Full Text of "75 Years of Sully County History, 1883 - 1958", pages 159 - 184. 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. During that time services were generally conducted in a home-quite frequently in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Brandt. However, during Pastor Ohldag's time and even later, the congregation oftentimes worshiped in a building which served as a church - a "barracks-like affair," that stood a few miles south of the present site of Agar. Pastor Ohldag accepted a call elsewhere in the latter nineties, and the congregation was then served by Pastor F. W. Leyhe, of Wolsey. In the spring of 1900, the Rev. Werdermann became pastor for a few years and then accepted a call to Wheaton, Minnesota. Again, Pastor Leyhe served the congregation, coming out every six weeks, and whenever he came the little "church" or home where services were held, was always filled. Church records were rather incomplete in those days in comparison to present day records, but during that period the following pastors were either resident, or at least served the congregation in the capacity of pastor: Rev. Kellerman, Rev. Schultz, Rev. Lossner and Rev. M. G. Polack. August Sauer, who lived in Lebanon, South Dakota, was pastor at the time the church was built which was erected on a location one-half mile east of Agar. It was during those years that the various congregat [photo - St. John's Lutheran Church] An interesting sidelight of the building project was bringing the bell from Gettysburg. The bell weighed 1,800 pounds and was brought to Agar with a single team over roads that we today label cow trails." It is the same bell which is still used by the congregation to call the "weary and heavy laden" to devine worship. Through the years the following pastors served the St. John's Congregation: Rev. A. Sauer, 1910; Rev. W. F. Dommer, 1913-1918; Rev. F. A. Hinners, 1919-1927, when services were changed from German to English; Rev. H. M. Bauer, 1928-1930 when the constitution of the congregation was translated into English and officially accepted on May 23, 1928; Rev. E. C. Beyer, 1930-36, who had to leave because of the depression. [photo - Confirmation Class, 1940. Back row, left to right - Royal Olson, Donald Brandt, Nada Schultz, Avis Brandt, Ella Hines, Harold Mundt, Raymond Schlenker and the Rev. Seigel, pastor. Front row - Anna Mae Olson, Erma Schreiber and Ellen Hines.] The new minister, Rev. A. G. Palechek, served from June, 1945, to July, 1947. During the vacancy, Rev. C. F. Paul served the congregation and also Rev. K. Lassanske. Rev. O. D. Brack was installed on Palm Sunday, March 21, 1948, and served until March, 1955. Rev. Paul Sohn served as vacancy pastor until August, 1956, when Rev. Frederick Skov was installed and served until January, 1958. Rev. Glen Reichwald served as vacancy pastor during 1958, with Victor Lloyd Gauglin as assistant, from June until August. Vicar Gauglin conducted Vacation Bible School at both Agar and Onida in June. On August 17, 1958, Rev. T. C. Klees, St. John's present pastor, was Of special interest is the fact that the Ladies Aid bought a good second hand organ for fifty dollars from a Mrs. Daktor, of Lebanon, which was used for services for many years until the new electric organ was purchased. The old organ was then given to the Lutheran Church, of Cresbard. - L. J. Mrs. M. A. Lyons is one of the early settlers and has operated a hardware and ready-to-wear store in Agar for many years. Her son, Alvin, lives on a farm southwest of Agar in Milford Township and her daughter, Fern (Mrs. Donald Martin) lives near Onida. Lloyd Archer operates a garage in the former hardware and machine shop owned by his father, J. B. Archer, and his mother, Maude Archer, lives near the building. Organizations The earliest organization was the Literary Society which met in the Town Hall. Those meetings were well attended with many people sharing their talents of speaking, debating or singing. Not long after the Literary Society was established, a group of men organized a Checker Club in February of 1912. Some of the early members of that social men's club were Carl Falkenhagen, Ed Ryan, A. V. Goodrich, Pat Kane, C. C. Lyons, George Fairbank, F. D. Mitchell and W. S. Leeper. A Commercial Club was organized with one of its main projects being the revamping of the newspaper from the Agar Argus into the Agar Enterprise. The club kept the newspaper active with a number of editors, but finally sold the plant to Carmon L. Bates in 1920. Agar Fire Department The Agar Community Fire Department was organized on October 13, 1953. Agar and the surrounding community were very much in favor of establishing a fire department and donated generously towards the purchase of a fire truck and necessary equipment. On December 18, 1953, a two-ton Ford truck was purchased from Don Burns, of Philip, South Dakota, and the equipment was bought from the Luverne Equipment Company. In February of the following year, the truck and equipment arrived in Agar. In April, of that year, the fire hall was built and the siren was installed in May. In September, of 1955, a radio was purchased and installed in the truck. The firemen practiced often in order to learn to operate all of the equipment efficiently. They meet regularly once a month and sponsor an annual Firemen's Ball. Besides fighting fires in and around Agar and responding nobly to calls in the surrounding area, the firemen have helped build a playground, sponsor a Santa Claus for the children at Christmas time and many other worthwhile projects. The new officers elected in 1955 were Merle VonWald, chief; Mamford Lomheim, first assistant; Richard Martin second assistant, and Roy Hawes secretary and