that Mike Rivenes and his wife moved to Onida, where Mrs. Rivenes continues to reside since her husband's death. Four of their children, Ethel (Mrs. Vern Palmer), Sam, Orville and Marvin, live in Sully County. Agnes (Mrs. Clete Doherty), Elroy and Alfred live in Rapid City, South Dakota. Marcella (Mrs. Harry Jones) lives in Ravenswood, West Virginia, Mildred (Mrs. Orville McNeil) in Los Gatos, California, Melvin in Butte, Montana, and Ronald in Mitchell, South Dakota. [photo - Mr. and Mrs. Mike Lange and Joan Nystrum. Lange Home in Onida.] [photo - Ernest Shoup Farm, 1909. Richvalley Township. Mrs. Shoup and daughter in foreground.] Elroy Rivenes purchased and still owns the Rivenes' home place. He and his family moved from the farm to Rapid City, South Dakota, in 1952, where they now reside. Their daughter, Edina, is now Mrs. Herbert Rudd and lives in Pierre. Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Heien moved on the Elroy Rivenes farm in 1952. They are both Sully County folk, with Alvin having served in World War II. They have two children, Janice and Wayne, with the daughter enrolled at the Richvalley School. Mrs. Rachel McCamly, Mrs. Heien's mother, makes her home with them. S. G. Rivenes is on the Minor Haverly farm, where he has made his home and farmed since 1944. It was in 1926 that Christina Huse and family moved from Colton, South Dakota, to purchase the Phil Probst farm and establish their home in Richvalley. Their two sons, Conrad and Kenneth, who are both veterans of World War II, are farmers in Sully County, with Conrad and his family living in Richvalley, and Kenneth and his family in Onida. Their daughter, Dorothy, is married to Howard Miller and lives at Moville, Iowa. After the death of Christian Huse in 1949, Mrs. Huse also moved to Moville, Iowa, to be near her daughter. In 1942, Conrad Huse, while stationed in the military service in Florida, was married to Musette Little, of Watertown, South Dakota. They moved on the home place of his parents in 1949. They have three daughters, Diane, Peggy and Tami, with Diane enrolled as a first grader at the Richvalley School. Conrad, who cannot stand an idle moment, has established a well-known television repair service in his farm shop that he carries on as an avocation along with his many acres of farming. [photo - Mark Dunlap Farm, 1909. Richvalley Township. Left to right -Grace (Dunlap) Haverly, Blaine, Wilbur in buggy, Roy Williams, who made his home with the Dunlaps for three years, Una, Mrs. Dunlap and Mr. Dunlap holding Baby Thema.] [photo - Mark Dunlaps living in their cook shanty, 1910, while breaking sod. Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap and daughter, Thema.] Mr. and Mrs. Mark Dunlap came here from the state of Wisconsin in 1903, with their four children, Blaine, Grace, Wilbur and Una. In 1908, another daughter, Thema, came to gladden the Dunlap home. They settled on the old Alysos Frank homestead and started building the granary, barn and their house in the spring of 1904. The well was the only improvement on the land when the Dunlap family came. Pete Anderson had dug this 180 foot well by hand for the Frank family. It had to be cleaned out by a well rig. The water was very bitter and could only be used for stock. Water for household purposes was hauled from another well and put in a cistern close to the house. In 1915, the family moved to Onida. Mrs. Bert Haverly (Grace) is the only member of the family living. In 1932, Donald Tennant of Potter County and his family established their home on the Mark Dunlap farm, living there until 1955, when they moved to Onida. They have five children. Darlene (Mrs. Clifford Carter) lives on the home place. Dorothy (Mrs. Tom Vincent) resides in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. And Helen (Mrs. Muryl Paxton), Edna (Mrs. Kenneth Brunmeier) and Leon all live in Sully County. Clifford Carter, who married Darlene Tennant of Riclivalley in 1950, moved on the Donald Tennant farm in 1955. He is a veteran of World War II. They have four children, James, Carol, Linda and Wanda, with James and Carol enrolled as students at the Richvalley School. Corydon Ludwig and his family, in 1942, moved from the Lister farm in Blaine Township to purchase the Judge Roberts farm in Richvalley. This place had been started by Jake Goosen in 1919. Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig have three daughters. Beverly (Mrs. Phil Zebroski) lives in Sully County and Betty (Mrs. Pierre Barnes) lives near Blunt. Bernice (Mrs. Larry Kiel) is living in a trailer house on her parents' farm, where her husband assists Corydon Ludwig with the farming operations. [photo - Mr. and Mrs. Edwin F. Fanton, 1916. Early Settlers of Richvalley Township.] [photo - Edwin Fanton, Jr. Five years old.] [photo - May Fanton (Mrs. H. A. Bolinger). School teacher, milliner, and dressmaker before her marriage.] The Edwin F. Fanton family moved from Omaha, Nebraska, to Sully County on April 1, 1900, coming here to work for his uncle, C. D. Fanton. In 1902, he filed on the homestead and lived there for 15 years. They raised a family of four children on the farm, May (Mrs. H. A. Bolinger), John Edward, Elmer J. and Edwin, Jr. The three brothers served in World War I, Elmer having died in the Service with burial at Carthage where his wife resided. May Fanton taught school for number of years in Sully County. She was also a milliner and dressmaker before her marriage. Edwin, Jr. worked in the Johnson - Haverly Hardware and was school janitor for the Onida City School at one time, later being employed for seven years at the City Light Plant. E. F. Fanton served on the Richvalley school board for a number of years. He was county commissioner from his district at the time the new Courthouse was built in 1911. The Fantons moved to Onida in the spring of 1917, after the farm was sold to John Stormant. The Fantons bought a house and lived in it for a few years, which was later occupied by the Chas. Prien family, the Rev. Jesse P. Williamsons as a parsonage and Mrs. Effie Cass and son, J. W., Jr. The present owners are Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Niehoff and family, who have remodeled and modernized the house. Mr. Fanton built a new home a block off south main street and lived there until his death in 1946, the house being sold to the Mennonite Church people for a parsonage, after Mr. Fanton's death. Mrs. Fanton passed away in 1933, and both Mr. and Mrs. Fanton are buried in the Onida Cemetery. John and Edwin farmed for a number of years and worked at the plumbing trade in Onida and at other jobs. John never married, and during the last few years of his life he spent considerable time in veteran's hospitals for operations and treatment, passing away in the Veterans Hospital at Sioux Falls with burial on the 11th of November, 1957, in the Onida Cemetery. Edwin, Jr. and Marie Roach were married and had two daughters, Doris Jean (Mrs. John Galbraith) of San Mateo, California, who has two sons, John and Jeff. Helen May (Mrs. James L. Sheldon) of Medford, Oregon, with a son, James, and two daughters, Susan Jo and Jean Marie. The Fantons moved to Salem, Oregon, in 1936, where the girls finished their education. Edwin was employed in the Bremerton Navy Yards during World War II for four and one half years. He returned to Onida following his father's death, and has made his home here, working at the carpenter trade and is presently. manager of the Onida Municipal Liquor Store. It was in the year 1924, that Jacob Mosiman and his family moved to Richvalley. In 1929, he purchased the Edwin Fanton farm and established the present home place. They lived there until 1946, when they moved to Onida. They have one daughter and two sons, both the boys being veterans of World War II. Ella (Mrs. Paul Dietrich) lives in Humboldt, Kansas. Alfred and his family live in Onida where he owns and manages the Onida Hotel. And Elmer, the eldest son, lives on the home place. Elmer Mosiman, who in 1946 married Evelyn Smith, of Gibbstown, New Jersey, moved with his new bride the same year to settle on the home place which they now own. They have a beautiful shelterbelt of trees that they planted on this farm. It is so outstanding that in 1958 it became the first farmstead in Sully County to receive the award of having the South Dakota Forestry Department name it a "Tree Farm." [photo - Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Yackley, 1941. Early Settlers of Richvalley Township.] Frank J. Yackley and sons, in 1928, bought and improved the present Cuthbert (Cub) Yackley farm that they purchased from Robert Nelson. A grove of trees was planted, and in 1956, a 2200 - foot artesian well was dug with a flow of 60 gallons per minute. This is the only flowing well in the township. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Yackley had four children. Cub has always lived on the home place since its purchase. Benno purchased a farm in Buffalo Township. Elizabeth (Mrs. Joe Naughton) is at Highmore, South Dakota. And James, who is a doctor, lives at Rapid City, South Dakota. At present the Marvin Matthews family is engaged in farming operations with Cub Yackley. Mrs. Matthews is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Yackley. [photo - Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Yackley and Four Children, about 1947. Standing, left to right-Mrs. Yackley (Clara), Elizabeth (Mrs. Joe Naughton), Cuthbert (Cub), Benno and James. Frank Yackley in foreground.] In the year of 1919, Perry Crosby and family bought the old Turley homestead from Emil Flood. The following year they moved there and began improving it. A new house, barn and other