Text of Ziebach Co., SD History (1982) - pages 257 - 279 This file is the text of the book, "South Dakota's Ziebach County, History of the Prairie", published in 1982 by the Ziebach County Historical Society, Dupree, SD Permission to publish this book in electronic form was given by Jackie Birkeland, member of the Historical Committee. This book is copyright, 1982 by the Ziebach County Historical Society, Dupree, SD. Scanning and OCR by Terri Tosh , final editing by Joy Fisher, . Chapter 16 FAMILY HISTORIES LEO ABELT FAMILY by Connie Abelt Burke Leo Abelt and Mary Ann Thomas were born in Wisconsin in 1887 and were married in 1911. In the spring of 1911 the couple homesteaded in northern Ziebach County. They returned to Wisconsin where Connie was born in 1914. The family then moved to Aberdeen, South Dakota, where Leo worked for the railroad for about two years. About 1916 the Abelts returned to their homestead to make it their home. It was not easy to get a start living about 18 miles from the nearest town of Isabel, South Dakota. Team and wagon was the only means of transportation for them. Leo and Ann were hard workers and good managers. In 1921 Loreta was born. Dr. Matter, living near Glad Valley, was the attending doctor. Attending school meant a number of miles to travel, or room and board away from home. When the drought and dust storms of the 1930's hit the area, the family was forced to leave their home to live on a rented farm near Clark, South Dakota. Leo mowed road ditches, sloughs, etc, to get enough feed for his cattle for the winter of 1936. Connie married in 1935 and remained at Glad Valley, South Dakota. Loreta met and married Wilbur Junlavy in 1938. Loreta and Wilbur had 6 children. Wilbur passed away in 1972. The Junlavy family live near and around Clark, South Dakota. In 1944, Leo and Ann sold their farm machinery and livestock and moved into Clark. There Leo worked for a chick hatchery. About two years later they moved to Watertown, South Dakota. Both Leo and Ann worked for North American Creamery and bought a home. On August 27, 1950, Leo passed away. Ann continued to work at the creamery until she retired. The last 18 months of Ann's life was lived in Jenkin's Nursing Home. She passed away October 12, 1973. [photo – Leo, Ann, Loreta and Connie. Taken in 1927 – their first car, and new.] ADOLPH ABRAHAM (taken from the Faith Country book) I first came to Faith in March 1917. I shipped an immigrant car out with cattle and machinery. I homesteaded south of Redelm. In August 1917, I was called into the armed service and served two years, after which I returned to my homestead and started farming. I was one of the charter members of the Legion Post at Faith. I also worked on the road that was built into Faith. In the fall of 1930 I left and went to Elk Point, South Dakota. JACOB ACHEN by Veronica Achen Messersmith and Kay Achen Wojcio Our folks, Rose Boeding and Jacob Achen, were married in Leola, South Dakota in 1911. They homesteaded in Ziebach County with their address as Pickersville. Dad (Jacob) was born in Germany and came to America when he was 6 years old and settled with his parents near St. Lucas, Iowa. Mother (Rose) was born in West Point, Iowa. She worked in St. Lucas before moving to South Dakota. There were five children in our family -- Minnie, Catherine, Veronica, Nicholas and Mathew. Minnie died in 1932. In the early homesteading years, Dad would go with a threshing crew that would take him as far away as Jamestown, North Dakota. During the years in Ziebach County, Dad farmed and raised cattle. Some years were good and some were dry, with no crops or feed for the cattle. One year there was a grand migration of Army worms. They literally covered the ground, taking all that was in their path. We survived. Then came the year of the grasshopper. They harvested for us, leaving us with bare food for the cattle. Then there was the year of the great dust storm. Dad owned about 1800 acres at one time. We remember summers herding the cattle between the fields and along the creek. We went to the country school three miles north of Glad Valley. On cold winter days Dad would take us to school in a sled. In the spring and fall we would usually have to walk or ride our horses. One spring us kids set the clock ahead one hour so we could get to school early to play ball -- worked out fine and we had fun until the folks found out what we did. All of the children received an education through high school. Catherine and Veronica graduated from Isabel High School. We lived in a rooming house while in school. Many Saturday mornings we would go to the post office and catch a ride home to Glad Valley with the mailman and Dad would have to bring us back Monday morning. After high school, Ray went into Nurses training at St. Mary's Hospital at Pierre, graduating and moving on to work in Chicago. She spent 3 years in the service during World War II. In 1936, Dad shipped his cattle and horses to Jackson Junction, Iowa, where his brothers and sisters lived, and Dad returned to Iowa to farm. In the fifties Dad sold the last of his land in South Dakota. Mother died in April 1946 and Dad in January 1970 at age 94. Reuben Messersmith and Veronica were married in 1941 in New Hampton, Iowa. They have two sons: Mark in Los Angeles, California and Bob in New Hampton, Iowa. LAWRENCE and PAULINE ACKER by Ruth Edwards Lawrence Acker, son of Tony and Philomena Laundreaux Acker, was born September 24, 1917. He grew up in the Thunder Butte and Dupree area. He was the youngest of the family. George (deceased); Elizabeth (Mrs. Carl Petersen) deceased, Eagle Butte; Frank, Collinsville, Oklahoma; Josephine (Mrs. Ed. Huston) deceased. Lawrence moved with his parents to Spearfish in 1926. He went to school in Dupree, Spearfish and Lead. He worked for the Homestake Gold Mine and when World War II broke out he joined the Army and after basic training at Camp Robin, Arkansas, he served in the South Pacific. After discharge in Portland, Oregon, he worked for the Northwest Natural Gas Company for thirty-one and one half years. Lawrence married Pauline Jones in Portland, Oregon in 1965. They returned to South Dakota in July 1977 and now live in Eagle Butte. TONY and PHILOMENA ACKER by Ruth Edwards Tony Acker was born in Ashton, Wisconsin July 4, 1865, son of George and Josephine Acker. George Acker came to America in 1851, from Germany. Josephine Acker came to America in 1854, also from Germany. George passed away September 16, 1910 and Josephine September 28, 1909. Children of George and Josephine Acker were: John, Tony, Mary, Lena, twins Rose and Josephine (Rose died at 4 months), George, Frank and Rose. Tony came to South Dakota at age 19 years and worked at construction, building the first telephone line west out of Aberdeen. Later he carried mail for the U.S. Government. Tony married Philomena Laundreaux of Promise, South Dakota, December 9, 1900. To their union five children were born: George (deceased 1978); Elizabeth (Mrs. Carl Petersen) deceased, Eagle Butte; Frank, Collinsville, Oklahoma; Josephine (Mrs. Ed Huston deceased); and Lawrence, Eagle Butte, South Dakota. Tony and Philomena ranched, raising cattle and sheep, living near Promise, Thunder Butte and later Dupree. In 1926 they moved to Spearfish, South Dakota where later he became ill with cancer and died in Dupree April 11, 1933. After her husband's death Philomena moved to Dupree and passed away at the Cheyenne Agency Hospital September 23, 1942. They are both buried in the Dupree Cemetery. AFRAID OF LIGHTNING OR CIRCLE BEAR Bull Man (Number 2, 1841-1925) was the son of Sitting Eagle and Brown Rainbow. In 1867, Bull Man took plural wives, who were sisters: The Earth or Julia (1854-1929) and Fearful or Mrs. Bull Man (-1911). To