treasurer. Then in 1957, Bill Robbennolt was elected secretary, and Sherman Seward, treasurer. The present officers and members are as follows: Bob Kenworthy, chief; Richard Martin, first assistant; M. P. Sorenson, second assistant; Coleman Smith, secretary, and Verne Pearson, treasurer; Merle VonWald, George Gerlach, Fred Long, Orville Zuber, George Cass, Bill Robbennolt, Ed Schreiber, Sherman Seward, Floyd Falkenhagen, Keith Stoll, Jesse Venner, William Wagner, Robert Jaragoske, Leonard Venner, Oliver Evans, Clarence Wagner, H. R. Eliason, Leo Weischedel, Albert Schreiber, Franc The Agar Community Fire Department is proud to serve Agar and surrounding community and would like to thank everyone for their wonderful support. - B. K. [photo - Pride and Joy of the Agar Community Fire Department is the new truck and fire fighting equipment pictured above which was purchased through contributions from residents of the area and help from the Town of Agar and Sully County. A few of the firemen are pictured (left to right) Donald Naughton, Dick Carr, Royal Olson, Oliver Evans, Bernell Kuhrt, Paul Wittler, Chief Jesse Woodward and George Gerlack.] American Legion Post No. 271, Agar, SD Agar American Legion Post, No. 271, was organized at the close of World War II by the veterans of both wars, and received its charter on April 1, 1946. The 21 charter members were Walter Venner, George Gerlach, John Schaffer, Richard Ernst, Howard R. Weischedel, Earl W. Reiger, Elmer Lehmkuhl, Jon Reiger, Jesse Venner, Robert Smith, Leonard Venner, John Silbaugh, Ronald Evans, Albin Johnson, Wilfred Robbennolt, Kenneth Marsh, Irving Asmussen, Stanley Asmussen, Alvin Olson, Paul Brandt and Peter Asmussen. The first post commander was Walter Venner, a veteran of World War I. Following its organization, the Post began making plans for building a Legion home and raising funds. These plans were finally expanded to include a community hall and the money for this project was raised in various ways, including donations by the citizens of the community, community sales and a farming project by the Legion Post. One of the first money raising projects was sponsoring bowery dances. The Post purchased a bowery dance floor -and a large tent from Bert Clouse for $600.00. This project was only a mild success and the floor was later sold at one of the community sales. Work was finally started on the new hall in the spring of 1948, with about $19,000.00 in the fund. This amount was sufficient to complete the project, but with the drive and enthusiasm which was characteristic of the youthful citizens, the infant organization realized its initial ambition and the new community hall was first used in the fall of 1948, for the military funeral of Merle Lehmkuhl. Later an opening dance was held in the new hall and since has been used continuously for Legion The Post has been active in Legion affairs on the District and Department levels, makes donations to the Vets Organizations and worthy institutions and sponsors a young man to Boys State each year. On March 28, 1951, Agar Post, No. 271, was host to the District Convention. The Post also sponsors the Legion basketball teams and junior baseball teams and at present is sponsoring a junior-junior baseball team under the management of Patrick Kane, who is also the present post commander. The present membership now stands at thirty-seven. Agar Post, No. 271, has always had the welfare of the veterans and their families close to its heart, the needs of the community, the American Legion organization and its country uppermost in its mind, and always stands ready to render its services in time of peace and war. - L. V. Boy Staters Francis Kane, 1947; Walter Schreiber, 1948; Bobby Taylor, 1949; Gene Cavanaugh, 1950; Marion Schreiber, 1951; Darrell Smith, 1952; Lester Smith, 1953; Maynard Wagner, 1954; Marlin Wagner, 1955; Oren Smith, 1956; Wade Pexa, 1957, and Kent Joachim, 1958. American Legion Auxiliary, Agar, S. Dak. On July 26, 1946, a meeting was held at the home of Mrs. Alice Asmussen for the purpose of organizing an auxiliary unit to the Agar American Legion Post, No. 271. Mrs. Delta Fielder, Pierre, district president, presided at the meeting. The Auxiliary charter was applied for on October 9, 1946, and the 13 charter members were: Helene Lyons, Alice Asmussen, Evelyn Venner, Marie Schultz, Bessie Venner, Frances Hughes, Phyllis Wagner, Katherine Smith, Alberta Sorenson, Maude Hanson, Lorraine Martin, Irmel Evans and Arilla Lyons. At the present time, eight of those members are still active, two have moved away and one is deceased. One of the charter members, Marie Schultz, has been Auxiliary treasurer since it was organized. The first two presidents, Helene Lyons and Alice Asmussen, presented an Auxiliary Emblem lamp to the organization. When the Legion undertook its major project, that of building a community hall and Legion club rooms, the Auxiliary furnished the equipment for the kitchen and gave cash donations to help finish the hall and club room. In 1951, the Auxiliary presented an American Flag to the Legion. It has necessitated many fund raising projects to carry on the Auxiliary program each year. Some of these have been serving dance suppers, sponsoring dances, sponsoring public whist parties, publishing and selling a cook book, bake bazaars and quilting bees. The Auxiliary has faithfully met the requirements of the Department program, monthly donations and shower gifts and every Christmas remembrances have sent to the Veterans Hospital at Hot Springs. Each year rags are sewed and sent to be made into rugs by disabled veterans and finished rugs and other occupational therapy articles are purchased from the Hobby Shop at the hospital. The Poppy Poster