Full Text of "75 Years of Sully County History, 1883 - 1958", pages 17-31 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. Up and Down Broadway Many changes have taken place up and down Main street-Broadway-since that historical year back in 1883, when the first settlers purchased lots, erected buildings and stocked their stores with the necessary provisions to carry on the activities of the bustling new village of Onida. As more settlers came, lots were purchased by enthusiastic businessmen and many new store buildings were constructed. Those early pioneers, who had settled in Clifton and established business places there when it was the county seat, moved their store buildings and homes to Onida after the county seat fracas. And so changes were made, down through the years. There are, however, several business places that have continued to operate in the same location and with the same families at the helm. The oldest being the Sully County Land and Abstract Company, which was established by J. H. Gropengieser in 1894 and is now being run by his daughter, Bess. The C. R. Garner Real Estate is still being operated by Mr. Garner. Hardwick's Store, formerly Knight's Store. is carried on by Mr. Knight's daughter and her husband, and Mr. Spears, who has been in the land business here for 45 years and in the same building for the past 39 years. Cole Livery Stable (Red Owl) One of the outstanding landmarks on north Broadway was the Cole Brothers Livery Stable that occupied the same location from the time it was moved here from Clifton in July, 1886, until Mr. Hortman purchased the building in March, 1925, and had it removed from its location. John and Ira Cole had the main part of the building erected in 1883, when they first settled in Clifton. It had a cement floor in the front part, which was the first floor or walk of its kind in Sully County. The building was painted a bright red and stood as a landmark for many years after it was moved to Onida. Bill Osterkamp ran the stable in the early 1900's, followed by Carl and Henry Wilken. Later J. L. Dillon and the Dillon brothers operated it. In 1919, H. P. Knox bought the Cole corner and since there was not a demand for livery stables at that time, as almost everyone had a car, he turned it into an implement business and sold tractors and farm machinery. He also installed a gas pump to accommodate business for gasoline and oil when the garages were not open. Mr. Knox purchased the house that had been the D. W. Hyde home and the Knox family lived there until 1925, when the house, as well as the livery stable, was purchased by G. H. Hortman, of De Smet. Mr. Hortman had a filling station erected in its place called the H. & H. Service Station, which opened for business on May 10, 1925. After Orval Hortman bought out the interest of his father in the service station, he put in a new brick and concrete addition and added a grocery department. Following the second World War, the business was taken over by his son, Cecil, and Marvon Severson, when they returned from service. Within a few years the partnership dissolved and Severson went into the grocery business in Cleveland, Minnesota, where he now resides. Cecil then took over the Red Owl Agency and operated it until April, 1955, when he and his wife, Marge, and two children, Barry and Miki, moved to Provo, Utah. Cecil and Marge now own and operate a business called Ace Rents, Inc., located in Orem, Utah, and have purchased a new home in Provo. Original Frank Hoover Barber Shop Otto Nelson (Blue Room) When Frank Hoover came to Onida in 1909, there were no barber shops, so, being a barber himself, he erected a 12 x 28 foot building on Broadway, just north of the Sanitary Meat Market and opened the Star Barber Shop. The following year, in September, William Renn purchased a half interest in the business and it was then that the partners moved their equipment into the south half of the French building (Coast-to-Coast) and operated the Star Barber Shop at that location. Otto Nelson then purchased the barber shop building and W. W. Jordan and C. H. Lewis opened a meat market called The City Market. Then C. L Jones took over and changed the name to the Jones Meat Company. When James Nystrom returned home following World War I, he purchased the building and business and also changed the name to the City Meat Market. C. C. Lyons of Agar became a partner in the business in the early twenties, and they operated as partners at that location until the fire of September 13, 1925, originating in the City Garage, destroyed the garage and the two buildings to the north. Lyons and Nystrom then secured one of the Serbousek buildings across the street and were back in business within a few days. The meat market lot remained vacant until Clarence R. Brabec purchased the lot and had a new building erected. Mr. Brabec, who came here as a barber and worked for Sig Severson in his shop, married Hazel Hortman in the early twenties. Brabec opened a barber shop in his new building and named it the DeLuxe Barber Shop. Then in July, 1930, he divided the building and had his shop in the north half and opened the DeLuxe Beauty Parlor in the south half. Miss E. A. Devine, of Pierre, was the beauty operator for a time and later Elsie Lindell located there. In 1935, Mr. Brabec discontinued the barber shop and the beauty parlor and opened a cafe. He and Mrs. Brabec ran the cafe until 1940, when Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Reedy purchased the business and called it Betty-Jacks Inn. They ran it until the fall of 1945. Then Mr. and Mrs. Nick Jackus, of Pierre, took over the cafe and had the interior remodeled and changed the name to American Cafe. The business changed management several times during the next few years, until Dick Mehrer came here from Pierre and operated the cafe until the spring of 1958. Original E. E. Brooking Building John Nelson (Schaeffer Hardware) In August, 1909, E. E. Brooking had a 20 x 30 foot building erected north of Hyde & Holmes Store (Hardwick's) and