Bull Man and Fearful were born Thomas Eagle Staff in 1878, Brings Plenty who died at age 10, before allotment, and Agnes Her Good Horse. Thomas Eagle Staff was the father of Adam; Dianne (Thomas); Esau; and Sam Eagle Staff. To Bull Man and Julia The Earth were born Afraid of Lightning who died at the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890, at age 19; Elizabeth Bull Man (1886-1908); Mary Bull Man who married John Blackman or Little Star; Brings Plenty who died at age one, before allotment; and White Eagle Woman or Sarah (-1951) who married James Ree in 1890. James Ree (Afraid of Lightning) was born on the Rosebud Reservation, the son of Blue Hatchet and Iron Antelope. His mother, Iron Antelope, was a Rosebud Sioux. Both of his parents died before 1924. James Ree went to Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania. James and Sarah lived in the Bridger area, to where some survivors of the Wounded Knee Massacre returned. Sarah's family gave James Ree the name of Afraid of Lightning for their son who had been killed at Wounded Knee Creek. In 1891, James and Sarah's first son, Moses, named Circle Bear by Sarah, was born. In 1896 Moses went to school in Rapid City. He and his parents received their allotments along the Cheyenne River, up to where the present new housing is. In 1905, his sister Mary was born. She married Henry Red (Breath) Bear and had one surviving daughter. Mary died before 1951. Bessie Afraid of Lightning (1908-1929) married William War Bonnet and had three daughters: Josephine, Dollie Inamongst, and Goldie Iron Hawk. Two other daughters were born to James and Sarah Afraid of Lightning; Lillian (1913-1933) and Louise (1914-1915). Moses Circle Bear/Afraid of Lightning told the following, "When I was a young boy, I was at Cheyenne Agency Boarding School. That was in the time when that big epidemic of smallpox spread among the whole Cheyenne Reservation, so we all have to stay away from all the towns and everything, even the churches. We didn't go there for quite awhile, then that summer, and that spring there was a call for school at Rapid City Indian School. There was a bunch of us Indian boys from this district, they took us to Rapid City Indian School. "I was at the school for twelve years. After my 12th year, I came back from there. While I was there, I was a drum major and after that year I was in the band again." Moses graduated from the school in Rapid and in 1923 he married, in Rapid City, to Amelia Bisonette from Pine Ridge. She was the daughter of John Bisonette. They lived in Bridger, south of where the present housing is. Moses could play the violin, sax, guitar, and harmonica. To Moses and Amelia Circle Bear or Afraid of Lightning were born: 1924, Vera (Mrs. Chauncey Dupris); 1929, Mary Herrald; 1931, Regina (Mrs. Merle Lone Eagle); twins in 1932, Raymond who married Pearl Mexican and Roy who is married to Mollie Lone Eagle; 1944, Virjama or Esther (Mrs. Dale Hale); 1948, Shirley (Mrs. Brian Dupris); and 1938, James Circle Bear. In 1933, James Afraid of Lightning gave land for the school that was to be built, for he wanted the children to go to school. In 1944, he died. His wife, Sarah, died in 1951, while her granddaughter Vera Dupris' husband was working on the hospital in Faith. Moses and Amelia's children went to school at Bridger, Old Cheyenne Agency, and Eagle Butte schools. Mary attended Stephan. After his wife, Amelia, died in 1956, he served as Councilman for four years. "I was elected Councilman of Bridger district. Before that I was general/junior judge of the same district." "I was lay reader of Cherry Creek (Congregational Church) for quite a while. After that I came back home, then I lived with my children." Moses Circle Bear or Afraid of Lightning sold ten acres of his land to the tribe for new housing in Bridger and passed away there in 1980, at the age of 89. [photo – James Ree or Afraid of Lightning and daughter] FRED ALBEE by Verena Albee Habeck My parents, Fred and Margaret Albee, homesteaded south of Eagle Butte in 1911. After they proved up their homestead they moved to Eagle Butte where my father was with the Anderson Lumber Company. He transferred to Dupree and we lived there in 1916 and 1917. I remember a prairie fire that burned into the south city limits of Dupree. Both parents were fighting it. They had put valuable papers and some clothes in a pillow case. After the house was saved and the fire out, they found the pillow case still on the kitchen table and the bread dough nicely wrapped to raise on the back seat of the Model T Ford -- to be saved. They never agreed who did it and I honestly don't think they knew. We moved to Cuthbert and then back to Eagle Butte in the spring of 1919 and my father sold the homestead to Margaret Hell Becker's grandparents. Albee school has been moved several times. My father was born in Illinois and raised in Iowa. My mothers parents, Michael and Bridget Halen, came from Ireland. My mother was born in New Jersey and came-with her parents to a homestead near Wessington. I am an only child. I was raised in Eagle Butte and taught schools in Ziebach County Busy Bee in 1928-29 and Johnson School in 1930-31. I have two children -- Ianita Wagner who has three daughters, Suzie Fields and Linda and Peggy Boyar. My son, Gerald Habeck, has two daughters, Dana and Lori Habeck. My husband Ruben and I have lived in California since 1937. OTTO ALBERS FAMILY by Anna Albers Keegan Otto Albers came to Ziebach County from Nebraska as a trapper. He married Mattie Woodward in 1922. They lived seven and one-half miles southwest of Lantry, South Dakota, which was homesteaded by Mattie's father, Herman Woodward. Dad had farm land, raised cattle, and trapped in the winter months. Otto and Mattie had five children -- Mary Ellen, Anna, Cecil, Orvel, and August. We all attended the Rosene School. Most of the time we walked the two and a half miles. In the winter time, if the snow was deep, Dad took us to school with the team and sled. I remember the dry years, with the grasshoppers, government buying cattle, but also the fun times, like the card parties and dances which were held at homes in the neighborhood. Otto passed away in 1959. Mattie married Ben Haugen. She is now in the Sturgis Community Nursing Home at Sturgis, South Dakota. Mary Ellen graduated from Dupree High School, married James Fluharty, raised four children, and now lives at Escondido, California. Cecil married Ida Simon, has two children. Cecil passed away in 1972. Orvel graduated from Eagle Butte High School, married Mary Lou Farrell, raised six children, and lives at Las Vegas, Nevada. August graduated from Eagle Butte High School, married Sonja Bell, has two sons. He also has two sons from a previous marriage. He now lives at Spearfish, South Dakota. I married James Keegan in 1940, had three children -- Jimmie, Judy and Sandy. Jim worked for Lawrence Vance, Marion Smith and Adolph Silverman. In the late 40's we bought the Tom Blue Eyes place from John Bigler. Jimmie and Judy went to the Sinkey School, Sandy went to Rosene School. We bought the Marion Smith place from Jerome O'Leary and moved there in 1960. In 1965 we bought the Cherry Creek Trading Post from Hollis Barker. We were there until 1970. Jimmie graduated from Dupree High School, married Joyce Miller, and they had five sons, LaVern, Bruce, Jamie, and the twins Kevin and Kelly. Jimmie passed away in 1972. Judy graduated from Dupree High School, married Bill Longbrake, and they have four children, Eddie, Mike, Jackie and Raymond. They have a ranch at Bridger and live in Dupree during the week when the children attend school and Judy teaches at the Head Start. Sandy graduated from Eagle Butte High School. She is married to Dan Moritz, has three children, Darwin, Sirra, and