Full Text of "75 Years of Sully County History, 1883 - 1958", pages 134 - 159. 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 - Local Water Witcher Demonstrates Art. Pictured left to right-Tom Merrill, Irene Becker, Connie Doyle, Kristi Phares, Judy Hanks, Shirley Ripley, Dorothy Johnson, Noreen Huxall, Jean Kennedy, Maurice Huxall, Wayne Hughart, Roger Lomheim, Virginia Hughart Jerry Zebroski, Jim Thompson, John Knox, Elton Erp, Frank Sack, and Carol Terbush in the the foreground holding the water witching willow.] Young Onida Waterwitcher Carol Terbush, 12-year-old sixth grader of Onida, is shown above demonstrating her super-natural power in witching for water to her classmates during a science demonstration period one afternoon in April of 1955. As may be seen in the photo, the entire class held the magical willow sticks in their hands, but none could feel any unusual "pull" on their hands when Carol pinpointed a spot and said, "There is water here, the vein runs this way (motioning with her hands.)" Carol became widely known for her ability as a water witcher and her percentage of "strikes" has been reported as uncanny. Only last year she selected a spot for a well at Lake Louise, near Miller, for the State Game, Fish and Parks Department, after several previous efforts had resulted in dry holes. Carol's wizardry has been carried in news stories from coast to coast. Late last fall an associate editor of the New York Times contacted the Watchman editor by telephone verifying a news story which that paper was preparing to release. Way back in 1883, people in Sully County were also water witching with a small willow stick in locating their wells. This procedure of finding water is an old custom. Methodist Church Destroyed By Fire The fire that completely destroyed the First Methodist Church in Onida on November 27, 1955, was apparently caused from the coal-burning heating plant in the basement. The blaze had gained such headway by the time it was discovered about 6:45 p.m., that Onida firemen were helpless to bring the inferno under control. An explosion, apparently from accumulated coal gases, occurred just moments after Rev. Frescoln approached the building with the intention of entering. He had just noticed the blaze and was leaving to turn in the alarm when the blast took place. The concussion was so great that it tumbled him forward. "Debris flew all around," he said. Moments after, the entire building was aflame and 30 minutes later it was all over. The church was gone. [photo - Methodist Church Burns. The north wall of the burning Methodist church was about to collapse when the picture was taken. The roof had already fallen in and the entire building was an inferno. The crack in the building was caused by the explosion.] [photo - The Cellar Dwellers. Pictured left to right -Robert Sargent, Kenneth Sutton, George Reynolds and Dan Eliason.] The Cellar Dwellers A group of boys who lived together, studied together and played together through four years of high school, headquartered in the basement of the John Sutton home. These young men represent third year generations of South Dakota pioneers. Bob Sargent, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Sargent of western Sully County, is now managing his parents' ranch. Ken Sutton is attending college at Brookings, helps on his parents' ranch and plans to return to the ranch when he completes college. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Sutton of west Sully County. George Reynolds is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Garrett Reynolds. They homesteaded in southeast Sully County. George studied for three years on aviation mechanics and is now in the army. Dan Eliason is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Art Eliason of Potter County, whose grandparents were among the first homesteaders. He is attending the Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. The close friendship of these young men began before their school days. Kenneth Sutton was selected for Sears, Roebuck Scholarship at South Dakota State College in 1957. [photo - Big Game Hunters Return Home. A party of local big game hunters returned on October 27, 1955, with their kill after a 10-day hunting trip in the Rockies of Colorado. Pictured above, left to right-Herschel Ellis, Dale Uhl, Dick Matzen, Jerry Culey and O. C. Hortman, and the two deer and two black bear bagged during the hunt. Charlie Danks, also in the party, remained in Colorado. The hunters lived in a tent and did their own cooking. One of the party said, on their return, "For some reason, bacon and eggs have lost their appeal. Matzen had the honor of bagging the 300-pound bear and her cub. Half Million In Building Work A mild building boom was under way in Onida in the early fall of 1957, which totaled about a half million dollars before the projects were completed. Among the larger construction projects were the new grade school and auditorium-gymnasium; a 400,000 bushel addition to the Oahe Grain Corp. elevator, making a capacity of about 900,000 bushels, new service station, tire display room and cafe, and new city sewer lagoon and disposal plant improvements. The old grade school building will be disposed of and the full city block will be broken up into 25-foot lots, appraised and sold. THE WHITE HOUSE Washington Honorable L. W. Lemmel Mayor of Onida Onida, South Dakota Through Senator Karl E. Mundt, I have learned of Onida's 75th Anniversary, and it is a pleasure to join its citizens and neighbors in Sully County in the observance of this event. Located in the rich prairie lands of South Dakota and settled by pioneers of strength and vision, Onida has enjoyed many years of community life. It is fiting that the people of Sully County take part in celebrating this anniversary of their county seat. Congratulations and best wishes. DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER [photo - Onida Cowgirl Places at Rodeo. Buena Sutton, above, was the only Onida girl competing at the State H. S. Rodeo held in June, 1957, at New Underwood. She placed in two events.] One of the main events of the Sully County Fair in 1938 was the Old Settlers' Picnic. That year marked the 50th anniversary of this organization in Sully County. The program committee planned entertainment for everyone and featured as the speaker of the program was Leo Temmey of Huron, well known to Sully County people. DO YOU KNOW THAT ... That Onida grew faster, from 1883 through 1919, than any town in South Dakota, and that the growth had just begun? Mrs. Alice Adams, who was 85 years old in the year 1946, and an early-day resident of Sully County, had during her lifetime, marked the progress of the pioneer west as expressed or typified in transportation. From the early day ox team, through horse-drawn carriages and later, automobiles, Mrs. Adams experienced all modes of travel. The culmination occurred on Sunday, April 28, 1946, when