established the Sanitary Meat Market. In May, of the following year, Mr. Brooking sold his business to Frank Snell and Enos Thorn, and in a few months the business was again sold to Jordan and Lewis, relatives of E. E. Heywood. It wasn't until January, 1911, that electric lights were installed in the building. John Nelson then purchased the lot and business and engaged C. I. Jones to operate the market, which he did until the fire in 1925 destroyed the building. Mr. Nelson then had a brick and tile building erected on the same lot and Mr. Jones operated the market until February, 1927, when Carl Bohnhoff, of Gettysburg, came here and took over the business, changing the name to the Bohnhoff Market. When the partnership of Lyons and Nystrom across the street dissolved, Jim Nystrom went into partnership with Bohnhoff for a short time. Mr. Bohnhoff returned to his home town of Gettysburg and Nystrom then took over the entire business, changing the name to Nystrom's Market. When L. C. Ridinger came to town in 1928, he purchased the business from Nystrom and operated the market until 1936, when he moved his merchandise into his new building (Kubs). Orval Hortman then purchased the lot and building and opened a hardware store. His brother-in-law, Clint Hagen, went in as a partner, and the business was then called H & H Hardware. In November, 1950, John Schaeffer and Vic Bosma purchased the business and operated as partners until the summer of 1952, when Mr. Schaeffer bought out the Bosma interest and became the sole owner. Mr. and Mrs. John Schaeffer and daughter Linda Kay came to Onida on December 1, 1950, from Herreid, South Dakota. Mr. Schaeffer took over the H & H Hardware. They lived in an apartment for a short time and then purchased the Lee Rappana house where they have made their home. In 1952, another daughter, Mary Lou, was born. The Schaeffers have been active in civic affairs, organizations and church work. Mrs. Schaeffer (Edna) is director of the Methodist choir and also sings in the Sully County Chorus. [photo - Dr. Hart's Garage: Built by Fisher and McGinnis in 1906 and called Onida Garage and Repair Shop. Located on the present site of the Ed Cruthoff residence, and then moved to the present location of the Kenneth Miles home, where the picture was taken.] Dr. Hart's Garage (Onida Produce) In 1906, Fischer and McGinnis built a garage and repair shop on the lots where the Ed Cruthoff home is now located. Later the building was moved to the site of the present Ken Miles' home. Mr. and Mrs. George Worley of Salix, Iowa, operated the business and made their home in the front part of the building. After they left, the building was vacant for a time and then it was used for dances and basketball practice and games. Dr. B. M. Hart purchased the building in 1921, and had it moved to Main street, just north of Knight's Store. It was then called the City Garage. The McGuire brothers and Bert Haverly sold Chevrolet cars, operated the garage, repair shop and a gasoline pump until the building was completely destroyed by fire on September 13, 1925. A year later, in October, 1926, Dr. Hart let a contract to Serbousek and Phares for a new brick and tile garage. The new building was ready for occupancy by December 15. Harry and Joe McGuire leased the front part of the building for their garage, and Ervin Cleveland leased the back part for repair work. Then Gustafson and Reedy purchased the business in May, 1929, and a year later, Jack Reedy bought out Gustafson and operated the business until the spring of 1935, when he became sheriff. Then he sold to Orval Hortman, who acquired the Chevrolet Agency. Mr. Hortman operated his garage there until he bought the John Adams Garage and moved across the street. Then Max Rodman rented the building from Dr. Hart and started the Onida Produce in 1940. When Dr. Hart moved to California, Max purchased the building and ran the Onida Produce until 1945, when he sold the business to Roy Sweaney and C. A. Kessler. They stayed there about three years and then sold out to Bob Mikkelsen, who added a Massey-Harris line to the business. Mikkelsen sold out the produce business to Donald Currier in 1953. Mikkelsen then erected a building on the corner of Highway 83 and operated the implement business there for a short time. That business is now known as the HiWay Garage. Knight's Store (Hardwick's Store) [photo - Mr. and Mrs. M. B. Knight: She was prominent in musical and social circles in the early days. Mr. Knight, one of Onida's very first settlers, as he appeared in 1885.] M. B. Knight left New York state on March 6, 1883, on an excursion train to Dakota Territory. He met C. H. Agar on the train, who was bringing land seekers to build a hotel at a spot somewhere north of Blunt. That spot became Onida. A blizzard kept them from getting to the place where Mr. Agar decided to build the hotel. They arrived at that spot April 2, 1883. Mr. Knight was the cook at the Onida Hotel, taught school several years, worked for M. L. French in his store and post office, took up a tree claim three miles southwest of Onida and built a house on this tree claim. In December of 1892, he went to Chicago and was married to Carrie S. Corvan of Cubs, New York. They lived on the farm until March, 1910, when he traded the farm to M. A. Hyde and C. W. Holmes, who were running a store, for a store and house, in which M. A. Hyde lived. That store building was the building which is now the Chase Bakery, and at that time the building stood just north of the present Hardwick Store and the house was connected to the store. Mr. Knight had the house moved over east of the courthouse and it is now the home of Mrs. Clara Crosby. This store had been started about 1889, by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hampton, who stayed a couple of years and then it became the Hugh Porter Store. In 1900, C. W. Holmes and M. A. Hyde ran it in partnership until they traded it to Mr. Knight for his farm, in 1910. The store continued in the old building that is now the Chase Bakery