contest is sponsored alternately with the Onida Unit and an Essay contest is sponsored each ye The Unit provides a portion of the program each year for the county Memorial Day program. It has promoted the sale of veteran made poppies on Poppy Day, increasing the sales by making wreaths and poppy corsages. Another worthwhile project of the Unit is presenting an American Flag to every first grade student for memorizing the Flag Salute. Each year the Auxiliary helps the Legion celebrate its birthday with a community party. In 1951, the local Unit entertained the District Ten meeting and the president, at that time Evelyn Venner, was alternate district president. Mrs. Venner has also served as page at a Department convention and was Department music chairman one year. Membership in the organization grown from the original 13 to 47 members at the present time. The present officers are: Jean McLean, president; Dorothy Seward, first vice president; Dorothy Rausch, second vice president; Mellitta Schultz, secretary; Marie Schultz, treasurer; Alberta Sorenson, historian; Bessie Venner, chaplain, and Lillian Ketchum, sergeant-at-arms. Girl Staters Minnie Mae Flood, 1947; Dorothy Otto, 1948; Marjorie Venner, 1949; Betty Venner, 1950; Maxine Venner, 1951; Mary Jean Thompson, 1952; Iris Olson, 1953; Edna Schreiber, 1954; Louise Doerr, 1955; Virginia Brandt, 1956; JoAnn Wittler, 1957, and Deanna Smith, 1958. Sports Highlights April 19, 1913, was the date on which the first baseball team was organized with Hans Christianson as manager; Cy Lyons, captain; J. B. Bessire, treasurer, and E. J. Branch, secretary. Those officers also acted as the finance committee for the organization. There were many enthusiastic baseball players and also spectators during the World War I years, and the team, at that time which included Charles Garrett (pitcher), A. S. Clouse (catcher), John and Leonard Nystrom, Verne Deyo, Hans Christianson, Jacob Wagner, Les Merrick, Cy Lyons, Claude Jones, "Bud" Eddy and Art Ransom, had a great deal of talent and played fine baseball. During the twenties, the five Venners (Walter, Arthur, Harry, Jesse and Lawrence), Floyd Falkenhagen (pitcher), Alvin Lyons (catcher), Charles Fairbank, Leonard Nystrom and "Cub" Yackley formed the outstanding team which won the new baseball suits. [photo - Walter Venner, one of the five Venner Baseball players.] Basketball [photo - First Basketball Team, 1926. Back Row, left to right - Ernest Schoof (Coach), Elmer Lehmkuhl, Len "Red" King and Floyd Christopher. Front row - Orville Fairbank, Kermit Doerr, Charlie Fairbank, and Maurice Sorenson.] Agar's brilliant basketball teams began back in 1926, when the first team was organized and coached by Ernest Schoof, who was the banker there at that time and donated his time and services to the players. The boys used the old schoolhouse in Onida for practice and also for games. Included in that first basketball team were Elmer Lehmkuhl, "Red" King, Floyd Christopher, Orville Fairbank, Kermit Doerr, Charlie Fairbank and Maurice Sorenson. [photo - Basketball Team, 1927. Back row, left to right - Robert Blaine, John Smith Leonard Bever, Elmer Weideman, Raymond Gere, Oren Schollian and Dick Bramblette. Front row - Joe Mundt, Coleman Smith, Kermit Doerr, Orville Fairbank and Maurice Sorenson.] The 1928 team, coached by Leonard Luker, was awarded the Sportsmanship Cup at the district tournament held in Pierre. That team included Leonard Bever, Isaac Smith, Orville Fairbank, Elmer Weideman, Joe Mundt, John Smith, Coleman Smith and Andrew Sorenson. [photo - Sportsmanship Team, 1928. Back row, left to right - Coach Leonard Luker, Leonard Bever, Isaac Smith, Orville Fairbank, Elmer Weideman and Joe Mundt. Front row - John Smith, Coleman Smith and Andrew Sorenson.] The Agar Hi-Pointers received a gold trophy at the end of the 1938 basketball season as their reward for an undefeated season. Coach Dalke was head basketball coach, with Ruben Joachim as captain of the team. Herman Joachim and Warren Miller were picked for the "All Tournament" team by the coaches in the Conference Tournament that year. The 1940-41 basketball season was an important one, as the team won the District XVI Tournament held in Onida and also the Region IV Tournament held in Redfield that year, which entitled them to participate in the State Tournament with the best record of any team entering that tournament-29 victories and no defeats. Coach Thompson's traveling team was composed of Captain Bob Smith, Jesse Rausch, Richard Martin, Morris Bandy, Ralph Palmer, Kenneth Smith, Melvin Currier, Herbert Vetter, Ke [photo - 1941 Staters. Back row, left to right-Kenneth Smith, Melvin Currier, Herbert Vetter, Morris Bandy, Bob Smith and Coach A. A. Thompson. Front row - Kenneth Bandy, Ralph Palmer, Jessie Rausch, Sherman Rausch and Richard Martin.] Again in 1944, the Hi-Pointers journeyed to the State "B" Tournament held in Aberdeen, but were unfortunate in drawing Mobridge as their opponent in the first game and were defeated 22 to 25 by the powerful Mobridge team which won the state tournament that year. The ten lettermen coached by Supt. Lewis Schetan that year were Co-captains Donald Brandt and Ronald Evans, James Carr, Kenneth Smith, Maurice Merritt, Pat Kane, Carlos Sunne, Marvin Schaeffer, Clarence Wagner and James Seward. The Hi-Pointers: were picked by sports editors of South Dakota Associated Press newspapers as the number one team during the 1950-51 season class "B" high school basketball poll and held that place again for most of the 1951-52 season. Coach Bill Pape's boys captured the District Seven championship in 1955 and again in 1956. [photo - 1957-58 Hi-Pointer Squad. Back row-Kent Joachim, Lyle Wagner, Wade