she took her first airplane ride. Going aloft with Dwight Poage, who piloted his own craft. [photo - Big Fish Pays Off. A Canadian fishing expedition early in June of 1955 paid off when Preston Starbuck was notified that his 39-pound lake trout, (pictured above) hooked in Lac la Ronge, Saskatchewan, was a winner. It was the largest fish entered in the derby of any caught in the Province during the summer. Starbuck received a huge, properly inscribed certificate and a check for $25 for making the prize-winning catch.] [photo - "Matt" Sutton Bags Wyoming Moose. John (Matt) Sutton Jr., pictured above with his prize trophy, perhaps rates the top big-game hunting honors for this area during the hunting season in 1955. The huge rack of antlers was the proud possession of a 1200-pound moose shot by Sutton in the Upper Green River area of Wyoming on October 25. It was said to have been the largest moose taken from the area that season. Sutton had to fire three bullets into the animal from a distance of about 100 yards to make the kill. The antler spread measures 48 1/2 inches wide and the palms are 34 inches long, which is said to be an outstanding feature in rating moose antlers, as was the 7 1/2-inch circumference at the base of the antler. The animal was judged to be about nine years old with 11 points on each antler.] Population Up In Sully It is interesting to note that Sully County showed an increase in population of 1.7 per cent in1950 over 1940, and that there were 2,713 people in the county, according to the census. Other statistics showed that 35.5 per cent lived in rural non-farm areas and 64.5 per cent in farm areas. The median age in Sully was 26.3, and and 5.8 per cent of the population were over 65 years of age. The report the Bureau of Census also showed that there were 1,108 in the labor force of the county. The median income,was $3,019 and 32.7 per cent of the residents had an income of less than $2,000. The figures also showed that, of the 2,713 people in Sully County, 1,452 were men and 1,261 werw women, with 1,575 of the total be 21 years of age or over. An Expert With A Spinning Wheel Mrs. Minnie Scriever, 81-year-old pioneer resident of Sully County, and a resident of Onida for about 14 years, is an expert with a spinning wheel. She is very modest and almost shy in talking about her wool-spinning abilities, as quite often experts are. Many of her friends are aware of her capabilities, but only a few actually ever witnessed her at work. It was ever a problem for Mrs. Schriever to have an ample supply of good virgin wool yarn on hand for knitting mittens, gloves, socks, scarves and other apparel for her family of five children and her friends. She was never content to have the raw product brought to her, but instead she, along with her husband raised sheep and did their own shearing. [photo - Mrs. Minnie Schriever. An expert with a spinning wheel.] She then took the wool through the various processes of carding, spinning and washing the finished product ready for knitting. Mrs. Schriever came to this country from Germany when she was 14 years old and settled near Gettysburg with her parents. After her marriage, she and her husband moved to a farm in Richvalley Township near Onida where they lived for over 50 years. [photo - "30-Dollar" Stole. Ardis Gatons, retiring county treasurer, was presented with a 30-dollar stole by her fellow workers at a farewell party given in her honor on Jan. 1, 1957. The stole consisted of one dollar bills cleverly sewed into a cellophane sheet, with the names of each contributor attached. Mrs. Gatons served the county honorably and faithfully for 13 years; five as register of deeds, four as auditor, and four as treasurer.] Approximately 250 people attended the airplane weed spraying demonstration held July 8, 1947, one-half mile north of Onida. The demonstration was sponsored by the Sully County Extension agent and the Geo. P. Sexauer & Son elevators, and the land which was sprayed belonged to Gordon Day and operated by John Bauman. The spraying was done at a cost of $4.00 per acre. [photo CHARLES H AGAR - For Whom Agar Was Named} Agar and Its Origin It was in the spring of 1909, that the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company made a public announcement that it planned to extend its lines from Gettysburg, South Dakota, through Sully County to connect with its main line at Blunt, South Dakota. Because of the railroad extending its line through that portion of Sully County and aslo because of the rich farm land in that area, the Western Town and Lot Company, on October 27, 1909, platted out a townsite at a point one and a half miles from both the east and south lines of Milford Township, consisting of nine blocks and outlots, on 80 acres of land-purchased from Fred Peterson, one of the earliest settlers of Milford Township. Another 80 acres were purchased from F. L. Clark. Sale of Lots Lots for the new town were offered sale at a nominal price, in order to avoid speculation, on the homestead of Chares H. Agar (present Josh Hofer farm) and the town was thus named in his honor. On May 12, 1910, P. M. Kennedy, of Huron, South Dakota, purchased Lot One, Block Seven (present site of Sorenson's Store). On the same day, J. B. Bessire purchased two lots, Lot 12, Block Four (Mike Smith's Station) and Lot 13, Block Two (present site of Phyllis Wagner's home). Then on May 24, L. A. Temmey purchased Lots 17 and 18, Block Six (now owned by Merle Von Wald). The sale of lots continued and by August 1, 1910, when the railroad company made its first run, the little town had already erected several buildings. Business Flourished That First Year The enterprising little Village of Agar mushroomed on the prairie when the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company "gave the nod" that their track would be extended to Blunt. There was a hustle and bustle in the newly-born town that fittingly foreshadowed the importance of Agar as a producing farming center. Eight teams of horses were busy from early morning until late at night hauling heavy loads of lumber from Gettysburg, day after day, in order to satisfy the needs of 30 busy carpenters. Seventeen buildings were under construction at one time and six plasterers were busy continuously all spring and summer. By March of the following year, 1911, exactly ten months from the time of the first sale of lots, the population of Agar boasted 84 bonafide citizens, besides several transients; 74 lots had been sold, and 36 good substantial buildings had been erected. Every business place was equipped with a gas plant for heating purposes and five of the business places had concrete walks. Also, within those same ten months, two banks, two general stores, hardware store, drug storer, 'hotel, restaurant, meat market, pool hall, two lumber yards, two elevators, postoffice, newspaper and job printing office, telephone and telegraph, express office, millinery