until 1911, when Otto Nelson built a two-story building on the lot south of the red store. When that new building was finished, Mr. Knight moved the store into it and the old store building was sold to L. A. Temmey and moved to the site of the present Chase Bakery. Mr. Knight ran Knight's Store and had Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Worley work for him for three years. The Worleys built the house known as the McLaughlin house, and lived there until they moved to Illinois in 1914. Then Miss Ruth Hyde worked for Mr. Knight until she went to Rochester, Minnesota, to take nurses' training. Then John Bauman worked until he went into partnership with Ed Sutton, when they purchased the Johnson and Spears Store in 1918. E. E. Brooking was a clerk until he moved to Huron. By that time the first World War was over and Earl Hardwick came to Onida in April, 1919, and has been associated with the store since that time. Earl and Mr. and Mrs. Knight's daughter, Clarissa, were married in 1922. Mr. Knight passed away in 1925, and Earl took over management of the store at that time. Throughout the years he has employed Gus Hollander, of Redfield; Miss Mary Gruver, who worked during her summer vacations from teaching, and Mrs. Nellie Dunlap, who worked for 10 years until she moved to Huron in 1928. [photo - Interior of Knight's Store in 1917: Pictured, left to right, E. E. Brooking, M. B. Knight, Lillie Sheffer, Clarissa Knight (Mrs. Earl Hardwick) and Inman Olson.] [photo - The Two Small buildings, on left, were moved east of the courthouse, enlarged and remodeled and became the Knight home. The next building was the Hugh Porter General 'Store, then became the Knight's Store, and after being moved is no w Chase's Bakery. Mr. and Mrs. Porter and their daughter, Lulu, are standing in front of their store.] [photo - The Hardwick Family - Bernice, Earl, Patsy the (j,,g. and Clarissa. Taken their home on Christmas, 1944. Mr. Hardwick is holding one of his gifts, the book. "Try and Stop Me."] Mrs. Knight passed away in 1931. The name of the store was then changed to Hardwick's, under Earl's management. They have this year had a confirmation of their order with the Mishawaka Rubber company of Mishawaka, Indiana, for having given them an order for rubbers and overshoes each year for fifty years. Hardwick's have had the experience of moving everything out of the store twice because of fire. The first time, in 1919, when the Sutton and Bauman store burned, and again in 1925, when the garage just north of them burned. At the time of the 1919 fire, their merchandise was all out in the street and before they could get it back in the store a blizzard came and blockaded the railroad so there were no trains for three weeks and they were the only store left in town. The Hardwicks lived one year in the house where Vern Palmers now live, and then bought the house known as the Brunneman house and have lived there since 1923. Mr. and Mrs. Hardwick have one daughter, Bernice, (Mrs. R. S. Lincoln). Charles Dalton Bank Building (Watchman Office) Charles Dalton, of Pierre, had a brick front building erected on lot eight, block two, original Onida, in the spring of 1910, to house the Sully County State Bank, which had originally opened in the Lorenzen building on the east side of the street in block four, on October 5, 1889-Onida's first bank. The original corps of officers were Eugene Steere, president; W. W. Waite, vice president, and Walter N. Meloon, cashier, Several years later, the building housing the bank was moved to the west side of the street, south of the old Onida House. The new bank building was completed the last week in May, and the Sully County State Bank opened for business on June 1. In December, 1915, the Sully County Bank and the First State Bank consolidated and operated as the First State Bank in the new building; the Sully County Bank being liquidated. The Onida National Bank opened for business on July 6, 1925, with the following officers-Charles L. Hyde, president; W. H. Durrstein, vice president; Byron S. Payne, vice president; Arthur J. Owens, cashier, and S. E. Dons, assistant cashier. Then in June, 1930, the Onida National Bank and the First State Bank merged, moving into the brick bank building on the corner. Then George Zimmer, publisher of the Onida Watchman, purchased the Dalton building where the newspaper has remained to date. C. R. Garner Real Estate [photo - The office building of C. R. (Millie) Garner since, 1900. Pictured, left to right, Wm. D. Hughes, stenographer; Mr. Garner, and Victoria (Brooking) Johnson, office girl and stenographer.] [photo - C. R. Garner in his Real Estate and Abstract office in 1910.] [photos - Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Garner, Onida's earliest living residents.] H. E. Kimmel established a real estate and abstract business on Main street in a small building south of the old courthouse about 1896, on the old John Day Implement site, called South Dakota Farm & Title Company. Later he had a house moved in from the country and located it on lot nine, block two, original Onida and moved his real estate and abstract business to that building. In 1898, Mr. Kimmel sold a half interest of his business to C. R. and Claude Garner (cousins). Two years later, due to his wife's health, Mr. Kimmel sold his business interest to the Garner boys, and in 1902, C. R. bought the entire real estate and abstract business. It was then called C. R. Garner Real Estate & Abstract Company. Mr. Garner has maintained his land business in that same building for 56 years. However, he did sell the insurance part of his business to Bob Koenig in 1954, but retains the abstract and leasing. Miss Maud Cole, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Cole, and C. R. Garner, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Garner, were married in Onida on October 12, 1904. The newlyweds established their first home on Mrs. Garner's homestead about three miles northeast of Onida. After eight months, she filed on the claim, and