Pexa, Joe Schultz, Arlo Wagner, Jim Beyer, Jerry Norman and Coach Bill Pape. Front row - Arlo Todd, Jack Smith, Dennis Pexa, Mervin Bouchie, and Revi Pexa. The Hi-Pointers won the Little Central Conference championship and also were tourney champions.] Horse Racing Keith Asmussen, 18-year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Irving Asmussen, of Agar, has made a name for himself as a jockey. He raced throughout the New England states during the summer of 1957, and in 1958, was one of the leading riders at Jefferson Park, South Dakota, and booted two mounts into the 'Lop money at the North Montana State Fair race track the week of August 15. During the time Keith was still an apprentice jockey - he became a fullfledged jockey on November 19, 1958 - he was in action at Scarborough Downs, Portland Me.; Waymouth, Mass.; Marshfield, Mass.; North Hampton, Mass.; Great Falls, Mont.; Atokad Park, Neb., and Caliente in Tijuana, Mexico, besides the Park Jefferson race track. Keith loves horses and likes to ride. He comes by this naturally, as his father owns two horses which have run at Park Jefferson-"Salt Seller" and "Zoom Way". [photo - Keith Asmussen riding "Salt Seller", winner at North Hampton (Mass.) Fair, and his father, Irving J. Asmussen, owner, standing at left.] Track Agar's track men have won honors for their school on the cinders and on the field all through the years, and as far back as the middle twenties, when they participated in the Legion Relays, they have broken many records. The Agar school acted as hosts to pupils and teacher of the north side school, in May, 1924, in its first public school field and track meet. During the spring of 1953, the Hi-Pointers piled up 50 points at the Little Central Conference Meet held in Pierre to take the Meet. Don Naughton broke his own record of :55.6 when he ran the 440 in :55.2. Darrell Smith fired the discus a distance of 126 feet to break his own mark of 123 feet. Naughton turned in a broad jump that day of 19 feet 10 inches. He was the Meet's top performer, as he personally accounted for 18 points. Then again that spring the Pointers scored 38 points to take the Class "B" Division at the Region IV Track Meet, setting three new records. Darrell Smith was the outstanding performer at that meet. AGAR'S FIRSTS . . . . . . Birth-Francis Ryan, born to Mr. and Mrs. Ed Ryan, on September 5, 1910. Marriage-Josephine Ryan and Richard Naughton. Marriage in Catholic Church-Irene Venner and Ed White, in 1920. Death-Otto Peterson, May 31, 1913. He was struck by lightning on the street in Agar at the age of 20. Birthday-July, 1911. Train-Went through Agar on August, 1910. Car-L. P. Christianson purchased a White Steamer in 1911. It was a self- propelled car, which chugged and groaned over the rough roads. Ladies Aid President-Mrs. A. V. Goodrich. Fire Alarm-Sounded on May 16, 1914, when the Bever residence was discovered to be on fire. The bucket brigade was soon on deck and the flames were quickly extinguished with very little damage done. Sidewalks-1918. Each real estate owner paid for the laying of sidewalks on his lots in the business and residential areas. Lights-1920. The light plant was operated by J. B. Archer. R.E.A. -Turned on July 5, 1950, at the home of Mrs. Addie Mundt just east of Agar. FEATURES AND FEATURETTES The Asmussen Family Mr. and Mrs. William J. Asmussen live in the home, in town, that was built in 1911, by his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Pete Anderson. Mrs. Asmussen is the former Alice McGuire Marsh. [photo - Home of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Asmussen] The Asmussens have five: sons and two daughters; namely, Stanley, Irving, Pete, Elaine, Kenneth, Theola and Billy. Stanley and his wife, Mary, purchased the Lutheran parsonage in 1945, where they now live. They have three children, Johannas Mary (Mary Jo), Tommy and Ted. Stanley and his father have a feed yard adjoining Agar west of the railroad and farm extensively from Agar headquarters. Irving, who married Helen Lyons, lives on the home farm three miles east of Agar where he also carries on an extensive farm and ranch program. They have two children, Keith and Stana. Training and racing horses is the hobby of the Irving Asmussen family and they own a number of outstanding race horses. Keith, who is just 18 years old, is rated as a top winning jockey and is a favorite of South Dakota racing fans. Pete, who is single, divides his time between his home in Agar and Sioux Falls. Elaine is married to John Richards and they have two sons, Barry and Jerry. She owns and operates a beauty parlor in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Kenneth Marsh married Eileen Merritt and they live on the farm southwest of Agar. They have two children, Douglas and Carol. Theola married Robert Smith and lives in Spearfish, South Dakota. They have one daughter, Bobee Cheri. Theola is taking training preparatory to teaching in a retarded children's school, which she finds is a very interesting and worthwhile vocation. [photo - Theola (Marsh) Smith] Billy Dan, the youngest, is married to Patty Telford and they have one son, Jay. Billy is in the Navy and is stationed at San Diego, California. [photo - Elaine (Asmussen) Richards] [photo - Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Asmussen and four of their sons in the Service at the same time. Left to right-Irving, Kenneth, Mrs. Asmussen (Alice), Mr. Asmussen (Bill), Stanley and Pete, along with a daughter, Elaine (Asmussen) Richards, pictured above.] Six of the seven children enlisted in the Service, five were serving their country at one time, and Billy at the present time. [photo - William D. (Billy) Asmussen] Back in 1933, Bill