store, real estate office, two farm implement dealers, cream station, livery barn, sales stable, blacksmith shop, depot, section house and stockyards were doing a thriving business. Thirteen private residences had also been constructed during that short space of time. From October 1, 1910, to March, 1911, a period of about six months, seven carloads of cattle, seven of hogs, three of sheep, two of horses, 26 of wheat, six of flax and six of hay were shipped out of Agar. Early Settlers Establish Business Places Some of the first settlers to arrive in Agar to make their homes and establish businesses were the L. P. Christiansons, Carl Falkenhagens, P. M. Kennedys, Ed F. Ryans, Ira Cole, J. B. Bessires, Frank and Karl Mitchells, A. S. Clouse, Sam Jarvis, A. V. Goodrichs and Seward Leepers. L. P. Christianson and his son, Hans, of Yale, South Dakota, arrived the week of May 15, 1910, and started the first livery barn and feed stable, a 40x64 foot building. Hans had charge of the draying and express. Mr. Christianson also built a pool hall, 24x7O feet, which he operated for many years. Carl Falkenhagen, to whom the honor of the second man of the original settlers must go, arrived shortly after the Christiansons. He erected a general store which he operated for about two and a half years. [photo - Interior of Carl Falkenhagen's General Store, 1910 Left to right - Miss Sadie Pope, Mr. Falkenhagen, J. P. Bessire and Rube Lumsden.] P. M. Kennedy, of Huron, South Dakota, also arrived in May of that first year, and soon had a general store erected. He and his family of eight children lived in the rear of the store. Ed F. Ryan, a wide-awake young man built and operated a hardware store in 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Ryan had the distinction of having the first baby born in Agar on September 6, 1910. He was named Francis, and-at the present time is states attorney and living in Onida. Josephine Ryan, a sister of Ed Ryan, established a restaurant on Ash street. Another "first" building to be erected was the drug store, operated by Ira W. Cole, located next to the Falkenhagen Store. J. B. Bessire was cashier of the Agar State Bank, located on the northwest corner of Sully avenue and Ash street, the first bank to do business in the new town. Other officers were D. B. Wilson, president, and. C. L. Johnson, vice president. This bank: had a capital stock of $10,000. 00. The vault was fire and wind proof and inside the vault was installed a $1,300.00 Manganesse burglar proof steel safe and Also, safety deposit boxes. Mr. Bessire was. also agent for several fire and hail insurance companies. Frank and Karl Mitchell, under the firm name of Mitchell Brothers, were agents for the Western Town and Lot Company, in charge of the sale of town lots in Agar. Frank was vice president of the newly-formed Farmers State Bank, and Karl was the cashier. Guy E. Mitchell was president of the institution. This bank with a capital of $10,000.00, opened in a 12xl8 foot shed in which was installed a Victor burglar proof safe. A. S. Clouse built and operated a European-style hotel, besides managing a meat market and an ice house which held 100 tons of ice for the accommodation of his customers and the public. Sam F. Jarvis, Jr., was editor of the Agar Argus, the first newspaper which published its first news in July, 1910. Mr. Jarvis was the first postmaster and also manager of the telephone central, telegraph and express office. The postoffice was established on November 5, 1910, in the Milford postoffice building. However, prior to that time, mail was brought by stagecoach to the Walter Price home, the Charles Parker home, the Addie Mundt home, Carl Falkenhagen's Store and Frank Elliotts. Matilda Peterson served as postmaster from 1914 to 1928, Calvin Barber from 1928 to 1932, John Evans from 1932 to 1954, and at that time Sherman Seward took over the duties as postmaster and continued as such to date. A. V. Goodrich was manager of the Atlas Lumber Company, and W. S. Leeper, Blunt, managed the Interior Lumber Company. J. A. O'Hair, Agar's first barber, arrived with razor and strop, and for want of a suitable place to practice his "tonsorial art", was offered the office in the Cbristianson livery barn to use as his barber shop. Mr. O'Hair was also in charge of the DeWald & Walters Elevator when it was completed late in the fall of 1910. Thw Farmers Elevator, completed in November of that same year, was managed by George C. Williams. W. H. Harris opened a blacksmith shop and a sales stable. He was a buyer and importer, as well as breeder of fine percheron and Clyde horses. A. E. Lindbloom and Emil Renz, of Blunt, purchased the Agar Blacksmith Shop from Mr. Harris, and later it was operated by John Dienslake, of Lebanon, South Dakota. Mrs. J. G. Lillibridge operated the Agar Millinery Store in her home on Railway avenue. Mr. Lillibridge was a painter and paper hanger. John Frick was general manager of the Mesick-Stangeland Company, wellknown implement dealers who located in Agar with a full line of farm machinery, harnesses, wagons and buggies. Ed Speer opened a cream station and handled poultry and all farm products. He bought his first can of cream on February 27, 1911. [photo - W. H. Harris Sales Stable and Blacksmith Shop] A. W. Peterson established a livery barn and dia. general team business besides supplying those in need with fine well water. Richard Naughton and his wife established a restaurant and lodging house on Sully avenue. E. Schmidt was Agar's first building contractor and owner of a cement mixer run by gas power. "White Gold" - Agar's First Well The first artesian well put down in Agar was in May, 1910, by the railroad company which flowed at the rate of 78 gallons per minute. This was truly a well of "white gold", for without water the new Village of Agar could never have prospered.-E. V. [photo - "White Gold"-Agar's first artesian well] Up and Down Ash and Sully The Falkenhagen General Store was purchased by Al Teglund, a rancher, in 1913. Mr. Teglund operated the store until 1916, when C. E. Garrett, of Miller, South Dakota, purchased it and ran it for 20 years. Then in 1936, Coleman Smith purchased the stock and continued the business until 1943. Mr. Garrett assumed duties as "storekeeper" again and continued in this capacity until 1958. At this time, because of ill health, Mr. Garrett sold the store to Sherman Seward. The postoffice is now located in this building with Mr. Seward as postmaster. The pool hall, built by Hans Christianson and his father, changed hands in 1925, when R. E. Higgs took over the business. Five years later, in 1930, the building was destroyed by fire and the following year Chris Christianson rebuilt it and operated the pool hall until 1947. It was then sold to John Pexa, who used the upper part as a residence and the basement as the pool hall. Hans Christianson operated the first bulk station. Ed Bailey drove the