they then moved to a residence in Onida which had already been purchased by Mr., Garner-the present Niehoff home. Their daughter, Audrey, was born in 1906 A short time later they built the "Castle", as many of the young people refer to it, where the Garners have made their home for over 50 years. One interesting incident related by Millie, as he is called by all his friends, was when a group of men were out with him in his new 1908 Buick one afternoon, looking over the crops between Onida and Gettysburg. It seems that Millie spotted a large coyote ahead of the car, so he speeded up and just as he was almost upon the animal, it turned into the ditch and out into the open field. Millie managed to swerve the car out of the rut in the road and drove into the field after the coyote. Before he realized how close he was to the animal, he had run over it and killed it. As a remembrance of that day's ride, he had the coyote's skin tanned as a souvenir. Audrey Garner went through grade school and one year of high school in Onida and then finished her three years of high school in Long Beach, California. She also took a secretarial course in Long Beach, received her B. A. degree in English in UCLA, Los Angeles, and her Masters in Economics at the University of California, at Berkeley. She taught school Prior to her marriage in September, 1934, to Arthur F. Halloran, a native son of California. They now reside in Wichita Wild Life Refuge, Oklahoma, and have two sons, Arthur F., Jr., and John Garner. Mr. and Mrs. Garner have both been active in church, civic and social affairs in Sully County during the fourscore years they have been here. Mr. Garner was a band man, a soloist in church and at public affairs, played the violin, was mayor of Onida for four years, a charter member of the Oneidas Club, Mason, Eastern Star and Shrine member, and was one of the early pioneers directly responsible for the growth and prosperity of the community. [photo - Audrey Garner in 1926, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Garner, She is now Mrs. Arthur F. Holloran.] Temmey's Land Office Building and Watchman Office (Chase Bakery) The old M. B. Knight Store building was moved onto the Temmey lots just north of the First State Bank (Coast-to-Coast) when the new Knight building was completed. Mr. Temmey established his real estate and insurance office in the front part and after his son, James E., purchased the Watchman, he moved the newspaper into the back part of the building. The Watchman remained in this building until George Zimmer, who took over the newspaper from C. L. Bates, purchased the Dalton bank building and moved his newspaper into that building. Mrs. Myrtle Money ran a cafe in this building for about ten years, after which it was empty for some time. In 1945, Clarence Chase purchased the building and bakery equipment and started a bakery, later adding a coffee bar. Clarence Chase came to Onida from Faulkton, South Dakota in 1933, and purchased the Sunshine Bakery from George Zimmer. The following year he married Vera Moulton, of Cresbard. The Chases' have four children-Lyle, who is attending State College, and Lyman, a student at Northern State Teachers College, Aberdeen. Gary, a freshman in Onida High School, and Koreen, a seventh grader. Two children passed away in infancy; Lionel, complications from a burn when he was a year old, and Virginia, who lived only two weeks. Mr. and Mrs. Chase lived in an apartment over the Sunshine Bakery and then moved into the Brooking house, the Orville Davis home. In 1937, Mr. Chase had one of Mr. Spaulding's houses moved to Onida from west Sully and remodeled it for their present home. In 1938, the bakery was moved into the north half of the present Coast-to- Coast Store where Mr. Chase ran his bakery until 1940. At that time he sold his bakery equipment to George Zimmer and rented his house to the Mott Geiser family. Then the Chase family moved to California for three years. Clarence was drafted for military service in 1943, but by the time he had moved his family back to Onida, where they owned their home, and he had returned to California, the draft age had been lowered and he was too old to go into service. [photo - Interior of Onida Bakery in 1933, owned and operated by Clarence Chase, located in the present White Owl Barber Shop building. Pictured, left to right, Lionel Knudson and Mr. Chase.] Clarence spent the next five years doing construction work. In 1948, he re-purchased his bakery equipment from Mr. Zimmer and bought the present building where he has served Onida and the surrounding area with a first class bakery. A coffee bar was added several years ago-the most popular spot in Onida during coffee breaks. Original Faust Building M. L. French (Coast-to-Coast) In July, 1894, Albert A. Faust purchased lot 11, block two, original Onida, and had a store building erected. Mr. Faust operated a general store for a short time and then sold out to L. A. Temmey. Mr. Faust died June 22, 1908, from injuries sustained in a runaway accident. He came to Sully County in 1883, and was a county sheriff. Mr. Temmey had traded land for a stock of merchandise which he sold out in his general store and in a short time, he sold the building to M. L. French. The First State Bank opened for business in the north half of this building on October 16, 1901, with a capital stock of $5,000, and Mr. French as cashier. In December, 1910, the bank purchased the building from Mr. French. Hoover and Renn operated their barber shop called the Star in the south half of the building until January, 1911, when they moved into the Gropengieser building across the street. Then Fred Tyler ran a jewelry store in the south half that Hoover and Renn had vacated. Mrs. French also had a millinery shop in that portion of the building. This arrangement didn't last long, however, for a druggist by the name of 0. S. Close came to Onida and purchased a part of the building on the south half, making it necessary for the jewelry store and millinery shop to vacate. Mr. Close