buildings came to grace the farm a few years later. Mrs. Crosby recounts that during those early years a trip to Onida meant going a half mile west and then heading out southwest cross-country over the rolling prairies. It was in 1945, that Mr. and Mrs. Crosby moved from their farm to Onida. Mrs. Crosby still resides there since the passing of her husband. They have two living children. Louella (Mrs. Fred Hoffman) lives in Pierre, South Dakota, and Vivian (Mrs. Paul LaRosh) is on the home place. Paul LaRosh, who in 1942 married Vivian Crosby, of Richvalley, purchased the Crosby farm in 1952. They have a family of three children, Tom, Patty and Jimmy. Tom is enrolled as a student at the Richvalley School. In 1944, Mrs. Marie Kellogg and her sons moved from Pearl Township to Richvalley to make their home on the Sturgeon farm that was once a part of the King Ranch. Her son, Francis, passed away in 1955. It was then that her son, LeRoy, and his daughter returned from California to make their home with his mother. LeRoy served in the armed forces for World War II. Mrs. Kellogg's other son, Paul, lives with his family in Onida. It was in the year 1921 that Jess J. Clark bought the land where he and his family in 1925 began improvements and built up the present-day farm. They have three sons, Lloyd of Onida, Ralph of Marietta, Minnesota, and Lester of Portland, Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Clark lived on their farm until 1943, when they moved to Marietta, Minnesota, where they now reside. Lloyd Clark, who in 1935 married Elsie Shoup, of Richvalley, bought his folk's home place in 1943. Some improvements he has added are a large steel quonset granary and a big steel quonset cattle shed. They have one daughter, Delma Dean, who is married to B. J. Kilpatrick and lives in Big Springs, Texas. In 1929, Carmel Larson moved with his family from Stanton, Iowa, to Sully County. In 1931, they came to live in Richvalley on the Haverly farm. Then in 1935, they purchased the old Cleve Garten farm, moving there the following year to make it their home up to the present. They have two sons. Donley lives on the home place and farms with his father. Leland, who in 1949 was married to Ruth Hill Kelly, of Mt. Ayr, Iowa, lives with his family in Davenport, Iowa. He is salesman for the Midwest Equipment Company. It was in 1923 that Robert Minder and family moved from the far-off country of Switzerland to see if their golden dreams of America's opportunities could be realized. They came straight to Richvalley Township, living the first couple years with his brother-in-la Jake Mosiman, on the Judge Roberts place. Then in 1925, they purchased the Henry Heuer farm where they established their first home in America and where they still live. They have added many improvements to the farm with the latest being a large steel granary. They have a family of six children. Ella (Mrs. George Huffman) is in Butterfield, Minnesota, Robert in Los Angeles, California, Frieda (Mrs. Franklin Wiebe) in Reedley, California, Carl on the home place, David in Onida, and Bertha (Mrs. Danny Stahl) at Yale, South Dakota. Carl Minder, who in 1952 married Glenda Walter, of Doland, South Dakota lives on the home place and farms in partnership with his father. They have a large modern house that they built a short time after they were married. It is located a little southwest of their folk's home. They have two boys, Joe and Jimmy, who are still under school age. M. M. Kiker from Frederick, Oklahoma, in 1950 purchased the Chuck Schultz farm. It was in 1951 that they moved on this place, living there part time. These fine southern folk were greeted with a wicked March blizzard that kept them snowbound for six days when they first came to Richvalley. This cold reception didn't dampen their spirits, and they have come to spend more and more time in Richvalley until, in 1956, they made this their permanent home. Their son, Theodore, and his family live a short distance away in Garner Township. It was in 1958 that Anton Gerald moved with his family from Columbus, Kansas, to live on the Bill Asmussen farm in the northwestern part of Richvalley. This used to be the Hortman farm before being purchased by Bill Asmussen. They have four children, Carol, Barbara, Doris and Tony. The first two are attending the West Harrison School outside the district because of the great distance they would have to go to attend the Richvalley School. This is the grand group of industrious folk who make up the population of Richvalley Township. Some of them are still pioneers in their own right, others are descendants of pioneers, and even others have moved in, but all possess that flowing fervor and indomitable courage to press forward in building up and making this community the kind of a place of which the county, state and nation may be proud.