Full Text of "75 Years of Sully County History, 1883 - 1958", pages 31-52 This file contains the full text of a part of "75 Years of Sully County History", edited by Mrs. E. L. Thompson. Scanning and OCR by Joy Fisher, http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00001.html#0000031 This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/sd/sdfiles.htm This book was produced by the Onida Watchman and is not copyrighted. Reproduction of all editorial and pictorial matter is explicitly permitted. [photo - Interior of Gambles taken in 1941. Pictured, left to right, Ed Bailey, Grace Kennedy and Les Swanson. Swansons are the present owners.] The J & J Cafe opened in this building in April, 1920, and then in January, 1925, the Onida Confectionery opened for business. The front part was redecorated and new fixtures purchased, making the confectionery a very attractive place. Weldon Thomas and George Lytle, the proprietors, were mighty proud of their new candy store and ice cream parlor. The large fountain, booths and tables, together with the candy cases filled with the finest candy ever shown in Onida, were very impressive. In September, of that year, Mr. Thomas purchased the Lytle interest and Mr. Lytle went back to his former profession of teaching. In March of the following year, Thomas sold the confectionery fixtures to E. G. Butler, of Miller. Ralph Myers of Gettysburg then purchased the building and opened an authorized Gamble Store on July 28, 1934, with Les Swanson as manager. In 1948, Les and his wife, Irene, became coowners of the store. Onida Telephone Company (Home of Bessie Lumley) The Onida Telephone Company completed their line from Blunt to Onida in January, 1900. The phone was located in the Sully County Land and Abstract Company in Onida, and at the Waite Brothers Store in Blunt. By the middle of the year phones had been installed at the residence of Charles J. Johnson, midway between Blunt and Onida, and at the depot in Blunt. Business at the Onida Telephone Company was so great by the early fall of 1925, that a new switchboard had to be installed. On March 10, 1926, the fiftieth birthday anniversary of the telephone was celebrated, according to P. F. Orcutt, manager of the Onida Telephone Company. On March 10, 1876, the first message was transmitted over the telephone. Workers everywhere wore an emblem in the form of a lapel button with a picture of a telephone with the figures "50" superimposed. Mr. and Mrs. Orcutt sold their privately-owned Onida Telephone Company to the Dakota Central Telephone Company in November, 1926. By September, 1928, the new company had completed rebuilding the entire telephone system in Onida. All old poles and wire were removed from Main street and elsewhere, and cables strung and new leads installed. The first telephone office was located in the building now occupied by the Variety Store, and the first operator was Mrs. Maud Sedgewick. About 1910, L. E. Snyder erected a new building, now the home of Bessie Lumley, for the purpose of a telephone office. Following its completion, the telephone office and switchboard was moved into the new building, with Esther McClure as operator. In 1915, Hazel Eager took over the switchboard duties, and then Mrs. Chet Larson, followed by Louise Quistad. Miss Alice McGuire and Miss Alice Jordan were also operators. In 1930, the Lumleys moved here from Okobojo and took over the telephone duties. Mrs. Lumley had charge of the switchboard until 1941, when the telephone system changed over to "dial". During those 11 years, Blanche, Serbousek, Norma Rumrill, Frances Chamberlain and Frances Brown assisted Mrs. Lumley at the switchboard. Mrs. Lumley has lived in the same building since then. Original New Theatre Building (Roxy) Huffman & Schriever opened the New Theatre on November 1, 1920, which continued to operate under that name until June, 1923, when Al Schriever took over and changed the name to the Onida Theatre. Then Art Owens purchased the business and changed the name to the Crystal Theatre, which opened in September, 1927. Mott Geiser became the manager and opened the week of December 10, 1929, under the name of the Grand Theatre. The next owner was Harlan Seeley, of De Smet, who remodeled the building, installed new equipment and changed the name to the Roxy Theatre. He managed it a short time and then his brother-in-law, Olney Moe, took over for about three years, followed by another brother-in-law, Eugene Brown, who came in 1946. Then Lloyd Sawinsky managed the theatre for a couple years. Glenn Woods came here in September, 1950, and Mr. Woods operated the theatre until he sold to Bob Demery. Coquillette Furniture Store (Fosness Cleaners) Mr. and Mrs. Frank Coquillette came here in June, 1919, from Miller, as newlyweds, and established a furniture store and undertaking parlor. They had an apartment in the building and Mrs. Coquillette had a beauty shop, Onida's first beauty operator. The American Legion organized in this building in September of 1919. About 1931, the Coquillettes closed out their business and moved to Aurora, Colorado, for her health. The building was vacant for a time and then in the spring of 1935, Mr. and Mrs. Fosness purchased the Kecks' cleaning establishment, which had been sold to Ted McGuire in November, 1934, and were open for business on June 1. They purchased the building from Coquillette in 1941. [photo - Built in 1915 (present John Day Implements building). Pictured, left to right, Frank Johnson, Minor Haverly and P. J. Murphy.] Johnson and Haverly Garage (John Day Implements Building) About a year after Frank Johnson and Minor Haverly built the Ford Garage (John Day Implements) in 1915, they sold their hardware business to Frank McGinis and started selling cars. Ford Cole and Henry Chamberlain became partners in this enterprise. In September, 1925, the business was sold to E. E. Greeves and Harvey Renshaw. The following year, in June, Greeves became the sole owner of the Greeves and Renshaw Ford Garage, having purchased the interest of his partner. The business was then known as the Greeves Motor Company. Then Greeves moved to Gettysburg and R. R. Kambak managed the business. In March, 1930, H. G. Kottke and Kambak purchased the Greeves Motor Company and changed the name to Onida Motor Sales Company. [photo - Interior of Johnson & Haverly Ford Garage in 1915. Minor Haverly standing Frank Johnson seated at desk.] It was about that time that the holdings of Johnson and Haverly were divided. Frank Johnson took the garage building, and the brick building became Mr. Haverly's. Mrs. Haverly now owns the property. Kottke and Kambak operated as partners until the fall of 1942, when Mr. Kottke moved to Salem, Oregon. As soon as the business closed, Connie Hyde rented the building from Frank Johnson. Then