then established a drug store in that half. Then in December, 1915, the First State Bank, outgrowing the north half of the building, bought out the Sully County State Bank and moved into its location (Watchman Office). Mr. Close then used the entire building for his drug store. The old safe which was brought to Onida from Clifton in the county seat fracas, was put in the Close Drug Store in December, 1921. Pat Abbott came to Onida in 1924, and purchased the building and drug store and operated it until he moved into his new drug store building in June, 1928. He then leased the building to Mott Geiser and Marvin Keck, who divided the space once more. Mr. Geiser established an electrical shop on the south side, and Keck, who had purchased the Onida Cleaning Works from C. W. Nattress in April, 1928, operated his business on the north side of the building. Mrs. Keck opened a millinery shop in a small part of the north side in March, 1929. In May, 1930, Mr. Keck added a shoe repair shop to his cleaning establishment. In November, 1934, he sold his business to Ted McGuire. [photo - The M. L. French store building in 1910, with the First State Bank in the north half and Hoover and Renn's Barber Shop located in the south half. This store is now Ed and Pat Cruthoff's Coast-to-Coast Store. The building to the right is the present Chase's Bakery. Pictured, left to right, George Becker, looking in the barber shop window; George Nelson and Inga Nordess, sitting on the back of the car; John Adams and Bertha Downing, in the front seat, and Mable Finch and T. L. Mitchell, standing beside the car. In the next group are L. A. Temmey and J. L. Sheffer, standing in front of the bank door; R. B. Dunlap, J. H. Gropengieser and M. L. French standing beside the car; George Worley, sitting on the edge of the car, and Leon French and Mrs. Charles Worley in the front seat.] Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Keck and two sons, Roger and Jimmy, came to Sully County in 1920, from Brookings, South Dakota, and purchased a farm in Farmington Township. When Mr. Keck became register of deeds in 1925, the family moved to Onida and built the house that is now the home of Mrs. June Ellis. Mrs. Keck was her husband's deputy during his two terms in office. In 1927, another son, Russell, was born. Mr. Keck purchased the Onida Cleaning Works from C. W. Nattress in 1929, and operated that business until he sold in 1934, and the family moved to Rapid City. Since living in the Gate City, Mr. Keck has been employed in the post office and Mrs. Keck owns and operates an employment agency. Roger is with the International Harvestor Company and lives in Chicago. Jimmy works for an insurance agency in Rapid City, and the youngest son, Russell, is a shoe salesman and owns two shoe stores in Laramie, Wyoming. All three boys are married and have children. The next business to occupy the French building was an ice cream and milk store run by Max Rodman. In 1938, Clarence Chase moved his bakery into the north half of the building and Lee Rappana established a creamery in the south half. About a year later, Rappana discontinued his business and Frank Frahm moved the barber shop equipment, that he had purchased from Clarence Brabec, into the south half. Then in 1940, Mr. Chase discontinued his bakery and Mr. Frahm also moved out. The building was then empty for a few years until Everett Stewart purchased the building from Mr. Abbott and moved his Minneapolis-Moline business from the Serbousek building. The business was named Stewart Implement. In 1947, Ed Cruthoff became a co-owner and the partners added the Marshall Wells line to their business. Original M. L. French Building Johnson & Spears (Spears & Spears) M. L. French purchased lot 12 in block two, original Onida about 1900 and had a building constructed to use as a store. He became postmaster in 1892, and had his post office in this building until 1894. He opened a general store and later his son, Leon, established a restaurant in the building until January, 1911. Then the Onida Supply, Fisher & French, moved their stock of clothing in from the Dunlap building. When Otis French sold the building to Johnson & Spears Land Agency in March, 1919, the partners had the building remodeled before moving in from their office building back of the Corner Store. This partnership lasted until 1941, when the L. D. Johnson family moved to Upland, California. The name of the business was then changed to Spears & Spears and has remained so since that time. Miss Aster Davis came to Onida in 1918, from Farina, Illinois, and taught in the Onida High School until she was married to W. B. Spears in June, 1921. The newlyweds went to Minneapolis on their honeymoon and while there, purchased furniture for their new home. Upon returning to Onida, they moved into the new house that had been built by the McConnachie Construction Company, and have made that their home during the past 37 years. The three Spears children graduated from Onida High School. Both girls, Margaret Fern and Cathy, were very active in music and social circles, bands and glee clubs. Margaret Fern was valedictorian of her class in 1940. She attended McAllister College in St. Paul, Minn., and later married Warry Winters, of New York City. They had a son, George, and a daughter, Julie. Mrs. Winters passed away in the summer of 1955. Cathy attended Northern State Teachers College, Aberdeen, and then taught school at Mobridge and at Philip, South Dakota, where she was married to Bill Bien in 1944, while he was in the service. They went East to his home in Baltimore, Maryland. Mrs. Bien is now living in Richmond, Virginia, and is employed as secretary to the Planning Board for the City of Richmond. Bill went into the service and later attended the University of South Dakota, graduating from the Law Department. He married Miss Barbara Krumm, of Huron, in December, 1957. They went to Dallas, Texas, where she is studying to be a medical doctor and is now serving her internship at Fort Worth, Texas. Bill is practicing