Stephanie, and they live at Stanwood, Washington. I now make my home at Dupree. [photo – Otto Albers family: Mary Ellen, Anna, Cecil, Orvel and August] ELMER ALLEY HISTORY by Mildred Alley Elmer is the son of John and Catherine Alley and I (Mildred), was the daughter of John and Laura Harmel. Elmer and I were married August 6, 1940 in Isabel. Our first home was east and north of Isabel. In the spring of 1942 we moved to our present home 15 miles northwest of Isabel. It was known as the Rogers homestead. We are the parents of five children, of which four are living. They are: Ronald Alley of Isabel who lives with his family on the home place; Karen, Mrs. Bernard Beer of Faith; John of Timber Lake, South Dakota; and Kenneth of McLaughlin, South Dakota. Our eldest daughter, Joanne, was a victim of polio. She passed away on March 25, 1968. Elmer passed away April 11, 1981. PAUL and ANTONIA ALWIN FAMILY Paul Alwin was born July 20, 1890 at Moorhead, Minnesota, the son of Peter Alwin and Marianna Sarneski. As a child he accompanied his parents to a farm near Webster, South Dakota in 1892. Here he attended school and grew to manhood. In 1918 he enlisted in the army and served overseas. On June 16, 1919 he received his discharge at Camp Dodge, Iowa and returned home to help operate the family farm. Antonia Bertha Kriech was born October 8, 1897 at Webster, South Dakota to Jacob Kreich and Martha Oollnick. She attended school and grew up near Webster and later moved to Aberdeen where she was employed. Paul and Antonia were married November 27, 1920. To this union four children were born: Lambert Paul, who now lives in Mobridge; Arlene, now Mrs. Clinton Thomas who resides in Dupree; Duane Nicholas, also from Mobridge; Mary, who passed away at birth. The Alwin family lived on a farm near Webster until the fall of 1925 when they moved west of the river, to a farm near Firesteel. They lived there until 1929 when they moved to a farm in Ziebach County, about ten miles south of Eagle Butte. They later moved to the Ritter place which was just north of Joe Zorc's, and lived there until the fall of 1935 when they moved closer to Eagle Butte. Lambert was always interested in building roads so after graduation from Eagle Butte High School in 1939 and serving in the Army Air Corps, he worked with construction crews for many years, including work on Highway 212 from La Plant to Faith. He also worked for Civil Service as a safety engineer when the new bridge was built near Mobridge, and he is retired in Mobridge. Arlene graduated from Eagle Butte High School and then returned to Ziebach County where she worked at the Farmers State Bank for nine years. She has played the organ in church, given a few piano lessons and was Treasurer of Dupree School District for twelve years. She met Clinton Thomas when she moved to Dupree, and married him four years later, in 1949. They had three children: JoAnn Marie, David Paul, and Daniel George. JoAnn married Donald Jordan from Faith and they live in Benton, Arkansas with their three children. Duane liked the farm and worked at home for a while after his graduation from Eagle Butte High School, then farmed near Mobridge until the Oahe flooded the place he was on. Then he became the manager of the Country Club and later moved to Seattle, Washington where he worked for Boeing Aircraft for a couple years. He returned to Mobridge where he managed the Moose Club for many years and continues to make his home there. He married Lois Guenther and they have two daughters. Paul and Antonia lived on their farm two miles northwest of Eagle Butte until their family was through high school and then Paul sold the farm in 1964. He passed away March 20, 1965 of a heart attack. Antonia lived in Mobridge until 1975 when she passed away in the Mobridge Hospital. [photo – Lambert, Antonia, Paul, Arlene, Duane] [photo – Paul and Antonia Alwin – 1920] BASTIAN ANDERSON FAMILY by Virginia Anderson Woodward Bastian Anderson was born February 15, 1862 at EidsKogen, Norway and came to the United States with his parents when just a young boy. He married Thea Carlson, who was born April 1, 1864 at Romsdal, Norway, on December 1, 1882. They made their home at Brandt, South Dakota. They had nine children -- Selma, Carl, Selmer, Bertine, Mable, Olaf, Alfred, Benhard and Edna. He farmed and did some cement work, helping build silos, etc. Carl, Benhard and Selmer located around the Dupree area and Mable came out and worked in the Keller Store for a while and then returned home. After Thea passed away November 14, 1907, he married Minda Sater in 1916. Having three sons living around Dupree, Bastian, Minda, and Virginia moved from Minnesota to Dupree in 1931. One interesting story we remember Bastian telling about is when he went with a group of men to help decide on a permanent location for the State Capitol. He never had the opportunity to see it after it was built. Neither Bastian or Minda ever owned or drove a car, so always had to go by horse and buggy, until we moved to Dupree and then one of his sons took us. Olaf came to Dupree in 1951 and did a lot of building and carpenter work around the area. Bastian passed away in 1941 and is buried at Brandt, South Dakota. Minda moved into the Dupree Manor in 1973 and passed away at the age of 90, in 1976, and is also buried at Brandt. [photo – Minda Anderson] [photo – Bastian Anderson] BEN AND LONA ANDERSON written by Lona Anderson Ben Anderson came to Dupree, South Dakota on July 4, 1942 from Bowdle, South Dakota. In November he brought his family, two daughters and l 1/2 year old son, Terry. The daughters were Betty and Bonney. All three children graduated from Dupree High School. We lived in several places, finally buying the Fuller house here in Dupree. It was a busy, happy time. The people were wonderful and the town was small. I baked cakes for everyone on the reservation for any occasion. Ben was City Clerk for 20 years. He also operated his own barber shop. Betty married Ed Heckel, a rancher. They do not have any children. Bonney is a R.N. and is married to Les Bork who is Director of Audio Visual at South Dakota State University and they live in Brookings. They have three children. [photo - Ben and Lona Anderson] Terry graduated from South Dakota State University in Brookings and went in to the Air Force as a navigator. He went to the Pentagon for four years and now is Lt. Col. Anderson, Commander of a squad of 300 persons in Germany, where he lives with his wife Bitsy and three children. Ben passed away the day before Christmas in 1975, at the age of 81. I lived by myself for four years, and two years ago moved into the Dupree Manor where I live a quiet life. BENHARD and EDNA (REICH) ANDERSON Edna Reich was born in Lansing, Illinois and came to Ziebach County in 1910 with her parents who homesteaded northeast of Dupree. She attended Clover Leaf School and two years of high school at Dupree. In 1921 she attended summer school in Aberdeen and taught the Longbrake School in 1921-22. She taught Pretty Creek in 1922-23 and Cloverleaf in 1923-24. Benhard Anderson was born in Deuel County, South Dakota and moved to Minnesota in 1915. He came to Dupree in 1923 and worked on farms for a year. He then bought a tractor and started farming. Benhard and Edna were married November 15, 1924 at Dupree. They lived in a log house on the Moreau River the first winter. They moved on the Hulth farm in 1925 and bought the Burke farm and moved there in 1946. They built a new home and retired in 1955, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1974 and also their 55th anniversary in 1979. They have two children. Roy married Shirley Sprague in 1955, they have two daughters and three sons and four grandchildren. Evelyn married Ronald Bierman in 