Wilber Day moved the I.H.C. business, which he had purchased from Hyde, into that building. Mr. Day took on the Plymouth-DeSoto Agency, and Orval Hortman took over the Ford Agency. When John Day, a nephew of Wilber Day, returned home from service, he became a partner in the business, which was then called The Day Implement. Then in 1948, John became the sole owner of the business and changed the name to John Day Implements. Original Weyand & Brier Building Courthouse (Mosiman Hotel) When the county seat was moved to Onida in 1885, the Weyand and Brier Store on the corner became the courthouse and served as such until the new courthouse was completed in 1912. The Farmers Bank was located temporarily in this courthouse building after the fire of December, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Guy Rumrill, who came to Onida from Pierre about 1910, and operated a cafe in the Gustafson building (Frozen Foods) for a couple years, purchased the Onida Hotel and operated a cafe there. Then in July, 1919, they had the hotel moved into the street where it stood until the new hotel was finished. The Rumrills moved into their new hotel building in February, 1920, and operated the hotel business until they sold to Alfred Mosiman in 1946. The old courthouse building was purchased by Frank Johnson from Guy Rumrill in July, 1919, and moved to a site just east of the present Masonic Hall, where it served as a garage for Hoover & Huffman. The Rumrills purchased the house just west of the L. C. Ridinger home and lived there until Mr. Rumrill passed away in June, 1950. Mrs. Rumrill kept the home for a few years and just recently sold it to Joe Lamb. She now makes her home with her daughter, Norma (Mrs. Maurice Wika) and family, of De Smet. Her older daughter, Ethel (Mrs. Fred Snyder) lives in Grand Junction, Colorado, and their son, Harry (Bus) is married and lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Sully County Land & Abstract Company J. H. Gropengieser and L. E. Snyder organized the Sully County Land & Abstract Company in 1894, in the same building that Gropengieser's daughter, Bess, operates the business at the present time with the able assistance of Agnes Noste. The original partnership dissolved on January 5, 1915, when Mr. Gropen,(Iieser became the sole owner of the business. The building was moved here from Clifton and has been kept in good repair. The vault in the office is made from bricks that were brought here from Fort Sully, and the desk, which is still used in the front office, was bought for $8.50 at Fort Sully in 1894. The interior of the building has been remodeled and modernized. This business has continued in its same location for 64 years as the history closes. [photo - J. H. Gropengieser seated at his desk in the Sully County Land and Abstract office, in about 1910. This desk is still being used by his daughter, Bess, who has continued operation of the business.] [photo - First Home of the Onida Watchman in 1889, Published by J. H. Gropengieser. George Lacy, seated on his stage wagon in front Of the building.] Gropengiesers John H. Gropengieser came to Sully County in the spring of 1833, and located at Clifton, the county seat at that time. He and William C. Walter established the Sully County Watchman in April of that Year and at the close of 1885, Mr. Gropengieser became full owner of the newspaper. When Onida became the county seat, he moved his newspaper here and then purchased a competitive paper, the Onida Journal, and consolidated the two papers in July, 1894, changing the name to the Onida Watchman. He married Julia A. Brown, daughter of Thomas and Eliza Brown, on April 7, 1889. They had two children, Fred and Bess, who graduated from the Onida High School and then from State College, Brookings, South Dakota. Fred was an electrical engineer and installed Onida's first electric light plant. He married Beulah Martin, but unfortunately it was not possible for him to be with her many years, as he passed away in 1918, during the influenza epidemic. Bess taught school in Onida for several years and was considered one of Onida's most outstanding teachers. She was the first football coach in Onida and later, with the assistance of Will Robinson, now State Historian, started the first football team in Onida. Mr. Gropengieser was the first man in Sully County to attempt many enterprises. Among those were to seed the yard of his residence property to lawn grass and plant it to trees; to install an electric lighting system and furnace heating plant in his home; to build the electric light plant in Onida; to incorporate and erect a telephone line into Onida in company with L. E. Snyder and L. A. Temmey; to purchase a new automobile in 1906; to install up-to-date metal boxes in the Onida post office in 1889, and to install a radio receiving set in his residence in 1922. He was a constant booster for Sully County and Onida and was always ready to do his part in the advancement for the benefit of the community. He was a member of the Methodist Church and a charter member of the Masonic and Woodmen Lodges in Onida. Mr. Gropengieser, who passed away suddenly on May 6, 1937, from pulmonary complications, was a highly respected pioneer, editor, postmaster, attorney, realtor and banker of Sully County. Mrs. Gropengieser was one of Sully County's distinguished pioneers, possessing those characteristics of self-sacrifice, fortitude and spirit of determination that typified the early day settlers. She assisted her husband in publishing the newspaper, while he was postmaster, during the time he held various county offices, and also in the land and abstract business. In 1910 and 1911, she took over the operation of Onida's electric light plant, so that her son Fred could attend college. She still found time for an active interest in community affairs and social events. She was a member of the Methodist Church and sang in the choir. Mrs. Gropengieser passed away on October 17, 1948. [photo - Interior of Little Gem Barber Shop, owned by Severson and Hoover, in 1917. Front barber, Sig Severson, Sr., and back barber, Frank Hoover. Customers- unidentified.] [photo - Virginia Hilton, owner and operator of the Vanity Beauty Shoppe, and her associate, Eleanor Curley. Customers are Mrs. Charles Miller in the foreground and Mrs. William Trythall, under the drier.] Gropengieser Building (Vanity Beauty Shoppe) When J. H. Gropengieser- purchased the Onida Journal in 1894, he had the building, in which it was housed, moved to lot 13, block one, original Onida, where he established the Onida Watchman. He continued at the helm until 1905, when he sold the newspaper to the Onida Printing Company. He then spent full time in his abstract office. Frank Hoover moved his barber equipment into the building in January, 1911, and