Asmussen, Sr., abandoned the farm he couldn't give away and moved to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to struggle through the depression and drouth by feeding sheep on leased grassland. In the spring of 1940, he returned to Agar and started buying up land and, at the present time, owns 204 quarters, in partnership with his sons, in Sully, Potter, Hyde and Hand counties. An oddity exists in the Asmussen family. Hans Asmussen, who lived in Nebraska, also had an only child, a son, named William J. Hans and his brother, Chris, (Bill, Sr.'s father) were unaware of this coincidence until many years later when the two William J.'s happened to hear of each other and got together for a visit. At that time they also found that they each have a daughter named Elaine. The Glenn Bever Family Glenn Bever arrived in Agar the first part of March, 1911, and built a small cottage in the southeast part of town (now the John Cavanaugh residence). Mrs. Bever (Maud Todd) and two sons, Neil and Newel, visited at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Todd, while Mr. Bever built the house. Both Neil and Newel moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where Neil was employed in the postoffice for 31 years. Leonard and Lucille were born in Agar. Leonard served in the army and upon retiring went into business in Chelsea, Washington. Lucille married Merle VonWald and they made their home in Agar. They have two daughters, Shirley (Mrs. James McClure of Fort Pierre) and Sharon. Mr. Bever was a carpenter and also a farmer. During the twenties, he operated a cafe and later trucked for many years. Mr. and Mrs. John Evans took over the duties of postmaster in 1932; he as postmaster and she as his assistant. She continued in this capacity when Sherman Seward took over as postmaster in 1954, relinquishing the job as assistant in 1957, the year Mr. Evans passed away. Mrs. Evans still lives In Agar near her son, Oliver and family. The Falkenhagen Family Carl L. Falkenhagen came to this country from Germany in 1883, with his mother, Sophia Maria, and his brother, John, and three sisters, Louise, Marie and Minnie. Carl was about nine years old at that time. His father had come here in 1882, and established a homestead for his family close to the farm now owned by E. L. Doerr. After his father passed away in the late 80's, Carl went to work for Dave Hall and also freighted from Blunt to Onida. In the late 1890's, Carl homesteaded the farm now owned by Axel Mikkelsen and built the farm buildings about 1900. On February 14, 1900, Carl was married to Laura M. Anderson, daughter of Nels Anderson of Richvalley Township. Carl's mother made her home with them. Laura, at the age of three years came to this country with her parents from Denmark. They first settled in Minnesota, and later moved to the homestead which is now the William Vetter farm. Laura taught school in Sully County for several years prior to her marriage. [photo - Carl L. Falkenhagen, 1900] [photo - Mrs. Carl L. Falkenhagen, 1900] [photo - Carl Falkenhagen's threshing rig in the early 1930's.] [photo - Carl L. Falkenhagen farm home] [photo - Carl Falkenhagen in his cook car, 1900] [photo - Four generations of Falkenhagens in 1916. Front row, left to right- Maria Falkenhagen (mother), Louise (Falkenhagen), Weideman (daughter). Back row- Mary (Weideman) Schreiber (granddaughter) and Albert Schreiber (great grandson).] During the years 1901 to 1910 the four Falkenhagen children were born; Floyd, Marie, Bessie and Edna. The family moved to Agar in 1910, and Carl established a mercantile business which he operated for several years and later spent most of his time in land business. Floyd married Margaret Brandt, and they have one son, Kenneth, a high school student. Marie is married to Henry Sunne, and they live near Gettysburg. They have one son, Carlos, and two grandchildren. Bessie is married to Jesse Venner, and they have one daughter, -Betty Lou, and one granddaughter. They purchased the Falkenhagen family home in Agar where they now live. Edna, who married Coleman Smith, also lives in Agar with her family. They have one daughter, Deanna, who senior in high school. Carl and Laura Falkenhagen have both passed away; Carl, in July of 1956 and Laura, in May, 1947. The Charles Garretts [photo - Charles Garrett, a versatile gentleman. Storekeeper, bass singer, trumpet player, band director and a baseball player.] [photo - Hunting companions in front of Garrett's Store in the early twenties. Left to right-Dr. B. M. Hart, two Mayo brothers (doctors -from the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota) and Charles Garrett.] Mr. and Mrs. Charles Garrett moved from Miller, South Dakota, to Agar in 1916, when they purchased a general merchandise store. They have two daughters, Vera (Mrs. Lonnie Hall, of Fayetteville, Arkansas and Genevieve (Mrs. L. A. Pennington, of Salt Lake City, Utah). Mr. Garrett is a man of many talents and interests. He was an avid baseball player and a top-notch pitcher, as well as an excellent musician. Both he and Mrs. Garrett are outstanding musicians and readily shared their talents. Mr. Garrett directed the community band and the school band for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Garrett have retired from the mercantile business and still make their home in Agar. Clifton ON-THE-OKOBOJO It was in the spring of 1883, that the village of Clifton was founded by a townsite company of Pierre and located on the south bank of the Okobojo-a never failing stream upon a plateau just sloping enough to afford excellent drainage. The county seat of Sully County was immediately located in the new town and within a few weeks Clifton was the most important place within a radius