law. Mr. and Mrs. Spears have given a great deal of their time and efforts to the growth and improvement of Onida and have been active in church and civic organizations through the years. Mrs. Spears has always been a leader in musical circles, having giv6n piano lessons, was pianist and a member of the choir in the Presbyterian Church, besides working diligently in the various church organizations. Abbott Drug [photo - Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Abbott, Onida drug store owners for 17 years.] [photo - W. G. (Pat) Abbott in his new drug store in 1936.] In the spring of 1928, Pat Abbott purchased from the Onida Holding Company the lot just north of the Corner Store, Bauman and Welch, and had a 25 x 60 foot modern brick and tile building constructed for his drug store. Pat and his employees moved into the new building the first week in June. Through the years, Pat employed various people in his drug store, some of those being Mrs. Jack Reedy, Marcel Christianson, Mrs. Ackers, Jimmy Hilton, Max Rodman, Miss Engelbretson, Walter Nelson, Mrs. Bert Knox, Maynard Knox, Elmer Weide, Mrs. Mae Becker, Mrs. Veda Christy, Miss Emma Vogelsang, Mrs. Emma Novachek and Mrs. Fred Snyder. Pat kept up with the changes in merchandise and operated a very up-to-date and complete drug store during the 17 years he was in business. Margaret and Pat Abbott came to Onida on January 1, 1924, from Huron. Previously, they had owned and operated drug stores at Iroquois and Harrold, South Dakota. Pat purchased the Close Drug Store and the building in 1924, now the Coast-to-Coast Store, from 0. S. Close and operated that drug store until 1928. When Mr. and Mrs. Abbott and their two children, John and Charlotte, came here, they lived in the house now occupied by Tony Lamb. Then in 1925, they built the home where they are now living. Both John and Charlotte graduated from Onida High School and were both active in school and community affairs and popular young people. John graduated from State College at Ames, Iowa, with a degree in engineering. He was employed with Westinghouse Electric Company in Chicago for two years and was then recalled as a reservist in the army. He married Lynn Ann McDonald from South Carolina, in Anchorage, Alaska, on October 6, 1951. While living in Washington, D. C., Lynn and John adopted an eight-month-old baby boy and named him Bruce David. As this history comes to a close, the young Abbotts have adopted another little boy whose name is Hans Christopher. Major and Mrs. Abbott and their two sons are now at Orley Air Force Base, Paris, France. Charlotte attended Yankton College for two years and then went to Iowa State Teachers College, Cedar Falls, Iowa. She taught school at Gregory, South Dakota, and Norfolk, Nebraska. Then she enrolled in an Airline Training School in Denver and worked in the Airline Terminal Office in that city about a year. She married Walter John Kotchik, of Portland, Oregon. The have two daughters, Lynn, 7, and Jill, age 3. Charlotte and her family live in Portland. Pat was city auditor for 12 years, 1942-1954; two years of which included managing the Onida Community Hospital. Since selling their drug store in 1941, the Abbotts have been semi-retired and have spent several winters in a warmer climate. [photo - Miss Charlotte Abbott (Mrs. W. J. Kotchik) and 1st Lt. Jack Abbott, daughter and son of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Abbott. Taken in 1944 at Norfolk, Nebraska, when Charlotte was teaching there and just before Jack went overseas for World War II duty.] Corner Store (Onida Electric) The first general store established on the corner (known for years as the Corner Store) was opened by A. A. Faust on March 22, 1890. Mr. Faust also operated a land and loan broker office in his store. Their home was just north of the store. The next proprietor of the Corner Store was L. A. Temmey, who moved a small stock of dry goods and groceries from his first location down in block three (Variety Store). He then established the Temmey Store and he and Mrs. Temmey operated a general merchandise store until 1907, when Mrs. Temmey was injured in a horse and buggy runaway and was unable to assist in the store. It was then that Temmey sold his store to Johnson and Nelson. Mr. Temmey then opened a real estate office in the front part of the present Chase Bakery building and continued in the real estate business which he started in Blaine Township. The Temmey family lived in the N. W. Porter house, now the Wilber Day home, from the time they moved here until they left. The family moved to Huron in 1918, where Mr. Temmey continued in the real estate business until his death. Johnson and Nelson were the next proprietors of the Corner Store, and in November, 1911, they sold to Washburn and Linsted, of St. Paul, Minnesota. This partnership lasted until 1918, when Johnson and Spears took over the business for a short time. Sutton and Bauman were the next partners, and it was while they were in business that the fire in November, 1919, completely destroyed the building and its contents. The building had been leased for five years from Mrs. C. J. Johnson. Ed Sutton then purchased the corner lots in December and almost immediately a new Sutton-Bauman store building was erected. The next proprietors were John Bauman and Fred Welch, who purchased the building in January, 1926. The partnership dissolved and Bauman operated under the name of Bauman's until they sold to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Ludwig in 1946. Ralph and Mae Ludwig operated the store for 10 years, selling out at an auction sale in 1956. They now own and operate the Isabelle Motel in Huron. Original Onida Hotel (Onida Bank) Mr. and Mrs. Joe McDonald were the first proprietors of the Onida Hotel and took possession about May 1, 1883, before the interior was completely finished. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Cole were the next operators, leaving here in January, 1909. They were followed by Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Silbaugh, who took over the management of the hotel and cafe and served good meals for 25c. Carl Wilkin was the next in charge of the business. A new siding was put on the south side of the building in January, 1911, which was burned by the Heywood and Nelson fire in December. Mr. and Mrs. Guy Rumrill had been managing the hotel and cafe for some time and by 1919, the building had been so antiquated from 30 years of use that the Rumrills made arrangements to build a new hotel directly across the street, on the site of the old courthouse. The hotel was then moved north into, the street in order to make room for the new bank building which was to be built on that corner. The Rurnrills continued to operate the hotel and cafe while the building was in the street. Sleeping in the street was fashionable those days. In July of that year, Dr. B. M. Hart purchased the hotel building and had it moved to the lots just south of the M. L. French home (the present Paul Sack home). He had it remodeled and it served as a hospital for several years. The building has since been remodeled and is now known as the Kimbell apartments. A new brick bank building, costing $65,000, was erected on the corner by A. R. McConnell and the First National Bank of Onida moved into its new location in April, 1920. The Farmers Bank had been changed to the First National Bank of Onida in January of that year, with Mr. McConnell as president; C. A. Smith, vice president; C. H. Gall, cashier, and Ed S. Pricer, assistant cashier. After the First National Bank closed, the First State Bank purchased the building and moved in on May 4, 1925. Then in June, 1930, the First State Bank and the Onida National Bank merged, using The Onida Bank as its name. J. H. Gropengieser was president, and A. J. Owens, vice president. The Stringer Building (Kub's Super Valu) J. M. Stringer erected a building just south of the Onida Bank in the fall of 1919, and he and his son, Francis, opened a general store, called the Quality Store, in February of the following year. They operated this business for several years and then the first part of September, 1928, Francis relinquished his business because of ill health. On October 27, of that year, C. W. Nattress purchased the business and operated it until the fire on Deember 8, 1936, completely destroyed the building and contents. The following spring, L. C. Ridinger purchased the lot and ruins, and built a new building in the same location and established a general store and meat department, In 1941, he added a frozen foods locker plant. Various people were employed by Mr. Ridinger through the years, among them were Miss Kathleen Dillon and Mrs. Irene Wargo. Mr. Ridinger sold his business to Joe Kub in the spring of 1956. Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Ridinger came to Onida in 1928, from Miller, South Dakota, and rented an apartment in the Hedman home. The following year, their son, David, was born and four years later, in 1933, Jane came to complete the family. Both David and Jane graduated from Onida High School. David graduated from the School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City and then was employed in a copper mine in Chile, South America, for three years. He returned to the states and entered the army, spending one year at Fort Bliss, Texas, and a year in Alaska. Then he accepted a position with the San Manuel Copper Company, San Manuel, Arizona. On April 1, 1956, he married Patricia Goss, of San Manuel. Jane was a student at the University of South Dakota for three years. She married James Anderson of Rapid City, on November 8, 1954. They have a daughter, Pamela, and live in Fargo, North Dakota. The Ridingers purchased the Forrest Eager house in 1930, and have made that their home. Since selling their business in 1956, Mr. and Mrs. Ridinger have been semi-retired. Original Will Spencer Building (Rivenes Cafe) In 1911, a building was erected on lot three, block three, original Onida, by Will Spencer, who established the post office in that building during his term as postmaster from 1913 until 1922. The building has since been a restaurant. It was the Hayes Restaurant for a number of years and then the Gardner Cafe until it was damaged by fire in September, 1930. The building was repaired and in May, of the following year, Mr. and Mrs. Schriever and two daughters, Lizzie and Elsie, opened a cafe. Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Culey managed the cafe from January, 1944, to December, 1945. Mrs. Emelia Rivenes then purchased the building and operated the cafe for about nine months, after which her son, Orville, took it over. Original Farmers Bank and Heywood & Nelson Real Estate (Post Office) One of the first store buildings to be erected in 1883 was the J. R. Lorenzen Store, which was sold to Heywood & Nelson for their first real estate business. Then on July 16, 1908, they moved the building from the east side of the street to their lot just north of Mrs. Howard's home and post office. Heywood & Nelson occupied the back part of the building and the new Farmers Bank was located in the front. The incorporators of the new bank were Will Spencer, cashier, George Coleman, C. J. Johnson, Charles H. Warneke and L. E. Snyder, directors. The first day's deposits on . August 15, amounted to $5,000.' On December 23, 1910, a fire broke out in the building and completely destroyed the old frame building and its two businesses. The bank then opened for business in the old courthouse as temporary headquarters, until a new building could be erected, The fire had destroyed all the bank's fixtures except the safe, which was sent to the factory in Omaha, to be opened. A valuable piano, belonging to Mrs. Spencer, was also burned. Heywood & Nelson rented a small building to carry on their business. In the meantime, they had another building erected on the same lot, and the Farmers Bank moved into that building in May, 1911. A. R. McConnell, of Mitchell, purchased the holdings of the bank in November, 1918, and in January, of 