in 1917, Severson and Hoover became partners in the barber business and called it the Little Gem. Then in 1919, Sig Severson, Sr., bought out Hoover's interest and changed the name to the White Owl Barber Shop. Severson continued to barber in this building until 1938, when he moved over to his own building, the present barber shop. The next occupant of the building was Elsie Lindell Robinson, who operated a beauty parlor until January, 1944. Then Carl Strand had a Rawleigh Products store for about a year. The next business was a jewelry store operated by Malcom White. He stayed there until 1950, when he went to Gettysburg. Then came an electrical shop operated by a Mr. Wingren. The next businesses were two jewelry stores, the first jeweler being John Korthuis, who was here from July, 1951, to February, 1952, and the last one was Charles Fransen, who left here in May, 1956. The Vanity Beauty Shoppe is now located in the building. [photo - Frank Johnson Hardware in 1909, located on the present Ellis Drug site. Pictured left to right, C. R. Garner, Otis French, Minor Haverly, Frank Johnson, Bert Haverly, Len Haverly, Carl Wilkin, Henry Wilken, unidentified, and Leon French, seated. Foreground -First Ford in Sully county, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Minor Haverly.] Johnson & Haverly Hardware The Johnson Hardware (Frank) was located on the Ellis Drug site. After Minor J. Haverly purchased a half interest in the business in 1910, the partners bought a lot across the street and built the present Haverly brick building, where they continued their hardware business. On April 1, 1919, they sold their business to Frank C. McGinnis, who operated there about two years. The business was then sold to Smith & Jack. This partnership dissolved in November, 1921. Mr. Smith and his two sons, Purle and Boyd, then operated the hardware store until the father moved to Gettysburg. The business was closed and Purle went into the electric business in Gettysburg and Boyd remained in Onida and became an electrician. The Boyd Smith family lived in the Knox house until they moved to Minneapolis in the late thirties. The W. O. Smith family lived in the house now occupied by the Paul Sack family. At the close of World War II, Connie Huse came home and opened an electrical appliance and radio shop and called it Connie's Electric. In June, 1949, he sold out to Bob and Paul Ramler, who took over the entire business until July, 1956, when they purchased the John Bauman building and after remodeling, moved their business over to the corner, the present Onida Electric. [photo - Interior of Johnson & Haverly Hardware in new brick building, taken in 1911. Pictured, left to right, a salesman, Ford Cole and Minor Haverly.] Original Cole Drug Store (White Owl Barber Shop) The Cole brothers, John and Ira, operated a drug store in Clifton, as well as a livery stable, and when the stable was moved to Onida in 1886, a house was also moved here and located in the same vicinity where the Cole family made their home. They brought their stock of merchandise from their drug store in Clifton and located in a small building on the east side of the street, several doors down from the Weyand and Brier Store. That same month, T. K. Clark, who owned a 20 x 50 foot store building in Clifton, had his building moved here and set on the lot where the White Owl Barber shop is now located. Mr. Clark, who was postmaster of Clifton, established a grocery and provision store in his building in partnership with Ira Cole, who looked after the business while Mr. Clark took care of his postoffice duties in the same building. They dissolved partnership in December, 1889. John and Ira Cole had already purchased the Clark building in March, 1889, and had it converted into a combination general store and drug store, having moved their stock of drugs from their first location, to their new location. The drug department was on the north side of the store and a stock of boots and shoes, dry goods and jewelry on the south side. Mrs. Cole also had a millinery department on the south side. They operated this store until they sold the building to the Telfords in 1920. The Telford brothers doubled the length of the building and opened a restaurant and pool hall. Then in September, 1926, C. F. Cole, of St. Lawrence, leased the building from the Telfords and moved his two-chair barber shop equipment and pool hall fixtures into it. This business was short-lived, as the Kendall Cafe was established there within a year or two. Harry Kendall did not stay there for long, either, as in May, 1928, Sig Severson purchased the building, had it remodeled and rented it to Dave Gustafson and Frank Frahm for a funiture store and undertaking parlors. Gustafson ran the furniture department and Mr. Frahm conducted his mortuary. [photo - Mr. and Mrs. John Cole standing in front of their drug store. This same building has been remodeled and is now the White Owl Barber Shop.] In September, 1929, S. B. Hammer, who had purchased the Onida Bakery from Schilling, leased the building for his bakery. It was necessary then for Gustafson to move his furniture into his own building, the present Frozen Foods. Mr. Frahm moved his undertaking business into the building back of the Sunshine Bakery, formerly used as a photographer's gallery. Then in 1933, Clarence Chase purchased the bakery, including the equipment. Prohibition was repealed in 1933, and it was in 1934 that Mr. Severson partitioned a small area in the northwest corner of the bakery to be used as Onida's first liquor store with Harry McGuire as manager. The liquor store remained in that building for about two years and then was moved to its present location in the front part of the City Hall, the original light plant building. Mr. Chase continued his bakery in this building until 1941, and at that time Mr. Severson moved his White Owl Barber Shop from the Gropengieser building (Vanity Beauty Shoppe) into his own buildingEverett Chenoweth, who had barbered in the White Owl Shop since 1927, also moved to the new location, along with Severson. [photo - Mother and Daughter, 20 years separating their ages, in 1898. Mrs. John Cole, left, and Maud Cole (Garner) when 16 years old.] Original Cole House (The Tavern) John F. Cole had a large house built for his family in Clifton which he had moved to Onida after they established their drug store here. It was set on the lots north of their drug store and was known as the Cole house for many years. After Mr. Cole passed away on April 29, 1919, Mrs. Cole continued to keep roomers in her home until her health failed and she went to live with her daughter, Mrs. C. R. Garner. The house was rented at different times during the next 10 years, and in 1956, it was purchased by Gay Phares, who had it remodeled and then