of fifty miles. Being the county seat and situated so near the geographical center of Sully County, Clifton enjoyed a steady growth from the very start. Government land was easily secured in that vicinity and relinquishments purchased at a low price. The first business places established were a general store, operated by Henry Potter; a hotel, run by Mr. and Mrs. William Ross; a newspaper, "The Sully County Watchman," published by William Walter and J. H. Gropengieser; a blacksmith shop, owned by Joseph Kokish; a real estate office, owned by S. H. Neal, and an office built by the Frost brothers for the "Clifton Sun," which they published for a short time and then sold to the proprietors of the "Watchman." Some of the earliest homes erected were that of the Hiram Butts' family, John Cole, Orr Lee, B. P. Hoover, who built a large home on his farm nearby, and the Andrew McFall family which included Miss Frances Winter, a niece of Mr. McFalls'. [photos - Mr. and Mrs. V. M. McFall] The schoolhouse was located in the building which had housed the "Clifton Sun" and the fall term commenced in October, 1883, with Mrs. V. M. McFall as the teacher. She continued to be the village teacher until the fall of 1888, when she was succeeded by Mrs. Rose Harpold. The Rev. A. C. Law, a missionary of the Methodist Church, commenced religious services that fall in Neal's Real Estate office and later in the schoolhouse. Rev. Law passed away on September 2, 1884, of typhoid fever. There was a group of young men who lived in the hotel the first year - Henry Edgerton (clerk of courts), Irvin Rickert and his cousin, Willis Rickert, and Albert Tobias. The following spring they were joined by Harry Banker, Albert Wasgatt, Dan Howe, J. A. Meloon, Fred Bonsey and J. H. Gropengieser. Soon this group became known as the "Bachelor Boys." Later these young men built a small residence and established a home for themselves with Bonsey as cook. [photo - Some of the Bachelor Boys of Clifton. Back row, left to right - Albert Tobias, and J. H. Gropengieser. Front row - Irvin Rickert, Andrew Wasgatt and Willis Rickert.] During the fall and winter of 1883, when cattle would stray away, the "Bachelor Boys" would invariably strike out towards the southwest in search of them. A few miles in that direction was a settlement called "Girls Town"-a group of seventeen young ladies owning claims. Jay Hoover and Willie Ross returned from a hunting trip at the mouth of -the Okobojo one cold day in December, 1883, leading a large, live jack-rabbit with a rope. In April, 1884, Dr. G. E. Vesey located in Clifton as a practising physician and dentist. Later his wife joined him in his new location. Harry Butts was postmaster in 1884. The Cole brothers, John and Ira, built a large residence on their claims in the spring of 1884, and put in over 100 acres of wheat, oats, corn and flax. The brothers also erected a small building in which Ira installed a stock of drugs. During the summer and fall of 1884 a heated campaign was carried on between candidates from Clifton and Onida for the permanent location of the county seat and it was not until almost a year later that the case was settled and the county records moved to Onida. A baseball team was organized during the summer of 1884, the first in Sully County, with Willis Rickert as captain and the other "Bachelor Boys" as members of the team. The boys played on their new diamond on August 12, against Onida. The score was Clifton 66, Onida 42. Bert Lilly was the catcher for Onida. The Christian College of Dakota was established at Clifton in 1884. There were 14 applicants for examination for certificates before County Superintenden Carr at the college on September 1, 1885 Among those included: Miss Vina McGannon, Jay Pierce, Miss Mabel Mills, J. M Gray, Miss Sarah Seward, Mr. McMahon, Mrs. E. E. Brooking, Mrs. Matie Scrivens, Mrs. H. C. Paull, Mrs. V. M. McFall and Miss Frankie Winter. In March, of 1886, the college building was torn down and the lumber hauled to [photo - Sully County Old Settlers' Association, taken in 1926 at the Fair Grounds, Onida. Recognized in picture are Mr. and Mrs. David Rilling, Henry Eversmeyer, Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Courtney, Mrs. Thos. Crawford, Wm. Crawford, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Buck, Chas. L. Hyde, speaker; H. A. Brooking, Mr. and Mrs. Todd, Mr. and Mrs. L. Nelson, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Gleason, Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Garrett, D. W. Hyde, Perry Swenson, J. H. Gropengieser, B. M. Lister, A. J. Bunch, Mrs. Howard, Mrs. Lister, Robt. Por On February 11, 1886, an organization, known as "The Clifton Well Association" was formed. Its purpose was to assess the citizens to pay for past and future repairs on the town well. Also, to raise funds and replace the mill. John F. Cole was elected to solicit and collect a small sum monthly from those who benefited from the wind mill and tank. Members of the Union organization met at the F. Haskin residence on February 28, 1886, and organized a Union Sunday School. The following officers were elected: A. J. Lakin, superintendent; Mrs. V. W. McFall, assistant superintendent; Henry Holmes, secretary, and Mrs. A. J. Lakin, treasurer. William Toomey and J. H. Gropengieser represented Sully County in the Statehood convention held in Huron on January 16, 1889. The gradual uprooting of a once thriving community was due, chiefly, to the loss of the county seat, but it was somewhat hastened by the general conditions of the country. The crop failures had been so discouraging that there had been a general exodus of settlers who had scattered to the four winds in search of new locations. In the middle