1954, they have two boys and a girl, also two grandsons. Edna passed away in March, 1980. [photo – Evelyn, Roy, Benhard, Edna Anderson] [photo – Mr. and Mrs. Benhard Anderson] CALVIN ANDERSON FAMILY On January 28, 1924 Dr. Creamer came to the homestead of Carl A. Anderson to deliver Calvin. As a boy growing up, his life was much like his father's. Breaking sod and planting crops with horses. Helped his father and neighbors thresh, hauled bundles with high wheeled wagons. He experienced the dirty thirties, grasshoppers, army worms, dust storms, and raging blizzards, and saw fires burn down a whole block in Dupree and buildings in another block. Calvin went all eight years of grade school at the Clover Leaf School. He attended high school in Dupree, and graduated in 1941. Went to college at Northern in Aberdeen, South Dakota for one year. The following year he came home to help his parents farm and ranch. He continued in partnership with his Dad until he took over the farm in 1955, when he married Evelyn Rae Thomas, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George William Thomas of Dupree. Calvin and Evelyn were married September 3, 1955 at the Sacred Heart church of Dupree. Evelyn was born July 14, 1936 at the Creamer Community Hospital in Dupree. She got her education at the Dupree School District No. 12, and graduated in 1954. To this union three children were born: Lonnie Dean, born March 4, 1958 at St. Mary's Hospital, Pierre, South Dakota. Lonnie attended all 12 years of school at the Dupree Public School and graduated in 1976. He owns and operates his own ranch. Vicki Ann, born May 27, 1960 at Faith Memorial Hospital, Faith, South Dakota. Vicki received her 12 years of education at the Dupree Public School and graduated in 1978. Attends college at the University, Vermillion, South Dakota. She will graduate May 15, 1982 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and a Major in Accounting. At the present time is doing her internship at Sayler-Thorstenson Accounting firm in Rapid City, South Dakota. Perry Alan was listed on the births at St. Mary's Hospital, Pierre, South Dakota, but had really come into the world before his mother arrived at the hospital July 21, 1964. Perry was born in his Grandpa Anderson's new Dodge car about twenty miles out of Pierre on Highway 14-83. His mother had put clean sheets in the car and without cutting the cord she wrapped the new babe in a clean sheet and sat in the back seat holding him for the remainder of the trip. With the temperature of 108 degrees the Andersons' did well. The Sisters at the hospital named Perry "Prairie Boy Anderson". This is how Perry was named. Perry has gone all 12 years of school to the Dupree Public School, will graduate in May, 1982. Calvin and Evelyn have been active in the church and community projects. Calvin was 4-H Leader, Community Club Chairman, County Farmers Union President, served on Clover Leaf School District, Farmers Co-op Elevator Board, Federal Land Bank Board and Farmers Home Administration Board. In 1968 he was awarded best Soil Conservationist. Evelyn is an active member of Clover Leaf Club, American Legion Auxiliary and Sacred Heart Altar Society. Has done solo work and sings in the Community Choir. In spite of the ups and downs, the good years, the bad years, the severe blizzard of '66, (one that Lonnie will always remember, he celebrated his eighth birthday during this storm. Because of no electricity we could not cook with the stove. So for the party, we used the bottle gas branding iron torch to roast hot dogs and had one quart size bottle of coke),the drought and the worms in the eighties, the homestead of Carl A. Anderson is still in operation and still in the family. [photo – Calvin Anderson farm home, 1978] [photo – Calvin and Evelyn Anderson, Perry, Vicki and Lonnie. 25th Anniversary, September 3, 1980] CARL ANDERSON and FAMILY "Dupree, South Dakota (County Seat of Ziebach County). The Heart of the Famous Fox Ridge, The Last Best Homestead Country, Land of Fertile Prairies, Pure Water and Untold Oportunities." by L. Kruckman. It is such publicity that attracted an adventuresome Carl A. Anderson, the eldest son of Bastian and Thea Anderson, to leave Brandt, South Dakota and come to this area. Carl, born in Winona, Minnesota of Norwegian ancestry, had moved with his family to South Dakota in 1889, just prior to statehood. In 1908 a bill had been passed in Congress providing for the opening of the larger part of what was known as the Great Sioux Reservation. Some ten thousand claims became available on the Cheyenne and Standing Rock reservations in 1909. Drawings were made in Aberdeen, and in 1910 the era of the "homesteader" was at hand. Carl had drawn his number along with a cousin, Gust Anderson, and Casper Texley. The three spirited young men set their homestead shacks on adjoining land corners, the shacks so close together that they could call out in the morning, "Are you going to have ham and eggs or flap jacks for breakfast?" These corners form the hub of the settlement known as Clover Leaf. As the area population grew the need of a school became evident. Gust Anderson provided the land and plans were soon underway for a school, to be known as the Clover Leaf School. The school became a center for community activity, among them: church, card parties, dances and picnics. Starting a new community involved hard work -- building, breaking sod, digging wells, cutting trees from nearby creeks for fuel, etc. The sense of community was strong. There was a need to get together for work, entertainment and the sharing of experiences. Carl, Gust and Casper were members of the Clover Leaf baseball team, a common Sunday afternoon sport. There were card games, box suppers, pie socials and dances. Carl played a harmonica and an accordion so had his turn in providing music for Saturday night dances. Carl, an experienced carpenter, had a neatly painted claim shack and was able to supplement the meager income of homestead life by using his skill as the townsite of Dupree was becoming a reality. This land of opportunity was to become the home of Carl for 67 years. His visions and expectations never dimmed as he worked for, and tenaciously supported, a community which he had played a significant role in shaping. Through natural, economic and physical set-backs, he doggedly plodded on, always looking to a brighter horizon. This was his community -- his life. In the meantime an adventuresome Hazel Martin, born and raised in Greensburg, Indiana had likewise felt the call of the west, and in 1907 accepted a teaching position in a ranching community of the Green river near Kemmerer, Wyoming. Her brother, Robert soon joined her. Hazel and Robert became acquainted with J. C. Penney. While Hazel continued to teach there until 1911, her brother accepted a position clerking for J. C. Penney in his first store. In 1911 Hazel, the eldest daughter of William and Hattie Martin, joined her parents in Greensburg, Indiana, with their three younger daughters; Grace, Mabel, and Lillian. They, too, were seeking a new horizon and settled one mile south of the Anderson claim. Quote from the Leader, "Have you seen the big house and barn of William Martin's? They are well painted and cost Mr. Martin $2000. He has three purebred jersey cows." Among the equipment brought by the Martins on their train trip to the Dakotas was the large castiron kettle used over the years in making stew for the annual Nebraska Day picnic. This was the home of the Martins until 1925 when they moved to Portland, Oregon to live out their remaining years. The youngest daughter, Lillian, resides with her husband, Darwin Clifton -- a Dupree native -- in Springfield, Oregon. Frank Carson, cousin of Kit Carson, was to become the