moved his Tavern in from its old location in the Phares building. [photo - Mr. and Mrs. John F. Cole and daughters, Linnie and Maud (Mrs. C. R. Garner) at right.] Cole History Mr. and Mrs. John F. Cole and their two daughters, Linnie and Maud, and Ira Cole, a brother of John, left their home in Attumwa, Iowa, and settled in Clifton in March, 1883. The Cole brothers operated a drug store in Clifton until 1886, when the family moved to Onida and established their drug store. Linnie passed away at the home of her parents on January 29, 1893. Maud attended Onida Grade School and then taught at the Garner School for four terms on a permit when she was 16 years old. Then she took her high school academic work at Huron College and taught school again before she married C. R. Garner in 1904. A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. John Cole in 1899, named J. Ford. He married Lois Roach and they live in Aberdeen, Washington. They had a son, who was killed in an auto accident, and now they have a nine-year-old adopted daughter. Mrs. Cole passed away on April 29, 1946, exactly 27 years to the day following her husband's death. Ira Cole married Calla Lilly, daughter of. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Lilly, one of Sully County's first pioneers. Ira and his wife went to Minneapolis to live. Mrs. Wallace Lilly was an artist and did -water color and oil painting. She painted a picture of Onida in 1885, showing the Onida Hotel, the two schoolhouses, the Red Livery Stable and the first windmill. [photo - J. Ford Cole, six weeks old, brother of Maud (Cole) Garner. Carriage is 60 years old.] John Adams Company Building (Joe Lamb Building) Mrs. Alice Adams and son John purchased the Mesick-Stangeland Implement Store in 1917, and added a garage and hardware stock in the front part of the building, and also installed a gasoline pump. They had the Chrysler Agency. Mr. Adams also installed a new Delco electric light plant that same year. In the middle twenties, the Onida Construction Company began building a new repair shop, machinery and oil warehouse and four individual garages for John Adams Company on their property across the alley east of the garage. With the completion of this new building the firm had 15,148 square feet of floor space, and storage room for 75 cars. About 1936, the business was closed out and J. C. Lomheim acquired the building. Then Orval Hortman rented the building and established the Chevrolet Agency and John Deere business. Incidentally, Hortman sold his first John Deere tractor to Josh J. Hofer, a new 1937 model. After Mr. Lomheim passed away in 1941, the building became the property of his daughter, Gertrude Snell. In 1941, H. R. Birdsall rented the shop area from Mr. Hortman for a repair shop. Then in November, 1943, Mr. Hortman moved over to the Corner building that he had purchased from Serbousek, and Mr. Birdsall took over the Chevrolet Agency and operated the entire business. He purchased the building in 1945, and ran the business until April of 1957. Dunlap Corner (H & H Motors) [photo - Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Dunlap] [photo - Thema, left, and Ethel Dunlap, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Dunlap.] Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dunlap came here from Kendall, Wisconsin, about 1900, bringing a supply of lumber with them. Mr. Dunlap built up the corner, which is now H & H Motors. He built a two-story building on the corner, a lumber yard directly south and a large eight-room house still farther south, where the Dunlaps lived and Mrs. Dunlap kept roomers. He built just east of his corner building, about where the H & H Quonset is located, which building was used as a picture studio, and another house east of the studio, that was for rent. In August, 1911, M. L. French and sons, Leon and Otis, purchased a large stock of merchandise from Otto Nelson and opened up for business in the corner building. The stock consisted of everything needed from the cradle to the grave. In December, 1909, Dunlap and M. L. French went into the furniture business and called it the Onida Supply Company. About 1915, the Joseph Serbousek family moved to town and purchased the entire Dunlap holdings. They lived in the large eight-room house. The Dunlap family then returned to their home state of Wisconsin. The corner building housed numerous businesses, off and on, during the next few years. One of the first was a movie house, then a pool hall run by Guy Rumrill. New Bakery Opens For some time the people of Onida realized the need of a bakery. So the first week of September, 1924, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Basford leased the Serbousek building and remodeled it for use as a bakery. Mr. Basford was an experienced baker and installed the most modern equipment of that time. Onida residents were grateful for this new enterprise and welcomed the Basfords as new residents. However, the first part of February of the next year, Mr. and Mrs. Basford sold the Sunshine Bakery to their son-in-law, Fred Schilling, and his friend, J. M. Eastman, who changed the name to Onida Bakery. Mr. and Mrs. Schilling purchased the fixtures of the former Onida Confectionery Store, located in the Stegeman building. The beautiful back bar, fountain booths, tables and candy cases were an added attraction to their bakery. A new Frigidaire cooling system was also installed. On May 1, 1928, Richard Bartells and Donald Van Epps, of Ft. Pierre, acquired possession of the bakery from Schilling. The following August they leased their equipment to Roy Clark, of Deadwood, and then in September, 1929, S. B. Hammer, of Watertown, purchased the bakery and some new equipment, including a new oven, and leased the Sig Severson building which is now the barber shop. The building was vacant for some time. Then in 1934, G. E. Davis, of Seneca, purchased the I.H.C. business from Dave Gustafson and opened an implement store, where the bakery had been. Then Connie Hyde purchased the business from Davis in September, 1937, and continued in that location until the fall of 1942, when he sold the business to Wilber Day Mr. Day immediately moved the stock of implements down to the Frank Johnson building (John Day Implements). Then Everett Stewart and Everett Money moved in and operated a Minneapolis-Moline Implement business until 1945 when the partnership dissolved and Mr. Stewart purchased the former French building (Coast-to-Coast) and moved implement business to that location. A short time later, Orval Hortman purchased the Serbousek buildings and opened a John Deere and Ford Agency business in the corner building. In the spring of 1948, Mr. Hortman had a new modern brick building erected, and in October of that year, H & H Motors officially moved into their