nineties Mrs. McFall was able to count eleven states and territories which contained one or more of the young people who had been her pupils. Okobojo The village of Okobojo was laid out in the spring of 1883, before Sully County was organized. The first settlers to locate there were Merit Sweney, townsite agent, and A. C. Parsons, who started the first store. After a year he sold to Captain Bliss Sutherland, who ran it for several years before turning it over to his son, Frank. This store passed through several hands until it was purchased by Alex McGannon in 1892, who finally sold it to his son in 1908. J. D. Gustafson purchased the The second business to be established was a hardware store which opened the summer of 1884, by Captain W. W. Stewart and H. R. Mills. Later this store was sold to William Brownlee and a general stock of merchandise was added. Other early mercantile businesses included a shoe store operated by John Bradley, and when the town of Clifton finally vanished from the map, Norris Willits, who had been running a general store at that place, moved his building to Okobojo and operated it there for several years. The first hotel accommodations were by the Bunch family. E. P. Bunch filed on a tract of land adjoining the village and built a two-story building which was used for that purpose. This building was later moved to the farm of James Bagby in Grandview Township, and later moved back to Okobojo to become the farm of Hal Glessner, just south of the village. D. F. Sweetland was the first loan agent, locating in 1883. He remained for about eight years. The first birth in Okobojo was that of Arlie M. Carpenter, on February 26, 1884. [photo - Alex McGannon Store and Post Office, Okobojo, Early 1900's.] The Presbyterian Church of Okobojo was organized on July 18, 1887, with the Reverends Charles Londen and John B. Pomeroy officiating. Charles S. Mateer was chosen elder, and W. H. Kidoo, W. T. McNeill and J. W. Johnston, the first trustees. A postoffice was established in 1884, and C. H. Whitman commissioned postmaster. As Okobojo was the central point for gatherings for the southwestern part of Sully County, various kinds of celebrations were held there. The first of any importance was the Fourth of July opening in 1884. Other celebrations followed, along with literary society meetings held in the schoolhouse which was built in the fall of 1883. Miss Ethel Colby was the teacher beginning the spring term on May 19, 1884, with ten pupils. . Okobojo's first Christmas was celebrated in the schoolhouse with a free dinner, the first of its kind in the county. The school room was decorated for the occasion, and Superintendent Staples furnished maps and charts for the walls, contributed a turkey and had much to do with the origin of numerous pumpkin pies. Mrs. Elizabeth McGannon, who was known as "Grandma McGannon" died on May 6, 1913, at the ripe old age of 94 years and three months. She moved to Sully County with her husband and family in the spring of 1883, and homesteaded land in Okobojo Township. The first schoolhouse became a landmark in that part of the county for many years, and it was used for school purposes continuously until 1920, when the building was sold and the town provided a more modern school building. However, the purchaser had not removed the old building from its original site when it was struck by lightning the night of September 14, 1921, and burned to the ground. Work had already begun in October, 1919, on a new schoolhouse which was located northeast of the o [photo - Okobojo's Baseball Team. 1903 - 1907. Back row, left to right - George Bunch, Alex McGannon, (unknown) and Mont Groseclose. Middle row - Lawrence "Pete" Coleman, Robert Coleman, Dan Sheets and Ross Green. Front row - William Crawford and Henry Groseclose.] Mr. Hancock, owner of the Okobojo Cream Station, reported that during the month of May, 1926, 101 cans of cream, worth over $1,000.00, were shipped. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Crawford, pioneers since 1883, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in October, 1926. Mrs. Charles Coleman, Mrs. George Lumley, Jr., and Miss Arline Anderson gave the eighth grade examinations to a class of 19 at the Community Hall on May, 26 and 27, 1927. The following pupils took the examination: Beryl McGannon, John Glessner, Maurice Flansburg, Wayne Groseclose, Ernest Steffens, Rose and Mary Bush, Melvin Harbert, Frank Pitlick, George A. Basil, Howard Byrum, Lawrence Serbousek, Hazel and Alberta Ripley, Dorothy Morgart, Maurice Green, Albert McGruder, Henry Coleman an Stanley Mateer, a former Okobojo boy before moving to Huron, South Dakota, sang, "My Task" before President and Mrs. Calvin Coolidge at church services in Hermosa, South Dakota, on Sunday, June 26, 1927. [photo - Combine equipment, belonging to Bill Ruckle , being pulled across Okoboj Creek with a cable in 1928.] Fort Sully Old and New Old Fort Sully was built by General Alfred Sully in the autumn of 1863, on the east side of the Missouri River. It was built of logs with earth roofs, and had accommodations for two companies. Intended as a cavalry post, it was found that insufficient hay was grown in the vicinity to supply the establishment, so in 1866, a new post was erected thirty miles farther up the river where hay was more abundant. The old post, which was located a mile east of the Indian School at Pierre, was abandoned. The most notable event which took place at Old Fort Sully was the Treaty Council of 1865 (October), in which the troubles following the outbreak were composed. [photo - One of the Original Buildings of Fort Sully, Erected in 1866.] [photo - The old Fort Sully Barn shortly before it crumbled to the ground in 