1920, the bank was changed over to the First National Bank of Onida. In April of that year, the new bank moved into its brick building on the corner. On September 1, 1924, the post office was moved into this building from Mrs. Howard's building on the south side. This change gave much more space and with the large vault, provided adequate facilities for the increased business. While Jonas Olson had carried the mail from the train in a little push cart for several years, it was then necessary for him to use a horse and wagon. Ed McLaughlin was postmaster at that time and continued in that capacity until 1935, when Win. Ruckle took over the postmaster duties. Mr. Ruckle purchased the building in 1949 from George Nelson, who had purchased it from Adele Nelson in 1925, shortly after the building became a post office. As soon as workmen, carpenters and plumbers could be secured, Mr. Ruckle had a new front installed of glass brick and double paned glass in the windows. The door, which had been located in the center of the front, was changed over to the north side of the front. A washroom was built in the back part and water and sewer connections were made. The rear of the building was repaired and the back door covered with steel. A new floor furnace was installed and the interior completely redecorated. The box section was also moved from one side of the building to one-half of the front part, thus letting in more light. [photo - Mrs. Howard, postmistress, standing in the door of her home where the post office was established. Jonas Olson, beside the. push cart, was the mail carrier.] Postmasters B. F. Brier, May 2, 1883, located in the Weyand & Brier Store. I. K. Clark, 1886-1890, located in the Cole building. Eli Blair, 1890-1892. M. L. French, 1892-1894, located in his store (Spears & Spears). Bell Colton, 1894-1898, located in the Gropengieser building. J. H. Gropengieser, 1898-1903, located in his building. Mrs. Bertha M. Howard, 1903-1913, first located in her house and then in a building to the north of her house. Will Spencer, 1913-1922, located in his building (Rivenes Cafe). Ed McLaughlin, 1922-1935, moved to the present post office building in 1924. William Ruckle, 1935 to present time. [photo - Postmaster Wm. E. (Bill) Ruckle in front of the post office in 1957.] Star Route Post Offices Between Onida and Kaspar Conklin, McCaniley and Kaspar, which have been discontinued. Carriers were: Len Haverly, Bert Haverly, George Dillon, Chester Larson, Luther Miller, Henry Kottke, Ray Doyle and W. L. Jordan. Onida Billiard Parlor Mr. R. Jenison purchased the George Paddock lot and buildings directly south of Mrs. Howard's home and post office in September, 1909. The building formerly fronting the street was removed and Mr. Jenison replaced it with a new 22 x 48 foot building and then opened the Onida Billiard parlor. In March, of the following year, he installed a new lighting plant. R. J. and Ira Dougherty purchased the business in December, 1910, and built a 22x3O foot addition on the back. They did not stay in business long, for in October, 1911, they sold to L. S. Howard, ex-sheriff of Sully County. The pool hall closed on July 15, 1918, by order of the state law during the war. Then in September, 1925, Mr. Howard sold his business to T. F. Stevenson and J. A Johnson. Sig Severson, Sr., owned and operated the business for many years until his death in 1954, and then it went into the hands of Ben Ahrendt. Original J. F. Martin Law Office (Variety Store) On November 1, 1890, J. F. Martin purchased lot eight, block three, original Onida, from Charles H. Agar and established a law office in a small building. Mr. Martin did not stay there long, and was followed in this location by Leo A. Temmey, who came to Sully County in 1884. He brought his real estate business into town which he had established at his homestead five miles east of Onida along the northern border of Blaine Township. He happened on a trade of Sully County land for a small stock of ladies' ready-to-wear garments and other merchandise, which started him out in a general merchandise store. He later added groceries and in a short time, moved his stock of merchandise to the Corner Store. The Onida Telephone Company went into the building with Mrs. Maud Sedgewick as the first operator. The telephone office remained there until its new building was completed in 1910 (Bessie Lumley's home). Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Rurnrill, parents of Guy Rumrill, made their home there until Mrs. Maggie McConnachie purchased the building in 1929, and established a coffee shop. She later enlarged and remodeled in order to better serve her customers. Then, after 16 years of service in the coffee shop, she sold out to Veo Lamb, in October, 1945, who established a cafe and leased that business to different operators during the next seven years. Then in November, 1952, Mrs. Lamb disposed of the cafe equipment and established the Variety Store. Original Stegeman Building (Gambles) Excavation started in April, 1910, for the new combination drug store and hospital erected by Dr. S. B. Stegeman, of Pierre. The drug store was located in the front part, known as the A. F. Blewitt Drug Company, and the doctor's offices were in the back. The upstairs was made into living quarters and a small hospital. In June, 1911, the drug store was changed to the Hospital Drug Store with R. R. Huffman as pharmacist. Mr. Huffman sold his interest in the drug store to A. C. Porter of Madison, South Dakota, in April, 1917, and Mr. Porter again changed the name to the Porter Drug Store. The Stegemans moved to Gettysburg in 1917. A circulating library, organized by the Onida Ladies' Club, was located in the drug store in October, 1917, and later moved to the Abbott Drug Store and then to the City Auditor's office. In November, 1918, the City of Onida took over the first floor of the building as an emergency hospital for influenza patients, which had been cared for previously in the schoolhouse. The J & J Cafe opened in this build