first government teacher at Cherry Creek. A school for the non-Indian children was located on the grounds of the government school. In 1911, Hazel was hired to teach the Carson children. She lived with the Carsons and their five children: George, Catherine, Franklin, Henry and Philip. In the meantime a romance had blossomed between Carl and Hazel. The Greensburg News carried this article on June 27, 1913. "Former resident of Greensburg apprises friends here of her wedding which will be on July second to South Dakota Man. Friends in this city of Miss Hazel Martin, of Dupree, South Dakota, this morning received invitation announcements of her approaching nuptials. The wedding has been set for July 2nd, and the groom will be Carl A. Anderson, a prominent Dakotan. Miss Martin will be remembered here as the daughter of William Martin and wife, who moved to the west just a few years ago." The Dupree Leader, July 3, 1913 carried this account, "Pretty Home Wedding -- Last night at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Martin was solemnized the marriage of their daughter Hazel H., to Carl A. Anderson, Rev. H. M. Bissell officiating, in the presence of a large number of friends together with three auto loads from town being present. The bride was attired in white and the groom in conventional black. Mrs. Wm. Aldridge played the wedding march. After the wedding ceremony a sumptuous repast was served which was given due justice by the many participating. The bride and groom are well known here and have a host of friends who wish them a happy wedded life. They will begin housekeeping on the grooms farm northeast of town." The pioneer spirit of Carl was well matched by that of his chosen mate. Together they met the challenges of the new frontier. To this couple five children were born, all delivered by Dr. Frank H. Creamer -- the first, a son, lived only three days. As the family grew, additions were made to the homestead shack. Kerosene and gasoline lamps were replaced by carbide lights, and eventually, electricity. Lignite coal hauled by team and wagon from the mines of Isabel and Firesteel was used for heating and cooking. Perishables were cooled in a wooden ice box supplied by ice, cut and hauled from nearby rivers and reservoirs or frozen in galvanized vats and stored in an underground ice house between layers of flax straw. Meat was cured in a smokehouse. A castiron bell, brought by the Martins on their train trip from Indiana, served as a means of calling the family at mealtime. The original house was replaced by a modern two-story structure in 1946. It wasn't until 1956 that the Andersons built a new home and moved into Dupree leaving the farming operation to their son, Calvin. During this time Carl and Hazel were loyal supporters of the community, actively engaged in community affairs, serving on boards and committees. Among them: Carl was a member of the first board of directors of the Farm Security Administration, helped organize the Dupree Farmers Elevator, served on community hospital board, Cloverleaf school board, numerous farm organizations, United Church of Christ and Cemetery board. In 1964 he was honored as a South Dakota Eminent Farmer. He was also active in the IOOF Lodge. Hazel was active in the Cloverleaf Extension Club and the United Church of Christ, as well as the Community Club. The Andersons continued to live an active life after retiring and moving to town. This union continued for 56 years -- Hazel died on August 25, 1969. Carl lived on in his home until his death in April of 1977. The four Anderson children grew to adulthood. Carol, married to Willis Thomas, taught school and worked in the Farmer's State Bank until her death in 1959. Two sons: Jewell living in Dupree and Terry who died in 1977. Thelma, married to Harry Dykstra, taught school, served as County Superintendent of Schools, Ziebach County, and presently is a secretary at the University of South Dakota. Her husband, a long time South Dakota educator died in 1979 after 23 years as Professor of Educational Administration at the University of South Dakota. Two children: Frances of Providence, Rhode Island and Robert of Vermillion. [photo – Carl Anderson family. Carl, Hazel, Carol, Thelma, Ethel and Calvin. January 26, 1940] [photo – Carl A. Anderson homestead shack 7 miles northeast of Dupree, township 13, range 21, NE ¼ of Sec. 10. 1910] [photo – Carl and Hazel Anderson, 56th Anniversary. July 2, 1969] GUSTAVE ANDERSON by Gertrude Tomac Gustave Anderson was born August 24, 1857 and Carrie Ingham was born November 30, 1861. They were raised and married in Sweden. They came to America and lived in Minnesota for a time before coming to South Dakota. They homesteaded in northern Ziebach County, in the Glad Valley area, about 1911. There they farmed a little and milked a few cows to try to make a living. They raised six children who were all born before coming to South Dakota. Their names were: Gustave, Anna, Minnie, Mabel, Harry, and Ruth. They are all deceased except Mrs. Val (Ruth) Hampel. Harry Anderson married Helen Hoyt in May of 1925 and lived on the place with his father. They lived in a three-room house which was shacks put together. Later they added on another room and raised a family of eleven children. They are: Clifford in Isabel; Mrs. Emil (Gertrude) Tomac of Keldron, South Dakota; Mrs. Rhinie (Ruth) Roesler of Mobridge; Roy of Isabel; Rozella (deceased); Mrs. Donald (Ann Marie) Hedges, Belle Fourche; David of Portland, Oregon; Mrs. Lee (Alice) Hedges, Belle Fourche; Mrs. David (Gladys) Zielauf, Rapid City; Mrs. Gary (Mary) Herber, Belle Fourche; and Mrs. Douglas (Darlene) Wahl of Sioux Falls. My grandmother passed away in March of 1934 but Grandpa continued living there for several years. Although he was blind he carried his own water and coal and did all his own cooking (except for a little help from family members occasionally). He later moved into a nursing home in Isabel where he passed away in October, 1943. We walked three and a half miles to the Glad Valley School, which held grade and high school at that time. Dad worked on W.P.A. during the "Dirty Thirties" like most of the farmers did, to help raise the family. Mother went back to teaching school in 1946. Dad passed away in December 1946 at the age of 54. Clifford took over the farm and Mom continued to teach until her children were all through school. She taught at the Gopher, Bloom and Glad Valley schools and in the Black Hills area. She later made her home in Isabel, South Dakota. She passed away October 1976. Some of our closest neighbors were: Clint Harris, Ralph Garnett, Art Mortenson, Ernest Kornman, Charley and Elmer Swift and a bachelor (Gust Grammer) who lived across the road who was just like one of the family. Clifford and Roy spent time in the Army in the 1940's and 19S0's. Gertrude married Emil Tomac in June 1947 and lives on a ranch south of Keldron, South Dakota. We have three children: Lois (Mrs. Gary Burch), Belle Fourche; Don and his wife Rhonda live on the ranch with us, and Diane (Mrs. David Hussey) of Oral, South Dakota. We have three grandchildren. SELMER and CORA ANDERSON Selmer and Cora Anderson came to Ziebach County from Deuel County in eastern South Dakota in 1921. They bought the Charles Denham homestead about thirteen miles northeast of Dupree. Selmer came in February bringing his horses, cows and machinery in an emigrant car. His brother, Alfred, and brother-in-law, Albert Stroschein, came also and rode in the emigrant car. Cora and daughter, Helen, came in March. Selmer and Cora lived on the farm thirty-seven years, then moved to Dupree in September, 1957. Selmer was active in community service and served on the Pretty Creek School District board from 1923 until 1957. He served on the