1929.] New Fort Sully was established on July 25, 1866, 28 miles up the river from Pierre, on the east side of the Missouri River, in Sully County. There were quarters for four companies, built of cottonwood logs; thirteen sets of officers' quarters; hospital, guard house, six store houses, frame stables, laundry quarters (ten sets of frame buildings), bakery, ice house, root house and a brick magazine. The reservation had an area of forty-two square miles. Water was hauled to the post with wagons from the Missouri River, and a twelve months' supply was kept on hand. This was an important post during the period of the Indian wars, including the Messiah War of 1890. Many military enterprises against the Sioux outfitted there. The fort was abandoned in 1894, and the buildings sold to settlers. Piece by piece the structures were torn down, moved away, or destroyed by the elements of nature. After abandonment as a military post, the range in the preserve was leased for grazing to ranchers. The greater portion was leased during June, of 1899, to George W. Lumley, R. M. Snyder, William Floyd and others at a price of five cents an acre for a term of years. In July, 1908, the state Land Department leased the remaining range of old Fort Sully reservation to T. J. Steele, of Iowa. The tract at that time comprised 11,000 acres, and was enclosed with a fence on one side, a short line on the north and the Missouri River enclosing the balance. It was a rectangular piece of property, 300 feet square, situated on the crest of a knoll, 300 feet above the river and commanding a view of the Missouri breaks and the river itself for many miles in three In 1910, the land was deeded to the state of South Dakota by W. J. Roadman, Maud Roadman and Johanna Roadman, of West Moreland County, Pennsylvania, and made into a small State Park. Its location and true natural beauty, combined with early history, made it an ideal spot for such a park. Trees were replaced and a fence constructed around the site. As of January 1, 1957, Fort Sully vanished from the active records of Sully County, and for the second time in the history of this area, the memorable name of Fort Sully was once again chucked deeper into the archives of time. Many visitors still go to the ruins of the old fort every summer and are frequently rewarded by finding some relic of the past. FORT SULLY MONUMENT On September 21, 1929, forty-one years after the abandonment of Fort Sully, the Men's Clubs of Onida and Okobojo joined with the Old Settlers' Association in dedicating a monument, purchased and planned by those clubs, to mark the historic site. The monument occupies a very commanding position facing westward and overlooking a large wooded belt fringing the Missouri River, half a mile off, and looking across the restless, muddy water to the bluffs beyond. Back of the structure to the east is a range of bluffs. The marker is eight feet tall, and consists of a concrete base upon which a large boulder is placed and inscibed as follows: "Erected by the residents of Sully County, September 21, 1929, marking the site of Fort Sully. Established July 28, 1866. Abandoned October 20, 1894." The Men's Clubs, which cooperated to make this marker a reality, purchased four acres of land from the state of South Dakota, and thereby own the historic site. The program for the occasion of placing the marker on the site was very impressive. It included music by Kecks Kornet Kids, Onida's juvenile band, speeches by noted state men, such as Doane Robinson, Secretary of Agriculture Kriebs, Governor Bulow and Judge Hughes, who had often visited the fort in early days. [photo - Marker at Site of Fort Sully. Granite marker, appropriately inscribed, erected at the site of Fort Sully by Men's Clubs of Onida and Okobojo. [photo - GENERAL ALFRED SULLY For Whom Sully County Was Named] GENERAL ALFRED SULLY by Will G. Robinson State Historian General Alfred Sully, for whom Sully County was named, first came into South Dakota in early 1855, when he made a recormaisance with a small party from Fort Ridgely in Minnesota on the Minnesota River out via of Lake Kampeska to Snake River at its mouth on the James near Redfield, and then up that river and through Faulk County until he left that river and came into Sully County, which he transversed in going to Fort Pierre. By the time of the Civil War, General Sully had been promoted from a Captain to a Colonel, and in 1863, he was Commanding Officer and then Brigadier General of the Expedition that came up the Missouri, headquartered in Peoria Bottom, where Oahe Mission later was and then ascended the Missouri, crossing Sully County to Swan Creek and then up the Missouri into North Dakota, almost to where Bismarck is located. Late in the fall, he fought a battle with the Indians at White Stone Hill, not f General Sully's column then returned to the bottoms near Farm Island , east of Pierre, where a fort was built for winter occupancy in 1863-64. It was built by part of Sully Command, under a Colonel Bartlett, for whom the fort was first named, but later its name was changed to Fort Sully. It was from there that General Sully launched his successful expedition against the Indians in 1864, again crossing through Sully County en route to Killdeer Mountain, where in August, 1864, he defeated His troops largely return to Forts Sully, Thompson and Randall the winter of 1864-65, and in 1865, the Treaty Commissioners met at Fort Sully to conclude their many treaties with the Sioux Indians. The next year it was determined to move upstream to New Fort Sully which was commenced in July, 1866, and which also bore the name of Fort Sully being merely a movement of the Fort from near Farm Island to what is now western Sully County.