new home. The old Serbousek buildings were completely removed. The corner building, that had been the Eastern Star's first home, when they organized in 1920, and also the Masons' meeting place, was sold to the Masons and moved to its present location. The large house was moved to the east part of town and is now the home of Henry Unruh. Then the building that had housed the photographer's studio and the mortuary, was moved north of the new courthouse and is now the Frank Hyde home. [photo - A group of young people in Onida in 1900. Standing, left to right, Maud Cole, Bert Fenton, Neuton Garner, Minor Haverly and Louie Haverly. Seated, left to right, C. R. Garner, Minnie Porter, Belle Colton, Otis French and Albert Toomey.] [photo - Big snow plow at work in a cut six miles north of Onida in 1914. The snow in places was 20 feet deep.] "WHAT'S WHAT" Did you know that in 1926, our county had the largest primary flax market town in the United States, if not the whole world? It was Onida! ----------------------------- Taken from the Onida Watchman in 1926-Did you know that Sully County possesses one of the big damsites that sooner or later will harness the waters of the Old Muddy, and that it will eventually revolutionize manufacturing in South Dakota? ----------------------------- Did you know that Gen. Alfred Sul1y, after whom our county was named, fought two separate battles with the Indians on Dakota soil? And did you further know that his men once subsisted for three whole days on a single cracker a day? ----------------------------- Rev. Thomas L. Riggs, last of the little band of Congregational missionaries who came to western South Dakota in the 70's, died at his home at Oahe, Saturday morning, July 6, 1940, at the age of 93. Son of Rev. Stephen Return Riggs, credited with preaching the first sermon in what is now South Dakota, Rev. Riggs spent his life working with and guiding the spiritual life of the Sioux Indian nations of South Dakota. After being ordained in 1872, he was sent to Fort Sully where he began a mission for the Teton Sioux. He was transferred to Oahe, Peoria Bottom, in November, 1874, later becoming superintendent of Congregational Indian missions on the Sioux reservations west of the Missouri River. He held this position until 1919. Rev. Riggs was the first president of the South Dakota Historical Society. He was born in Lac qui Parle, Minnesota, and educated at Beloit College, Chicago Theological Seminary, Yankton College and the University of South Dakota. Street Scenes [photo - Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Weyand and two children came to Onida in 1883, but did not stay too long. They went to Colorado Springs, Colorado, in the eighties, where he engaged in the mining business and became wealthy. Later the family moved to Chicago.] [photo - Looking north on Broadway in 1911, when the present courthouse was under construction] [photo - Main Street in 1927] [photo - Main Street in 1910 (above). Note erregular parking of cars.] [photo - Celebration day in Onida (below) during summer of 1900] [photo - Bicycling on Main Street in 1890] [photo - A busy corner in Onida in 1915] [photo - Looking east from the depot in the early 1900's] [photo - The two-story structure in the background (above) in 1911, now is the present Onida Watchman building. Had this scene been taken in 1958, the line-up of autos might indicate the teen-agers were about to have a "drag" race.] [photo - View of Main Street (below), crowded with people. Corner Store on left and Gropengieser's Real Estate on the right.] City Government When the population of the Village of Onida reached 169, there was considerable talk about incorporating. So on September 28, 1909, Onida held its first election to determine whether or not the majority of the people wished to incorporate as a town. There were 46 votes-31 for, and 15 against. Therefore the vote carried to incorporate, and on October 7, of that year, the Village of Onida became the Incorporated Town of Onida. Then on October 26, an election was held to determine the town officers. M. A. Hyde was elected trustee for ward one; J. N. Garner, ward two; L. E. Snyder, ward three; Carl Wilkin, marshal; Andrew McFall, city justice; E. E. Brooking, Sr., clerk; Will Spencer, treasurer; E. E. Brooking, Sr., assessor, and Carl Wilkin, road overseer. H. D. Yeager was named to take a census of Onida to determine if the population was large enough to issue bonds for installing a water-works system, and on July 20, 1910, his report was accepted and it was voted to petition the Town Board for a water system. C. R. Garner was appointed to approach the Board. Sidewalks were laid in many parts of Onida in the fall of 1910. Then with a population of 250, another election was held on May 11, 1911, to see if the people wanted to become a city. There were 37 votes cast-35 for, and two against. So Onida organized as a city under the general law of the state. The City of Onida held its first election June 6, 1911, for the purpose of electing city officers and appointing judges. L. E. Snyder was the first mayor of Onida. Aldermen were J. F. Cole and George Worley, first ward; J. N. Garner and M. J. Haverly, second ward, and L. D. Johnson and T. L. Mitchell, third ward. Other officers were E. E. Brooking, auditor; Will Spencer, treasurer; M. L. French, assessor; F. T. Hartley, city justice; H. C. Spencer, police justice; E. E. Heywood, street commissioner, J. L. Kleinschmidt, chief of police, and J. F. Russ, policeman. The aldermanic form of government was adopted at the election and has continued under such form to date without change. A city election was held on June 27, 1911, voting water-works bonds for $10,000. The result of the election was 60 yes and four no. A new artesian well was located on the property across the street north from the Frank Johnson residence, and in July, 1911, the work was completed; however, it only flowed about 20 gallons per minute and had to be pumped. The water was nearly ice cold. The new water tower and tank was completed in August. The mains of the new city water-works were tapped on November 6, to the great satisfaction of the citizens, as heretofore, there had been near a water famine. Excerpts From Available City Records 1920-Mayor, E. E. Heywood; auditor, R. L. Howard; council, Trythall, Bauman, Adams, Kleinschmidt, McDeid, Huffman .... A petition was presented by property owners along Broadway between Court and Pearl Streets asking that curbs and gutters be considered. Petition granted. 1921 -City Justice J. B. Arends; city attorney, M. H. Quimby; city auditor, R. R. Huffman; city treasurer, M. R. Brown. 1922-The City was to invest $200.00 in a new fire house .... A proposed franchise of the Onida Telephone Company was presented and accepted .... Fanton Brothers' bid of $155.50 for laying pipe for water mains was offered. 