Moreau-Grand Electric Coop board from 1953 until 1957. He was a member of the County ASC Board from 1933 until 1956 and served on the Ziebach County Extension Board for more than twenty years. He and others helped organize the Farmer's Union Oil Company. He served on the town board from 1958-1962. Helen married Donald Schad of Lantry who passed away in 1971. Cora and Selmer had six grandchildren and there are eight great-grandchildren. Selmer passed away in July, 1977. Cora lives in her home in Dupree and keeps busy raising flowers and entertaining her friends. THE VIRGIL (TARZEN) ANDERSON STORY My father, Isaac Collins, and my oldest brother, Otto, came from Independence, Missouri in the spring of 1910 and homesteaded on a quarter of land about IS miles south of Eagle Butte, South Dakota. My sister, Bessie and husband, Clint Thompson, had gone there about a year before. She wrote and told the folks what a wonderful country it was so they decided to come out too. That fall my mother and the rest of the children; Della, Inez, Kenneth (Shorty) and myself (Gladys) came out. In August 1912 Otto and the horse he was riding were killed by lightning on Highway 63 just about straight east of where Ethel Nielson now lives. My father was away at the time (he was a carpenter contractor). Mother had wired him, but he didn't receive the wire, so he didn't know of Otto's death until he got off the train in Eagle Butte about two months later. It was a terrible shock to him. Virgil Anderson was born in September 1904 in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota -- his father Charles I. Anderson died in 1908. Virgil's mother remarried in 1914 to Sully Morgan. They moved to Eagle Butte with Virgil's youngest sister, Thelka, and homesteaded one mile from the Collins home. Virgil and his sister Velma stayed in La Crosse, Wisconsin with their mother's parents. They didn't come to Eagle Butte until the winter of 1916. They arrived by train and a Mr. Chalmers, the Eagle Butte blacksmith, took them to their mother's home by team and wagon, some 15 miles. Virgil Anderson went to work for the Diamond A when he was only 16, in 1920. He worked for Bob Rose at the Rudy Creek camp. He was still working there when he and I (Gladys Collins) got married on October 22, 1925. Virgil had bought a two room house from Beth Till and had it moved about 200 yards north of the Diamond A house. It was on my brother, Shorty Collins, land. On February 15, 1931 our house burned and we lost everything we had. The two children and I moved in with my brother Shorty for the rest of the winter. He was living in the old Badger house, which was large enough to accommodate all of us. That spring Virgil bought a one room house from Thomas Bear Fly. We moved it where the old one was. Virgil quit the Diamond A in the late summer of 1933 and we moved on Fred Lickel's place for the county until they had a sale. We lived there part of the winter. This was about two and one half miles south of Rudy Creek camp, which at that time was being run by foreman Bob Stapert. He married Mabel Blatner while he worked there. Virgil made a deal for the John Ganje place one mile east of Keller's place. The Game farm had been taken over by the Rural Credit. Mr. Ganje moved off of the place as soon as the crops were harvested that fall. He had three huge straw stacks so Virgil and my brother, Shorty, bought them for cow feed. Just before we moved there Virgil took out a Federal Land Bank loan and bought 25 cows that would calf in the spring. We moved into the Ganje house Thanksgiving day. Alice was only four weeks old. The children and I stayed with Mrs. Casper (Katie) Fisher while Virgil, my mother and Casper moved our stuff. It was such a beautiful day, we had Thanksgiving dinner with the Fisher family that evening. We had a lot of snow and bad weather from then on. There was so much snow that Shorty couldn't get feed to his cattle. The three straw stacks were close to our barn. The second week in December we looked out our north window and saw a hayrack coming with a long string of cattle behind it. Shorty had half filled his hayrack, put his family with all their bed clothing and all the grub they had and headed for our place where the stock feed was, which was about a five mile trip. Shorty and his wife (Myrtle) had four children at that time and we had five and Mother was also with us. They stayed until April and we all got along real fine. We had thirteen living children, a very happy and contented bunch of kids. Virgil and I always talked about how good God was to us. And though we no longer have Virgil (we all miss him greatly) I thank God for his goodness for I still have my 13 children and 40 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren . Three of our boys worked for the Diamond A. Cal worked from the time he was 15 until he was called into the service. Tom worked for three years and Bill also worked about three years. We left South Dakota on May 27, 1966 on account of Virgil's health. Mary and her husband came out with his semi truck and moved us out to Oregon. We arrived in our new home in Falls City, Oregon on June first 1966. Virgil died February 11, 1976. Hope, our youngest and her baby Christina were living with us then. He died in a Dallas, Oregon hospital on Christina's second birthday. He was laid to rest in our own family cemetery on our property February 14, 1976. In February 1981 I sold my ranch in Ziebach County to Perry Dupoy. I hope they are as happy there as Virgil and I were. [photo – Virgil and Gladys Anderson on their 25th Wedding Anniversary] [photo – The Virgil and Gladys Anderson family. Back row: Guy, Billy, Alice, Tommy and Cal. Sitting are: April, Eva, Gladys, Virgil, Virginia and Mary. Front: Katherine, Alexia, Jack and Hope] JOHN ASKIN John Askin arrived in Dupree by train in 1911. He worked in Pinnecker's Store part- time in 1911 and 1912. He proved up on a homestead in 1912, and then lived in Nebraska for 3 years. He and his brother, Pete, returned in 1915 to ranch south of Dupree at Chase, then moved to a ranch north of Lantry on Bear Creek. He served one year in the army in France during World War I. He then returned as auditor for the J. F. Anderson Lumber Company. He resigned to work at the Dupree State Bank, spent some time at the Veteran's Hospital, then he was manager of Central Lumber Company until they moved from Dupree. He then managed the lumber yard at Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. He retired in 1951. The Askin children were: Jack, Jean, Margaret and Alice. PETE ASKIN Peter F. (Pete) Askin first had a "claim" in the Slim Buttes country where he lived for several years. About 1910 or 1911 he moved to Dupree. He married Byrdie Geesey and they had two sons, Wayne and James. He died when he was about 50 years of age, in 1940. Pete and his brother John (Jack) had a ranch in the Chase area, south of Dupree. Later, they moved to Bear Creek, north of Lantry where they ranched for several years. Pete and Byrdie lived in Dupree in the house now owned by Marie Edwards. John was manager of the lumber yard for several years and lived in the house now owned by Della Jones. Pete and Jack were both well-known as baseball players and were on the Dupree team for many years. When Pete and Byrdie left Dupree in the very early thirties they went to Whitewood, South Dakota where Pete started the first sale barn of its kind in the Black Hills area. (From West River Progress) NELS BABCOCK HISTORY written by Nels Babcock I was born at Lower Brule, South Dakota on November 8, 1909, where my parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Babcock were employed by the U.S. Indian Service. When I was five years old, in 1914, my parents resigned from the Indian Service