bulk truck for several years until February 7, 1941, when Merle Von Wald purchased the business. The P. M. Kennedy General Store was sold to Lars P. Sorenson, who came from Sauk Center, Minnesota. Mr. Sorenson operated the store until 1916 , when his son, Andrew, purchased it. Andrew conducted a good business until 1954, at which time Maurice, his son, bought the store and stock from his father and continued the general store business. For a few months during the year 1921, the store was closed when Andrew Sorenson traded his business to M. C. Westphal for a farm near Lisbon, North Dakota, and "some to boot". That fall, Bill Naughton and Mr. Sorenson opened the store for bbusiness, and by another year's time Andrew was again sole owner of the store. [photo - Interior of Lars P. Sorenson General Store, 1912. Left to right - Mollie Sorenson and her father.] The Ed Ryan Hardware Store was sold to J. B. Archer in 1919. Mr. Archer conducted this business until 1936, when, due to ill health, he moved the merchandise into a smaller building. Mr. Archer's son, Lloyd, operated a garage in this building. The Josephine Ryan Restaurant became the Town Hall about 1912, and was later divided in half and made into two houses. The Drug Store, operated by Ira W. Cole until 1916, was used as a restaurant by L. S. Clouse and later by Ed Murphy. C. E. Garrett used the building as part of his store for many years. The postoffice was located in this building in 1928. The Agar State Bank changed officers in 1918, when Claude M. Jones became president and J. E. Schoff, cashier, and continued under this setup until 1925, when it closed. The building was used as a restaurant for about a year by two Wagner girls, Kate and Lillian. In 1926, Mike Smith purchased the building from the State Banking Department and moved it to its present site. Mr. Smith operated a grocery store and meat market there until 1945, when it was used as a cafe operated by Mary Taylor, then by L. D. Carr and later by Melvin Meeker and Leon Beyers. The Farmers State Bank, which opened in a small shed, moved into the first brick building in Agar, and one of the first in Sully County, on January 25, 1911. About 1913, the presidents of the two banks discussed the advisability of closing one bank, so, by a flip of a coin, the Farmers State Bank closed and Mr. Bessaire moved his banking business into the brick building as soon as the two businesses were merged. The Agar State Bank continued to operate until 1935, when it closed. Then on March 7, 1946, W. J. Asmussen purchased the brick building and used it for his office. In 1930, P. J. Murphy organized the Citizens State Bank with P. M. Venner, C. C. Lyons, C. L. Falkenhagen and Charles Byrum as directors. Mr. Murphy, as cashier, operated this bank until it was forced to close in 1925. The Agar Hotel, operated by A. S. Clouse, was purchased by Roy Harris about 1919, who built an addition on to the building doubling its capacity. Successive proprietors were Les Merrick, Orville Von Wald, John Gere and Mike Clark. The building has since been sold and torn down for scrap lumber. The Agar Argus, edited by Sam Jarvis, Jr., for about a year, was published by Ole Hess for a short time. Then the Agar Commercial Club revamped the Argus into the Agar Enterprise, hiring a succession of editors. Some of those editors were Frank Weed, who also operated a cream station, Mrs. Charles Ester and Rev. J. D. Stevens, pastor of the Agar Methodist church. In 1920, the paper was sold to Carmen L. Bates, who gave Agar a very creditable newspaper for seven years. On December 1, 1927, he sold to G. J. Zimmer. Phillip Hess was the last editor of the Enterprise which ceased publication in June of 1951. [photo - W. J. Asmussen, 16 years old] The Farmers Elevator was reorganized and managed by Cal Barber. About 1914, W. J. Asmussen, then a young man, was hired at $25.00 a month to work there. Other managers were D. H. Curran and later Blaine and Fairbank. The elevator burned in the fall of 1932, when Harold Murray was manager. It was rebuilt the following spring by Atlas and Peavey Company with Art Brosz as the manager. R. W. Wilkens followed as manager from 1943 to 1957, when Henry Eliason assumed the managerial duties. During the time that Wilkens managed the business a large annex was built onto the elevator. The Sexauer Company of Brookings, South Dakota, built the elevator now managed by Coleman Smith-its first manager being Carl Doerr. From 1927 to 1956, Arthur J. Miller was hired as manager after which Eugene Venner was appointed and managed the business until 1958. The Sexauer Company purchased the DeWald and Walters Elevator building and used it for storage for some time and then had it torn down for lumber which was used to build a large annex onto their elevator. This addition transpired during the time that Miller was manager. Numerous barbers enjoyed a lucrative business following J. A. O'Hair. They were a Mr. Durphy, a "Bud" Eddy, Arthur Copp and Goerge Nolan, who operated the barber shop together with a cream. station in 1925. Then Frank Schollian purchased the shop and continued in business until the building burned in 1930. At that time he moved into a room in the Christianson building which also housed a restaurant and pool hall. Mr. Schollian served as barber there until the middle forties when he moved to Gettysburg. The Blacksmith Shop continued to do a thriving business those first few years, and after Mr. Dienslake left, other blacksmiths took over. They were Oliver Wasguard, Albert Wessel and Herman Zeuge, who could play music on his anvil. About 1920, P. V. Jones built the Agar Auto Company and continued in business until 1930, when he sold his business to Don Spillers, who operated the station until 1954. Art Hoisington operated a garage in the same building. Orville Zuber, who purchased the stock from Mr. Spillers, ran the station from 1954 to 1958, when Leonard Venner purchased the stock and changed the name to Venner's Service. M. A. Lyons built a hardware and clothing store in 1922, and has continued in business to date. An early-day land office was operated by Carl Falkenhagen where the Beyers Cafe now stands. During the twenties, Bill Naughton and Al Teglund established another land office. W. J. Asmussen and Charles Lomheim ran a land office from 1920 to 1928, when it was sold to Othal Walker for a cafe. Glen Bever ran the cafe until the fire in 1930, which destroyed that building, Christianson's Pool Hall and the Barber Shop. In the spring of 1928, Mike Smith erected a filling station on the corner of Sully avenue and Ash street where the Agar State Bank had been located. His brother, Dick, ran the station. Other proprietors were Robert Blaine, who also had a welding shop, Gary Bliese, Kenneth Smith, Ben Christopher and Lloyd Archer. Leo Weischedel became the owner in 1958. P. M. Venner built and operated a shoe repair shop and cream station from 1926 