1923-City Auditor, A. C. Groth. 1924-Health officer, Dr. B. M. Hart. 1925-Dog License Ordinance enforced .... Onida Watchman designated official newspaper .... City entered in an agreement with White Eagle Oil Co. to buy fuel oil at 9c per gallon. 1926 - The First State Bank of Onida and the Onida National Bank were designated as depositories for the City. 1927 -Bids on fire siren were considered and accepted .... the City decided to extend light service to include 24-hour service on Sundays .... The offer of Northern Power and Light Co. of Mobridge of $10,000 for City light plant was rejected. 1928-Building permit to W. G. Abbott for a brick and tile business building, block 2, original town approved. 1929-Jack Reedy appeared on behalf of American Legion Post. The Post offered to construct a suitable sign at entrance to city. 1930-The light and water committee was directed to see that colored Christmas lights were erected. 1932 -Superintendent of light plant, F. C. Hyde; City library board, Mrs. W. H. Durrstein, Mrs. W. G. Abbott, Mrs. Jesse Williamson, J. J. Bauman and C. J. Crandall. 1933-Harry McGuire appointed city marshal at a salary of $60 per month .... Draying License No. 114 issued to Thomas Doyle was approved. 1934-Fire chief, I M. Reedy; assistant chief and secretary treasurer, L. C. Ridinger. 1935-Notice of Special Election on the 15th day of October, on the question: Shall the City of Onida issue its negotiable general obligation coupon bonds etc. for the purpose of providing for cost of construction of a Municipal Auditorium .... The canvass of the election-268 votes, 197 for and 71 against .... Application of Grace Spencer for permission to build an ice house on lot 13 was approved. 1936-Mayor: Max Rodman. 1937-M. S. Rivenes was hired as manager of the Municipal Liquor Store .... The application of Joe Wargo for City Policeman was read. Unanimous roll call approved the appointment. 1938 -Mr. Coacher appeared before the Council requesting that the City Auditorium be equipped for basketball. 1939-A motion that the City sponsor and construct the proposed sewage disposal plant as a W.P.A. project carried. 1940-A license was granted to H. C. Lomheim to construct a bowling alley. 1941 -The mayor appointed Bess Gropengieser treasurer and Francis Ryan, city attorney. 1942-The mayor appointed W. G. Abbott to fill a city auditor vancancy. 1943-Fred J. Snyder was employed as superintendent of light and water department .... Vern Palmer was appointed manager of the liquor store. 1944-Judges for annual election were Mrs. Art Larson, Mrs. John McDeid and Mrs. F. Durrstein. 1945-Mrs. Carl Kelly appointed as assessor .... Carl Kelly was hired as plant operator. 1947-Jack Nelson's application for liquor store manager was accepted .... Bernice Lemon was appointed city assessor. 1948-Mayor: M. C. Hyde .... Marion Pierce was hired as liquor store manager to fill vacancy when Ripley resigned. 1949 -Robert D. Clausen appointed treasurer to fill vacancy when Edwin Johnson resigned. 1950 - Resolution to construct hospital was approved. 1951 - Mayor Reedy appointed E. F. Walter as city assessor .... F. M. Ryan was appointed city attorney. 1952 - Councilmen elected to office were John Day, L. W. Rappana, Ed Seaman and Carl Kelly. 1953 - The mayor appointed Orville Rivenes Liquor Store manager .... Leslie Swanson and Ralph Ludwig appeared at a meeting to discuss the matter of needing new pumps for the fire fighting apparatus and the need for financial aid from the City .... Mrs. K. A. Johnson was appointed superintendent of the hospital. 1954 - A. E. Lewis was appointed city auditor upon the resignation of W. G. Abbott who was appointed manager of the Community Hospital .... Members of the Hospital Auxiliary appeared to discuss the purchase of a sterilizer for the hospital. 1955 - W. G. Abbott resigned as manager of the hospital. It was then decided to merge the duties of hospital manager with the City Auditor's office, with the City employing part-time assistance for the keeping of books. 1956-Sybil Plumb was appointed hospital supervisor .... Roy Hines was appointed Liquor Store manager .... Larry Martin was appointed city auditor to fill vacancy created by the resignation of A. E. Lewis. 1957 - LaVon Becker was appointed to City Auditor to fill vacancy created by Larry Martin's resignation ... Alice M. Hague was appointed supervisor of Onida Community Hospital .... Edwin Fanton was appointed liquor store manager to fill vacancy created by resignation of Roy Hines. 1958 - Mayor Hortman appointed Raymond Doyle as justice of peace for City of Onida .... Leo Lemmel was elected mayor; councilmen were Day, Ramler, Fosness, Schaeffer, Snell and Sutton .... William Trythall was appointed light and water superintendent when Frank C. Hyde resigned .... Janice Lemmel was appointed city auditor. Town Hall On October 3, 1892, the people of Onida met at the courthouse to consider the question of erecting a town hall. J. M. Porter was elected chairman and J. H. Gropengieser, secretary. It was decided to organize and incorporate under the state laws, as the Onida Town Hall Association. A board of seven directors was elected: Ed J. Shepherd, H. E. Kimmel, W. N. Meloon, M. L. French, J. N. Garner, Carl Porter and D. Q. Jordan. The president of the association was to be elected by the directors. J. H. Gropengieser was elected secretary and C. W. Holmes, treasurer. The following committees were appointed: Building-cost of material and specifications-C. H. Agar, M. L. French and H. O'Connor. Articles of Incorporation, W. N. Meloon. By-Laws, A. A. Faust, T. M. Simmons and J. H. Gropengieser. It was voted to make the capital stock 500 shares at $5.00 per share. The hall would be located between the Watchman office and the school buildings, present site of the auditorium. The land was donated by C. H. Agar, president of the townsite company. ----------------------------- While skating on the artesian lake one Saturday afternoon in January, 1903, Bessie Gropengieser got on thin ice and took a plunge bath. As the water was shallow, she had no trouble getting out, but was considerably chilled before reaching home. ----------------------------- A Sully County Rustler Who said people didn't get rich in South Dakota way back in 1883? A gentleman who lived near Okobojo said that he came to Dakota Territory in 1883, with just $5 in his pocket. Just ten years later, in 1893, he purchased a second 160 acre farm and paid cash for it. He owned a fine drove of cattle and horses, and had money in the bank. ----------------------------- D. W. Hyde leased the Charles H. Agar property and moved in on November 18, 1889. Mr. Agar and his daughter, Miss Jessie, left shortly for Havana, Minnesota, where