and bought a ranch on the reservation, up the Missouri River some 25 miles from Lower Brule, where I grew up to young manhood. In the spring of 1933 times were very hard and I needed a job. I went to work for the Diamond A Cattle Company at Eagle Butte for $30.00 per month as a regular hand. Hans Mortenson was foreman at that time. The next spring, 1934, Hans put Kirk Myers and myself to breaking saddle horses at the Willow Creek Camp, south of LaPlant, where we got a number of young horses started before the roundup wagon pulled out for spring work. 1934 was the driest year of the 30's. There was no new grass and most all the stock reservoirs were very low or dry. Early in July, Hans and Cap Mossman decided to ship all the cattle out due to the severe drought conditions. We started gathering cattle with the roundup wagon crew shipping them out of the Mossman, Ridgeview and Lantry stockyards. These cattle were sold to the U. S. Government for $20.00 per head for the best ones, $12.00 per head for the older cows and $8.00 per head for the calves. Many of the thinner and weaker cows were shot as they were too weak to stand shipment. It took us 60 days or more to gather all the cattle and by that time there wasn't hardly any grass left any place. After the cattle were shipped, the Diamond A laid off a lot of their men, but I was lucky enough to be kept on the regular payroll. A few of us went back over the range gathering the few cattle that were missed. These were taken to some of the winter camps where there was some leftover hay. The Diamond A operated at a bare minimum for the rest of the drought years. They shipped in some 1500 head each year to Midland, South Dakota and summered them on the old O'Neal ranch north of there. In the fall we would trail them to winter camps where they could be fed. During the winter of 1939-40, Hans Mortenson got sick and passed away on March 21, 1940. After his funeral, Cap Mossman came out to the Twenty Four Camp north of Lantry where I was camp boss and told me that Hans had recommended me for his job before he had died. This was a big surprise to me and I wondered how I would ever handle the job. That spring, there was good rains and the Diamond A got some of their big reservation leases back and shipped a lot of yearlings in from their three New Mexico ranches. This all took a lot more help and I was busy repairing fences and water reservoirs that had not been used for several years. There was also a lot of hay to put up with machinery that was in need of repair. During the early 40's, the country came back in good shape enabling the Diamond A to get back in full operation again, using the roundup wagon at branding times and shipping in the fall and when moving cattle to various parts of the range. In April of 1943 I married Gertrude Henderson. She has helped me in many ways and we have had a lot of good years together. During the summer of 1944, Cap Mossman decided to sell the Diamond A as he was not a young man anymore and had been general manager for many years. So it was sold to Leon Williams of New York City. Mr. Williams knew nothing about ranching business and I found it very hard to run the ranch under his management. I quit the Diamond A the first of July in 1946 and took a foreman job with W. J. Foxley running the Horse Shoe Ranch some 20 miles up the river from Mobridge. The fall of 1951 we moved to the old Mike Dunn ranch southeast of Eagle Butte, in Ziebach County, where we operated for a time before moving to a ranch we bought in North Dakota, just west of Ft. Yates. After living there for 12 years, we moved to Faith where we had an interest in the sale barn with Lawrence Vance. I sold my interest in 1973 to Gary Vance and have been retired here in Faith since. I enjoyed my time with the Diamond A and the men I worked with while there. That was the best years of my life. [photo – Nels Babcock at Lovelett line camp in 1935] [photo – Diamond A cowboys at Ridgeview stock yards. Russell Keckler, Barney Lyons, Nels Babcock, Kirk Myers, Leo Hagel, Shortlog Tibbs, John Hagel and John Holloway] [photo – Diamond A saddle bronc I broke in the new round corral at Willow Creek] GOTTLIEB BACHMAN (taken from the Faith Country book) Gottlieb Bachman and sons came here in 1909 and filed claims about 8 miles south of Faith with John and wife Hilda, and the older son, Gottlieb, Jr., filed on an adjoining claim. He returned for the family in the spring of 1910, consisting of 9 children. One daughter remained there. Those who came were Gottlieb, Jr.; John and wife, Hilda; Ted; Philip; Lena; Katie; Louise and Lydia. He picked a clear, flat homestead as his interest was farming -- however the next few years proved to be hazardous for this and he took up cattle raising. While in the old country, he taught in the German-Russian area. He held religious services wherever possible for his family and community. He was known far and wide for this and continued until sufficient clergy began appearing in their neighborhood. The children attended school to Miss Frost, who later became Mrs. Charley Seager. Another teacher well remembered is Miss Ceclia Samuelson. John and Hilda raised four children Erwin, Albert, Eddie and Leah. They retired in Faith until both were killed in an auto accident in January of 1959. Philip married Anna Geiken and remained in the nearby area of the first homestead. They have three children, Bernard, Leonard and Ronald. Lena became Mrs. Oscar Sederstrom and they had two children, Manfred and Edythe. Katie became Mrs. Paul Beyers and they had one son, Leon. THE BACON FAMILY Florence, daughter of Emerson and Ada Henderson, moved to Dupree in 1919. She was married to Arthur Bacon; they had seven children: Ada, Vera, Audrey, George, Irene, and Merle and Alvin who were born in Dupree. Arthur was a mechanic and worked in a garage -- Bentley's Garage -- which is now the Dupree Jack & Jill Store. In the late 1920's they moved their family to Reeder, North Dakota. They are buried in Hamilton, Montana. HARRY B. BAILEY FAMILY by Lorena Bailey Taylor Harry and Mary Bailey were born and raised near Columbia and Duncannon, Pennsylvania. They moved to Illinois, Iowa, and then to Dakota, near Virgil and Highmore. In 1926 they arrived with their six children and one daughter-in-law, in Ziebach County. It was in the month of March, 1926, when they pulled into the driveway of the Leake place on the highway south of Dupree. They were welcomed by the Carl Johnson family, who drove in behind them. It was a good feeling to be welcomed so soon upon arrival. My brother, William, and his wife, moved onto a place neighboring the Orson Gage family east of us. They returned to eastern South Dakota a year or two later. LeRoy farmed with Dad a year or two and then sought work in Hettinger, North Dakota. Beatrice married in 1930 and also moved to Hettinger. After graduating from the 8th grade Hosleth joined LeRoy and Beatrice to attend high school. Beatrice, Hosleth, Norman and myself (Lorena) attended the Gage School. Dad served as a board member for the Gage School and it was his responsibility to keep the coal bin full to keep us warm. As those were depression years, Dad sought extra employment to supplement our income. That job was with the County, operating a horse-drawn grader, smoothing the ruts after rains, and keeping the road clean. He took pride in his work. In the fall of 1932 we moved to the Spike ranch on the North Grand River, south of Hettinger, North Dakota. Five years later we moved to Lemmon, South Dakota for one year. From there we joined the rest of our family in Billings, Montana. Dad passed away in 1944. Mother passed away in 1958 in Medford, Oregon. Both are buried in Billings. William and his family live in Billings. LeRoy is in