until his death in 1935. J. B. Archer and Howard Hulshizer wired the new business places and residences for electricity in 1920. Mr. Archer operated the light plant in addition to his hardware store. Les Merrick purchased the franchise from Archer and ran the plant for several years after which time Newell Bever assumed the job for a number of years. Then George Gerlach and Arthur Olsen operated the plant until 1950, when R. E. A. was installed. A modern waterworks system was built in 1926, which has served the residents of Agar remarkably well. A tall, graceful structure points skyward revealing to travelers from afar the location of Agar. - E. V. [photo - M. A. Lyons Store. Left to right-Mrs. Tom Sutton, Mrs. John Blaine, Mrs. John Schreiber, Alma Schreiber, Phyllis Wagner, Edith Westphal and Mrs. Isaac Smith.] City Government The enterprising businessmen felt that the citizens were entitled to modern conveniences and in order to supply these conveniences, it was necessary to organize the town. So on January 18, 1926, the Town of Agar was incorporated, with Claude Jones as chairman of the Town Board, and Pearl Jones and Jim Archer as trustees. Margaret Sunne acted as clerk. Soon after, a well was dug and water piped to each home, and plans were made for 24-hour light service. A city-owned building houses a Municipal Liquor Store and also the city fire truck and equipment. The 1958 Town Board members are Floyd Falkenhagen, mayor; Orville Zuber and Leonard Venner, trustees; Lucille Von Wald, clerk, and Alberta Sorenson, treasurer. "Alfalfa and Sweet Clover Special" The "Alfalfa and Sweet Clover Special" stopped at Agar on January 14, 1927, when 467 people were on hand to greet the train which was under the auspices of the South Dakota Crop Improvement Association. The train's itinerary included 70 stops at towns in the east-river section of South Dakota. The interested group at Agar was the fifth in size of the 16 stops previously made. The train included three exhibit cars, a sweet clover car, machinery car and alfalfa car. Ruth Joachim won first in estimating how many people went through the train. Attempted Bank Robbery A desperate attempt was made during the early morning hours of April 2, 1932, to get into the vault and safe of the Agar State Bank, and only the fact that the acetylene torch cutting outfit refused to be part and partner of the attempted robbery, prevented serious damage and actual loss of cash to the bank. Atlas Elevator Burns On a cold January 20, 1933, the Atlas Elevator caught fire and gained such headway that all the fighting firemen could do was to protect adjoining property. The elevator was well filled with wheat, barley and oats and contained approximately 18,000 bushels of grain, according to the estimate of those in charge of the warehouse. [photo - Atlas Elevator Fire.} Street Scenes [photo - Busy Corner at Carl Falkenhagen General Store, 1910] [photo - Driving Into Agar From the West ... Left to right - Atlas Lumber Yard, Seward and Leeper Lumber Yard, Carl Falkenhagen Land Office, Falkenhagen's Store and Drug Store.. Foreground showing Mr. Erickson, first depot agent, standing on ladder and washing windows. Working men installing railroad water mains.] [photo - View of Agar Looking Northeast, 1910 ... Carl Mitchell home, Carl Falkenhagen home under construction, A. V. Goodrich home and J. B. Bessire home. Foreground - Carl Falkenhagen Store, Cole Drug Store, Agar Argus, Ed Ryan Hardware Store, Agar State Bank, Josephine Ryan Hotel and Restaurant, P. M. Kennedy Store and L. P. Christianson Pool Hall.] [photo - Southwest Corner of Sully Avenue and Ash Street, 1923 ... Andrew Sorensen Store on the corner, the postoffice to the left and the north half of the hotel.] [photo - Looking Southeast along Sully Avenue, 1911 ... Baseball game in Foreground] Musical Life In Agar Many of the early settlers were musically inclined and their talent was in demand and in readiness for literary societies, home talent plays, churches, funerals, Old Settler's picnics, dances and "just enjoyment". Mrs. Cliff Howard, one of Agar's early musicians, often played for the Literary Society which was organized in the Town Hall about 1912. Other musical entertainment at those meetings were, vocal duets by Mrs. Howard and Mrs. Frank Schultz. Home talent plays were very popular in those days and at one of the plays, entitled, "Old Maids' Convention", directed by Mrs. Frank Schultz, several vocal solos were sung by Grace (Sutton) Smith. At another play, directed by Mrs. Neal Bever, which was presented at various places in Sully County, little Shirley (Bever) Burns and Edith (Blaine) Smith tap danced. As in most communities, the church played a prominent part and services were often held in the homes or in a schoolhouse. In 1908, Lora (Parker) Haverly played for church in the schoolhouse which was located where Burnell Kuhrts now live. In 1911-12, church services were held in the Town Hall with Mrs. Cliff Howard as pianist. Frank Schultz and Cy Lyons were two of the early-time members. Maggie Lyons was one of the first pianists for the Methodist Church when it was moved into town from Gettysburg in 1914. During the World War I years and the early 1920's, Mrs. John Blaine was church pianist with Mrs. Ernest Schoof, an excellent soloist, as choir director of an outstanding group of singers; namely, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Garrett, Mr. and Mrs. Blaine Bessire, Mrs. Frank Schultz, Ernest Schoff, Victor Peterson, Claude Jones, Charles Lomheim, the Schreiber girls, Mrs. John Sutton and William Moore. As young ladies, Edna (Falkenhagen) Smith and Amelia (Sorenson) Kunkle, often played for church, Sunday School and Epworth League. From 1930 to 1935, Rev. Grover Bledsoe's wife, Ruby, was pianist, followed by Rev. J. F. Gughin's daughters, Ruth and Irene, and then Mrs. John Evans. From 1937 to 1941, Pauline (Hanson) Brehe was church pianist, and since 1941, Mrs. Leonard Venner has been pianist and reorganized the choir which remains a sizeable and excellent group. Mrs. Grace (Brehe) Smith was pianist during the summers of 1942 through 1945. The Rev. Earl Butz and the Rev. Robert Frescoln, pastors of the Methodist Church, were well-trained singers. When the Lutheran Church was built in 1908, Alma (Brandt) Weideman was one of the first organists and later her sister, Margaret (Brandt) Falkenhagen took over. Mrs. Charles Garrett and Mrs. Les Merrick were also organists. In the early 1930's, Rev. Ed Beyer's wife was church organist, and others were Mrs. Frank Schultz and Mrs. Jim Lawrence. Edna Falkenhagen (Mrs. Coleman Smith) played some as a young lady and has been organist for the church for several years. Some of the outstanding choir members during the 1930-1940 years were Mrs. Charles Garrett, Mrs. Frank Schultz, Mrs. Alvin Joachim, Agnes (Iverson) Hagney, Fred Lehmkuhl, Les Swanson, Albert Brehe and Harold Iverson. Mary Doerr (Mrs. E. L.) was the first organist when the Catholic Church was erected in 1919. She continued in this capacity for many years with Theresa (Venner) Rozum and Eve (Serbousek) Severson substituting. Louise Doerr (Mrs. Francis) then assumed the organist position. Some of the first choir members were the Doerrs, Venners, Naughtons and McCleans. Miss Lavina Mulligan taught school and gave piano lessons to many youngsters. Les Hurley, from Gettysburg, was one of the first band directors. Charles Garrett, an excellent trumpet player, directed the city and school bands for several years. Mr. Garrett organized and directed a Town Band in the middle 1920's. Besides himself, other members of the band were Mrs. Garrett, Hans and Myrtle Christenson, Howard Doner, Ed Bailey, Marian Grismer, Margaret Sunne, Kate Smith, Marvin Keck, Claude Jones, Francis Doerr, Ernest Schoff, Claude Sutton. Dick and Tom Bouchie, Edith Westphal, Grace (Isaac) Smith, Orville and Charles Fairbank, Maurice Sorenson, Ame1ia (Sorenson) Kunkle, Marie (Sorenson) McGuire, Edna Smith and Robert Blaine. Other band directors during the late 1930's were Mervin Fedderson, William Moyer, Harold Riedel and Louis Woodward. Dances were enjoyed from the early days up to the present time, and it was always a big event to participate in a wedding feast and dance in the homes. Albert Ripley, a violinist, came from Gettysburg to play for these dances and also Dave McCamly, a left-handed violinist, and Sam Traverse, a banjoist, (postmaster at Casper In Cora Township) furnished music for dances. Later, Charles Koenig, a steel guitar player, joined with Mr. McCamly, and still later, Verne Pearson, a banjoist, played with him. In 1916, a small dance band was organized and enjoyed by the community. Members of this band included Mr. and Mrs. Charles Garrett, Frank Schultz, John Nystrom and Marvin Keck. In the 1930's, another small dance band was feted at dances. Its members were Edna (Falkenhagen) Smith, Alvin Lyons, Mervin Fedderson and Ed Bailey. During the 1940's and into the 1950's, Edna Smith, Alvin Lyons and Verne Pearson played for many dances. Fern (Lyons) Martin and Flossie (Nystrom) Sutton had a duo-dance band. A male quartette, composed of Bob Taylor, Larry Venner, Donald Joachim and Bob Schreiber, each an excellent soloist, provided a great deal of musical entertainment in the community. These young men have been popular as a quartette and also as individual soloists throughout Sully County for a number of years, and received honors at music contests during their high school days. [photo - Male Quartette. Left to right Bob Taylor, Larry Venner, Donald Joachim and Bob Schreiber. One of the many groups which placed at Music Contests in Mobridge.] [photo - Virgil Mikkelsen. A pleasing tenor soloist since 1940.] Another one of Agar's talented soloists is Virgil Mikkelsen, with a pleasing tenor voice, who has been in demand for musical entertainment since 1940. During the 1940's and 1950's, some of the community's outstanding singers were Mrs. Ralph Wagner, Mrs. Grace (Sutton) Smith, Mrs. Grace (Brehe) Smith, Mrs. Alvin Joachim and her son Donald, and Jean Schreiber. Musical life in Agar has been prominent throughout the years and it is commendable that such a small community has had and still has so many outstanding and talented musicians. - E. V. Golden Rule Days [photo - Grade School Students, Class of 1912. Standing, left to right -Marie Falkenhagen, Rosiland Zuber, Lillian Norfork, Fern Lyons, Miss Lavina Mulligan, (teacher), Mable Westphal, Julia Whiting, Evangeline Zuber and Marie Sunne. Seated - Charlie Fairbank, Orville Fairbank, Albert Clouse, Newell Bever, Alvin Lyons (holding sign), Floyd Falkenhagen, Neil Bever, Dewayne Deyo and Leroy Deyo.] One of the Milford schoolhouses, built in 1885, which had been moved a mile west of the site of Agar in 1908, became Agar's first schoolhouse when it was again moved into the village in 1912, with Miss Lavina Mulligan as the first teacher. The first children to attend the Agar school were Otto Peterson, Albert Clouse, Leroy and Dwayne Deyo, Floyd and Marie Falkenhagen, Alvin and Fern Lyons, Verna and Irvin Sutton, Claude and Edith Sutton, Mabel Westphal, Horace Drew and Ward Barber. In 1919, Milford Township voted to centralize and have one school in the village of Agar. Bonds were voted and a new school building was completed in the fall of 1921. Miss Ethel Nyhart and Miss Elsie Sutton were hired as the first teachers in the new schoolhouse. Miss Nyhart had taught several high school subjects in the old schoolhouse beginning in 1919, along with Miss Marian Cronin, who was hired in 1920. The new schoolhouse was a four classroom building with full basement which housed a gymnasium, furnace room and lavatories. The building was steam heated and equipped with a modern ventilating system. Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Cook were hired to teach in 1922, and through their diligence, Agar High School was established on a high academic level, and extra curricular activities were added to the school system. The first graduating class was in the spring of 1923, with Marie (Falkenhagen) Sunne and Theresa (Venner) Rozum sharing the honor of being the first graduates of Agar High School. Superintendent Hume was administer of the Agar school during the 1925-26 school year, followed by Olaf Clausen, who served as superintendent for three years and also developed the first athletic program in Agar. Mr. Clausen began his term in a new brick high school building with two large classrooms, boys' and girl's cloak rooms, superintendent's office and large assembly room on the second floor. The basement was a story and a half in order to have sufficient ceiling height for a basketball gymnasium. Other instructors in the new building were Nellie Sheets, Miss Ruth Randall, Miss Helen Mishler and Frank Brown, of Huron, who was the first coach. [photo - Agar's First Schoolhouse, Class of 1916. Front row, left to right- Lillian Norrfork, Bessie (Falkenhagen) Venner, Edna (Falkenhagen) Smith, James Norfork, Orville Fairbank, Roy Deyo and Dewanye Deyo. Second row-Harold Norfork, Newell Bever, Neil Bever, Floyd Falkenhagen, Albert Clouse and Charlie Fairbank. Back row- Marie Roslosnik (teacher).] [photo - High School Students, Class of 1922. Left to right-Elmer Lehmkuhl, Leroy Olson, Edith (Brehe) Mckenney, Esther Ester, Marie (Falkenhagen) Sunne, Theresa (Venner) Rozum, Hildred (Tegland) Swallenbeck, Hazel (Bouchie) Teets, Tom Bouchie, Helen (Kane) Archer, Edith (Haines) Hart and Marion (Cronin) Crowley, teacher.] [photo - High School Students, Class of 1926. Standing, left to right - Katherine (Schreiber) Jacobsen, Marie (Sorenson) McGuire, Dora (Merrill) Archer, Vera (Morris) Clark, Emma (Cass) Chipman, Charlotte Tegland, Edna (Falkenhagen) Smith, Margaret (Christopher) Mundt, Grace (Sutton) Smith; Olaf Clausen, Miss Tishler and Frank Brown, teachers; Gertrude (Cass) White, Helen (Bouchie) Schollian, Genevive (Cass) Brehe, Grace (Brehe) Smith, Dorothy (Currier) Martin, Arlene Christopher, Dorothy (Huse) Miller and May (Hayes) Christopher. Middle row - Kermit Doerr, Orville Fairbank, Coleman Smith, Floyd Christopher, Wilbur Lehmkuhl, Maxwell Robbennolt, Rudolph Mundt, Maurice Sorenson, Isaac Smith and John Smith. Front row - Orin Schollian, Robert Blaine, Dick Bramblette, Raymond Gere, Earl Bever, Leonard Bever Meade Barber and Joe Mundt.] The grades then occupied three rooms, the fourth room being used for science classes and music room. The grade teachers for the 1926-27 term were Miss Anna Mae Osmanson, Miss Inez Mallory and Miss Mildred Hanson (Mrs. John Sutton, Sr.). In the fall of 1929, Leonard Luker became the superintendent and remained for two years. Mr. Luker was coach the third year of Superintendent Clausen's administration and was selected to superintend the school after his resignation. Supt. Charles Rogge stayed from 1931 until the end of the school term in 1933. Later Mr. Rogge became a field man for the American Red Cross. Supt. A. A. Thompson, a former Onida teacher, was hired to administer the Agar schools in the fall of 1933, stayed for nine years. Under his guidance Agar developed a basketabll team which was recognized statewide for its ability and which went to the State "B" Basketball Tournament in 1941. Several of the players received state recognition and Agar became known nationally for its amazing athletic record attained by such a small school. Besides the excellent showing in the athletic department, Superintendent Thompson maintained a high scholastic standard. Mr. Thompson presently in charge of the South Dakota State School at Redfield. Supt. Louis Shetnan came to Agar in 1942 and remained until the spring of 1945, and during that time the Agar basketball team again went to the State Tournament. Andrew Sorenson, an Agar graduate of the early 1930's, came to ad minister his home school from 1945 to 1947. Robert Putnam then became superintendent in the fall of 1947 and remained until the spring of the following year, when he accepted the position of coach at Southern State Teachers College, Springfield, South Dakota. [photo - First Grade Class, 1931-32. Sitting, left to right - Dorothy Smith and Yvonne McGriff. Middle row-Lillian Neuhauser, Dora Jane Jones, Luella White, Gwendolyn Severson, Florence Westphal, Lorraine White and Margaret Hogan. Back row-Nada Schultz, Raymond Flaad, Fred McGriff (hidden), Terrance Hogan, Ralph Palmer, Charles Merrick and Harold Mundt.] [photo - Agar High School Band, 1941. Directed by C. E. Garrett. Front row, left to right-Norma Jean Bandy, Fern Todd, Warren Lytle, Lawrence Venner, Wallace Hoisington, Kenneth Bandy, James Wagner, D. Drew, Mrs. Asher (teacher), James Seward, Richard Martin, James Carr and Morris Bandy. Back row-Ronald Evans, Pauline Hanson, Theola Marsh, Melvin Currier, Robert Mikkelsen, Kenneth Marsh, Ralph Hanson, Kenneth Smith, Kenneth Westphal and Helen Becker. Standing-C. E. Garrett, director.] In 1948, Wilfred Pape was hired as superintendent and up to the present time has served the longest term, continuing for ten years. He resigned in 1958, and is presently teaching in Alaska. Under Mr. Pape, Agar continued to hold the spotlight in basketball history, both state and national. Each and every boy in the school was trained to be a top athlete and as a result, Agar High School had one of the highest scoring teams in the state. Superintendent Pape also developed a strong track program and Agar won the Little Central Conference in 1954. Melvin Fedderson developed a fine band in the early 1930's, followed by William Moyer in 1937, who continued the musical program. C. E. Garrett, a trained musician and resident of Agar, took over the band during the war years, as it was impossible to replace teachers during that time. Mrs. Leonard Venner (Evelyn Kirkham) was hired as music director and has done an outstanding job in developing and directing glee clubs, chorus groups and also training soloists. She is the first grade teacher at the present time, as well as music director. Mrs. Venner also directs the County Chorus and assists in choosing the music selections for the rural schools. Home Economics was added to the curriculum in 1954, with Mrs. Anna Smith as the first instructor. Mrs. Jeanette Parker is presently teaching this class. The Home Ec girls sponsor a Mother's Day Tea each spring which is a very special social event of the year. Another yearly event, which creates a great deal of local interest, is the High School Carnival, at which time there is the crowning of the King and Queen. These two students are chosen by their classmates. The largest graduating class thus far was in 1937, when 17 boys and girls were graduated. The records show that 37 Agar High School graduates have chosen teaching as their profession; six chose the nursing profession and one graduate is an army nurse. The eleven children of Mr. and Mrs. James Cavanaugh graduated from Agar High School; four of which were valedictorians, two were salutatorians, and five have graduated from college. Mr. Cavanaugh taught school in Sully County during the early pioneer days. Another outstanding graduate of Agar is David Vetter, who received his diploma in 1937, and who never entered a classroom nor took part in a class discussion. In 1927, David was stricken with polio which left him physically handicapped, but with a courageous spirit and a brilliant and active mind. He knew an education was essential, so he enrolled in the Agar High School in 1934, for the high school course and graduated four years later with an "A" average. In the early 1950's, members of the American Legion, citizens and friends throughout Sully County contributed to a fund raising drive which resulted building a Legion Hall and school gymnasium. This building has been administered by the school and is used for its gymnasium and other school activities, as well as serving for Legion and town events. The first school annual was published in 1936, and it is interesting to note Mr. and Mrs. Coleman Smith have a complete set of the Hi-Pointer.-M. S. Edwin Schreiber, who has been school custodian for the past 22 years, lived with the Carl Falkenhagens after his mother and grandmother passed away, and is now making his home with Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Venner, who now own the Falkenhagen family home. Mrs. Wilhelmina Schreiber is Agar's oldest citizen, being 88 years old on March 1, 1959. She lives with her son, John, and daughter, Alma. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Seward built a new home in Agar when they retired from farming operations in Milford Township. Harvey passed away in 1957, and Mrs. Seward continues to live in Agar. The Andrew Sorenson Family In 1911, the Andrew Sorenson family came to Agar to assist the Lars Sorensons run the general store, but because of the bad crops, Andrew took his family back to Sauk Center, Minnesota. Then in 1916, he moved his family back to Agar where they lived in the rear of the store until their house was built in 1917. They had four children; Amelia (Mrs. George Kunkle, of Yankton, South Dakota), Maurice, of Agar, Marie (Mrs. Larry McGuire, of Helena, Montana) and Andrew, of Mitchell, South Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Sorenson have retired and their son, Maurice, and his wife, Alberta, have taken over the operations of the store which has been in the family for three generations. Mr. and Mrs. John Sunne, who were early pioneers, moved to Agar from Potter County and built a new home there in 1926. They have since passed away. Their daughter, Kate (Mrs. Mike Smith) and her husband reside in Agar and are engaged in the turkey business. Margaret Sunne, another daughter, resides in Aberdeen. Hidden "Still" While moving a straw stack in the winter of 1922, John Blaine and Ho Hulshizer discovered a "still" hidden one of the stacks near the stockyards. From Field to Table In Twenty Minutes To eat bread, made in 20 minutes, from wheat grown on a Sully County farm, was the unique record made the first part of August, 1927, by Carl Falkenhagen, who was the J. I. Case dealer in Agar at that time. Mr. Falkenhagen took the grain from the hopper of a Case combine operating on the farm of County Commissioner M. S. Rivenes, in Richvalley Township, drove three miles to the Chris Huse home where, assisted by Mrs. Falkenhagen, Mrs. Huse, Mrs. Rivenes and J. B. Staufer, the wheat was ground twice, sifted, quickly made into graham gems baked in the waiting oven and served ready to eat - all in twenty minutes. The gems were pronounced excellent in spite of the speed in which they were made. The Agar Churches [photo - Interior Methodist Church, built 1956.] The Methodist Church Student pastors started church services in the Milford schoolhouse in 1885. Following 1910, worship services were held every Sunday afternoon at three o'clock in the Clouse Hotel and later in the Ryan Café. The Rev. A. M. Lott was the first pastor. Articles of Incorporation for a Methodist Church were filed on February 8, 1911, with the following people signing the papers: Charles R. Sutton, Anna C. Anderson, L. P. Anderson, A. V. Goodrich, J. B. Bessire and John Schreiber, all of Agar. A building was moved in from Gettysburg about 1916, and it was used continuously until it was replaced by a new brick structure which was consecrated on November 11, 1956. The Rev. Samuel Marble was the first minister to serve the congregation in the old church building, and the Rev. Clinton Arms, who succeeded him, was the first resident pastor. The old frame building became inadequate by present day standards and so a new building was erected during the pastorate of Rev. Robert Frescoln. Interesting is the fact that the old white, frame building which originally came from Gettysburg, was moved back to Gettysburg when the new place of worship was completed. Sylvia Wittler and Manford Lomheim were the first ones to be married in the new church. The men of the church helped finance the building by promoting a farm project and the cash proceeds, along with many other gifts, are expected to complete payments on the loan by 1960. [photo - Agar Methodist Church] The church is fully organized and the young peoples' groups have been very active through the years. Mrs. Leonard Venner has given much service to the choir. A spirit of family fellowship is very characteristic of the Agar congregation as evidencea by its helping to build the Methodist parsonage in Gettysburg following World War II, and the one in Onida in the fall of 1958. [photo - Old Methodist Church, moved in from Gettysburg about 1916.] Holy Rosary Catholic Church The first Catholic church services in Agar were held in the Agar Hall and at the W. F. Naughton residence. In the fall of 1920, the Holy Rosary Church was built under the supervision of Father Brian O'Malloy, of Gettysburg. And the first marriage in the new church was in December, of that year, when Irene Venner and Edward White exchanged vows. Father O'Malloy went back to Ireland after he had been in this country for a while and returned with his niece, Molly, who kept house for him. He served the people of Agar for eight years and followed by Father Edward O'Connor in 1928. Father Patrick Ryan replaced Father O'Conner, but because of poor health was relieved by Father M. J. Enright. Father Enright was killed in an automobile accident and was followed by Father Peter P. Meyers, who came in 1931, and served the Agar and Gettysburg parishes for 14 years. He was succeeded by Father Kosters and he, in turn, was followed by Father Francis Dillon, the present pastor of Gettysburg. [photo - Holy Rosary Catholic Church] In 1952, Father Dillon enlarged the Holy Rosary Church, doubling its capacity as a temporary means of accommodating both the Agar and Onida congregation. In June, of 1957, Father Lawrence Marbach came to Onida to begin the huge task of building a church and establishing a parish there, as well as administering the churches in Agar and Blunt, as Agar no longer belongs to the Gettysburg Mission. Mass is said in Agar every Sunday by Father Lawrence Marbach. St. John's Lutheran Church The first pastor to serve what is now known as St. John's Congregation of Agar was the Rev. Ottomar Kloester, of Wolsey. It was back in the year 1885, that he started such services and all of his traveling was done on foot. After finishing his services at Agar (at that time known as Waterford), he would walk to Blunt to deliver services at that place. When the pastor was unable to be present, Christian Gaebel was elected Reader. In 1890, Pastor Justus Naumann, then in charge of the congregation north of Harrold, started serving the Lutherans here. His work also included Gettysburg, as well as some of the other congregations in the vicinity. Following Pastor Naumann, a candidate of the St. Louis Seminary, in the person of H. Ohldag, was called as the first resident pastor of the St. John's Congregation. Under Pastor Ohldag's leadership the congregation was formally organized. During a meeting in January, of 1894, a constitution was accepted and signed by 11 members, including the pastor: Wilhelm Schriever, Carl Wilken, Fritz Weidemann, Carl Mullendorf, Christian Gaebel, John Garbe, John Pflegmacher, Fred Brandt, Karl Brandt, Joachim Mundt and the Rev. OhIdag. The first officers were Mr. Gaebel, chairman; Mr. Wilken, secretary; Fred Brandt, treasurer; Mr. Schriever and Mr. Weidemann, elders, and Mr. Garbe, trustee. In March of that year, the voters also resolved to have school on Sunday afternoons beginning at two o'clock with Mr. Schriever as superintendent. The first Sunday School teachers were Mrs. Weidemann and Mrs. Fred Brandt. [photo - St. John's Lutheran Church, built 1909, east of Agar.]