they stayed for about a year and a half, returning to Onida on April 28, 1892 to remain. Mr. Agar took possession of his farm adjoining town and began farming operations. He finally succeeded in securing an abundant supply of water at his residence at a depth of 80 feet in July of 1894. ----------------------------- [photo - Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Snyder and son, Bill, vacationing in the Black Hills about 1910. Mr. Snyder was the first mayor of Onida in 1911.] The Onida Watchman The Onida Watchman was established in 1883, as the Sully County Watchman and was first published at Clifton, then county seat, by Walter & Gropengieser, owners and founders. It continued to be printed at Clifton until after Onida became the permanent county seat, a period of six years. William C. Walter severed his partnership with J. H. Gropengieser in publishing the Sully County Watchman in January, 1886. Mr. Gropengieser then decided to move his newspaper to Onida where he could publish a better paper and give more county news by locating in the county seat. The first issue printed and published in Onida was that of June 29, 1889. He then purchased the Onida Journal from Mr. Everts in July, 1894, and consolidated it with the Sully County Watchman. Thereafter the newspaper was called the Onida Watchman. At that time the Onida Watchman was one of six newspapers in the county, namely: Onida Watchman; Clifton Sun, Clifton, by Frost Brothers; Carson Herald, Carson, by Frost Brothers; Okobojo Times, Okobojo, by Travis & Frankhauser; Norfolk Spy, Norfolk, by Grant Dewell, and -mother Norfolk paper by Maud Major. Four of the six newspapers ceased to exist and during the first years of the new century the Watchman and the Okobojo Times were the only papers left to serve the people of Sully County. In April, 1891, the Watchman started using South Dakota made prints which gave the readers the latest State news. This was made possible by forty-three members of the South Dakota Press Association organizing a Publisher's Printing Company of South Dakota, early in 1891, and which were in a position to furnish their own ready prints. A new 8x12 Challenge-Gordon jobber was added to the Watchman mechanical equipment in December, 1901. Mr. Gropengieser continued at the helm as editor and publisher until 1905, when the paper was purchased by the Watchman Printing Company, composed of the following people: C. R. Garner, president; J. F. Cole, vice president; Claude Garner, editor and manager; A. W. Prewitt, foreman, and J. N. Garner, C. J. Johnson and Maud C. Garner. This company published the paper for only a few months, selling to J. A. Livingston on November 23, 1905. Livingston was editor and proprietor of the Okobojo Times and with this purchase, he became owner of all Sully County newspapers. Mr. Livingston moved the Watchman office to the present Phares building on south Broadway. On June 23, 1909, Mr. Livingston passed away at the early age of 38. Chronic rheumatism was the primary cause of his death, from which he suffered dating back to 1891, when he was attending school in Onida. The immediate cause of his death was heart trouble. For several years the Watchman was published by members of the Livingston family and then sold to James E. Ternmey, who moved the newspaper to the building presently occupied by Chase's Bakery. Temmey was editor and publisher until the time of his death in 1918. For over twenty-seven years the Watchman had been printed by foot power. However, in May, 1910, a gasoline engine was installed and "press day" was a pleasure instead of the muscle-tearing, nerve-wracking ordeal of heretofore. In June of 1919, Carmon L. Bates purchased the Watchman and took possession on June 5th. It was during his management that the Watchman saw its period of greatest expansion and growth. Those were the years of the financial boom following World War I, and a period of financial harvest for the small town weekly. In 1927, a business deal was completed whereby the Watchman and the Redfield Journal-Observer exchanged owners and editors, Mr. Bates going to Redfield and George J. Zimmer coming to Onida. Mr. Zimmer purchased the building where the Onida National Bank had done business the Watchman's present location. The newspaper was then published by Mr. Zimmer for about five or six years when Mrs. Zimmer assumed ownership. In September, 1942, she leased the newspaper to Phillip Hess, who, with the able assistance of his wife, Una, published the Watchman for eleven years. Mrs. Hess' Day by Day column was always a source of enjoyable reading and it was said by many that the Watchman subscribers would invariably turn to her column before reading any other part of the paper. Fire Damages Mechanical Department Fire of undetermined origin caused considerable damage in the mechanical department on January 3, 1944. Clem Noonan discovered the fire and gave the alarm when he noticed smoke pouring from the building at approximately 8:40 p.m. Damage from the actual flames was confined to a space about ten feet square where the wood construction of several imposing stones was destroyed. A cement floor and sheet rock walls and ceiling kept the fire from spreading. Damage from water and smoke extended throughout the building. Through the friendly cooperation of neighbors, the Hipple Printing Company and the State Publishing Company of Pierre, the Watchman's staff was able to put out the paper despite deficiencies in the office. Watchman Sold to E. L. Thompson On October 1, 1953, the Watchman was sold, complete with building and equipment, to E. L. Thompson, who had been managing-editor of the Britton (S.D.) Journal for over a year after selling his newspaper at Faith in the early summer of 1952. Though the actual transaction of the ownership took place October 1, it wasn't until November 1, 1953, that the Thompsons moved to Onida and took over active management of the newspaper and commercial printing plant. The new owner almost immediately undertook a program of equipment replacements and additions, with the goal of making the Watchman one of the best equipped newspaper and commercial printing plants in Central South Dakota. To date a 10x15 Original Heidelberg automatic platen press and a 21x26 Miller Simplex automatic cylinder press, both with production speeds of about 5,000 printed sheets per hour, have been added to the equipment. New also is a 20x26 Baumfolder, which folds, pastes, scores and perforates sheets of paper automatically. Present day automatic printing equipment is far removed from the early day Washington hand press of the Benjamin Franklin era and later with the foot- and hand-powered presses of the day the Watchman was born. [photo - Laying the Corner Stone of the new courthouse in 1911. Cole Livery Stable is across the street south with a road show banner posted on the side.] independence Day Celebrated Onida experienced a gala day on July 3, 1886, when it celebrated Independence Day for the first time in the history of that little village. Approximately one thousand people attended the celebration, which consisted of a street parade, orations, toasts, recitations, baseball game between the Norfolk and Onida clubs, foot, sack and wheel-barrow races, winding up with the band boys playing for a dance in the court house. The oration was delivered by Judge M. J. McCann, and the address by the Hon. W. D. Dwyer. Miss Elva Griffith recited the Declaration of Independence. The exercises were interspersed with music by the Cornet Band and the Onida Glee Club. Water Improvements Made The townspeople of Onida purchased a windmill from E. A. Wright, of Lincoln township, in the spring of 1889, which added to the attractiveness of the town pump and also its usefulness-but for a very short time. On August 31, of the same year, the high wind demoralized the windmill, and the people once more were reduced to quenching their thirst by a little elbow grease. Within a short time a sixty foot windmill tower was erected at the well, topped off with a new Aermotor windmill. This was the finest windmill tower in the county. At an election held on March 5, 1901, it was unanimously voted to bond the village in the sum of $2,500. to raise funds to sink an artesian well. Several months later, in July to be exact, a 1717-foot artesian well was completed. The pressure was found to be 321 pounds to the square inch, and the flow 96 gallons per minute, with the temperature ranging around 70 degrees. Residents of Onida met in the court house on January 14, 1902, and organized the "Onida Water Supply Company" with Benjamin Nilson, president; E. E. Brooking, treasurer, and Claude Garner, secretary, all permanent officers. The object of the organization was to lay pipes from the artesian well to a point south of Hugh Porter's livery barn, thence west to the center of Dakota Avenue, thence south to the south side of Pearl street, between the L. E. Snyder and J. N. Garner residences. Those living along that route would secure water by connecting with a T joint and piping to their grounds. The organization was to secure pipe and have everything in readiness by the time the frost went out of the ground. The cost of this project would be assessed by those residing along the proposed line. As time went on the water mains were extended to various parts of the village until a good share of the residents had water piped into their homes and business places. Just as soon as the water mains were laid, residents planted numerous trees and shrubs on the premises and along the streets. Lawns were started and the town beautified in various ways. Many of the houses and buildings received a coat of paint. In May of 1910, a petition was circulated for a new water system. More than five-eighths of the property owners were very much in favor of a new system and within eighteen months, the mains of a new city water works were tapped. New Tank.Installed in September, 1946 Almost thirty-five years elapsed before the old water tank was torn down and preparations made for installation of a new tank. During that time the battering of the elements and action of rust reduced the tank to a point where it was unsafe and several bad leaks had developed, making it hazardous to maintain a full tank of water, especially during the winter months when large masses of ice would form on the legs and guys of the tower. The new tank was constructed of 3/8-inch steel, in place of the former one which was 1/4-inch steel. A revolving ladder was placed on the tank, making it easier to inspect and to service. The old tower was in perfect condition, so it was not necessary to replace this part. A new frost box, completely insulated, was installed to cover the riser pipe, and the entire tank, tower and frost box was treated to a new coat of aluminum paint. Severe Wind Storm Hits Onida The most terrific wind storm that ever passed over the village of Onida prevailed on July 3, 1893, doing considerable damage to buildings and new farm machinery. The large storage room in the rear of M. L. French's store was blown down, the front frame awning scattered along the street and the glass store front badly wrecked. A. A. Faust's residence was blown around against his store building and slightly wrecked, while his kitchen was over-turned, breaking almost everything that it contained except three eggs. The front doors and rear end of I. W. Cole's livery barn were blown to pieces; Rev. DeGolier's kitchen was blown away; the west end of Treasurer Johnson's residence was badly twisted, but still stood, while his stable was blown off his team, without material injury to them, and laid scattered over the prairie beyond recognition, and the top of his new carriage was badly smashed; H. E. Kimmel's large sheep shed was blown over and his coal shed distributed over the prairie, while his fine new windmill was ruined; the top of D. Q. Jordan's coal house was picked up and hurled across the street and went edge-wise into J. R. Garner's residence, doing considerable damage; Thos. Doner's buggy shed was blown off the buggy, leaving it uninjured, and the stable disappeared from off his horse, leaving it without a scratch, to roam on the neighboring wheat field. Some glass was blown out of the north windows of the hotel which allowed the rain to beat in and completely drench the contents. The same occurred at the C. W. Holmes' residence and others about the Village. The windmill at the town well was wrecked and the tower partially blown over. There were a number of minor wrecks, washouts and soakings which occurred around the village. The amount of damage sustained could not be estimated until the insurance adjusters exained the losses. Some of the damaged buildings were adequately covered with insurance, while others were not. Founder of Onida Passes Away Charles H. Agar died on January 14, 1902, from complications of pneumonia and pleurisy. He was born in England, April 30, 1840, and came to America with his parents when he was about seven years old. The Agars located in the State of New York, possibly Oneida, where Charles lived until he came here early in 1883, and located the townsite of Onida. Mr. Agar was the first treasurer of Sully County, appointed in May, 1883, when the county was organized, and served until 1885. He also held township and school offices, and was prominent in politics. He left a daughter, Mrs. Jessie Hyde, and other relatives. His wife and one daughter, Miss Minnie, preceded him to the grave. [photo - R. W. Ruckle, with his team and wagon, in front of the Snyder home which is now known as Dr. Hedman's.]