Arizona. Beatrice is in Idaho. Hosleth passed away in 1978 and is buried in Billings. Norman and I live in California. Dupree will always hold a spot in our memories. They were vivid years for us children. We had miles to roam in, and roam we did, amid cactus and rattlesnakes. Many a cactus spine we pulled from our feet and legs, but never once were we bitten by a rattler. Dad and Hosleth each had a close call. For Mother and Dad it must have been a time of concern, trying to feed and clothe their family. They were the kind to not complain in front of their children. LEO and PATTY (EDWARDS) BAKEBERG Leo Bakeberg, son of August and Josephine Docel Dunn Bakeberg, was born in Dupree. He went to school in Sioux Falls and graduated from Dupree High School in 1946. He attended Brookings State College and Augustana College in Sioux Falls. Leo married Patty Edwards, daughter of James (Edd) and Ruth Maynard Edwards. They lived in Sioux Falls where their first daughter, Ruth, was born, before coming to Dupree in 1951 to be custodian for Dupree High School for about 27 years. Patty graduated from Dupree High School in 1947 and attended Northern State summer school, took her test and taught Clover Leaf School in 1948 and '49, before working in the A.S.C.S. office in Dupree. She worked for the A.S.C.S. for over 20 years. Leo and Pat moved to Spearfish in 1978 where he became maintenance man at the Black Hills State College. Patty works for the A.S.C.S. in Belle Fourche. The Bakebergs have a family of 10 children. Ruth married David Slaughter and they have two sons, John and Joe. Ruth graduated from Saint Martin's High in Rapid City, went to Vermillion 1 year, 1 summer at B.H.S.C. and graduated from Brookings. She taught Fairview rural school 1 year. They now live in Rapid City and Ruth works for the First Federal Savings and Loan (Bank). August graduated from Dupree High School and Black Hills State College. He married Nancy Bockwoldt Larson. They have three sons, Brian (Nancy's by a previous marriage), Andy and Brandon. August works as Assistant Manager at the Safeway Store in Belle Fourche. Debra Rose graduated from Dupree High School, married Herb Grueb and has one daughter, Corrin. She works for the Safeway Store in Rapid City. Leo Jr. graduated from Dupree High School and went 1 year to Black Hills State College. He married Trudy Bosley. They have three children, Amy, Leo Anthony and Alan James. He works for the Safeway Store in Rapid City. Donald graduated from Dupree High School and Black Hills State College. He worked for Safeway in Spearfish for several years. He married Connie Claymore and they have 1 daughter, Sarah Kay. He works for a construction firm and they live in Columbus, Montana. Mary Jo graduated from Dupree High School and went 1 year to Black Hills State. She married Darrell Jundt and has 1 son, Matthew, and lives in Wichita, Kansas. She works part time for a large grain elevator. Alan graduated from Dupree High School and entered the service. He spent 2 years in Germany. He married Debbie Jundt. He is enrolled in the School of Mines and Debbie works as a secretary there. They live in Rapid City. John graduated from Dupree High School. He lives in Rapid City and manages a Mini Mart. Todd and Shelly are still at home. DANIEL and BERTHA BAKER by Nellie Baker Ross Daniel Baker filed on a claim in Perkins County in 1909 and moved his family there by 2 covered wagons and 4 horse teams in 1910. They crossed the Missouri on a ferry at Whitlock Crossing near Forest City. Daniel and Bertha and their youngest daughter Nellie moved to the Red Elm area in 1923 renting the place now owned by George and Bertha Lammers. Later he built a new home on the west edge of Redelm (this house was bought by Eva Fields and moved to Dupree, remodeled, and she lives in it). Mr. Baker was a blacksmith and well driller. Mrs. Baker was a seamstress and also made hats. She made riding skirts for us girls as we did not have jeans. She and Mr. Baker had a loom and did custom weaving of rugs. She raised chickens and a large garden which took most of her time and balanced our diet. The children were Ralph, Mable and Nellie. Mable is deceased. Ralph lives in Bison. Nellie married Lawrence Ross in October 1925. Lawrence is deceased and Nellie has lived in Faith, South Dakota since 1970. HARRY A. BAKER Harry A. Baker was born at Hoffman, Minnesota on August 9, 1903, the son of Homer and Cora Baker. They moved to a ranch northwest of Faith in 1906. Harry married Orgena Bauman in 1928 at Dupree. Baker operated a creamery, worked for the State Highway Department and had charge of the commodities at the Courthouse, besides being Ziebach County Courthouse custodian for 25 years. Mr. Baker had a magic touch in repairing anything mechanical or electrical and many a housewife in Dupree has enjoyed the magic of his ability to make her kitchen equipment operate. Harry died in April 1975. The Baker children are Reese Baker (deceased) and Alta Mae McConnell. MR. and MRS. MARTIN BAKEWELL It was in the summer of 1910 that Martin Bakewell crossed the Missouri River at LeBeau, South Dakota. With Otto Minker and V. J. Smith of Redelm, and an Indian locator, he came by team to look over the area. After viewing his quarter section which was about 5 miles northeast of Faith, he returned to his job with the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad Company, in the eastern part of the state. In the fall of 1910 he came to Lemmon, South Dakota where he hired a freighter to haul lumber to his homestead. He constructed a 12' x 24' building. His son Leo came into Faith on the first train in January, 1911. He lived on the claim and built an additional room. Martin's wife, Ella, and two daughters Laura and Florence had moved to Ashton, South Dakota from Lansing, Iowa in the fall of 1910. In the spring of 1911 the family moved to Faith on a crowded and slow train. All walked the five miles to their new home. An incident that could have been tragic, happened on the day Martin left to return to his job. Mrs. Bakewell walked to Faith with him to see him off on the train. There were no roads or fences, but they lived on a creek and Ella never worried about finding her way back to the new home. However, on her return home she became lost and wandered aimlessly on the prairie for hours. Finally, in the distance a team and buggy appeared. She waved her handkerchief frantically. The driver spied her, and came to her rescue and took her to her home. He was Mr. Miner, who was working as a "Locator." Martin stayed with his job on the railroad until the fall of 1915. He lived on his homestead raising grain and livestock until 1929 when he sold his place. Mrs. Bakewell passed away in 1928. Mr. Bakewell made his home with his daughter, Florence, until his death in 1934. Florence had married George Higgins and Laura had married George Ulrich. Both daughters are deceased. Leo had a homestead nearby which he sold to nephew Gene Ulrich. Leo at age 94 is living in Los Angeles, California. JOHN M. BARRON FAMILY by Ethel M. Riede John M. Barren and Priscilla Henderson were married on September 2, 1908 in Pipestone, Minnesota. They returned to Rushmore, Minnesota where he farmed with his father. On August 4, Ree Henderson Barren was born. Our father decided he wanted to homestead in South Dakota. They stayed for a few months and then returned to Rushmore where I (Ethel May Barren, December 17, 1910) was born. We went back out to South Dakota to live on the claim. We lived in a little sod house long enough to own the homestead. We then returned to Rushmore. We stayed in Minnesota for several years. On January 27, 1914, Robert M. Barren arrived and two years later, Margaret Ruth Barren was born on January 7, 1916. In 1917 we moved out to Dupree, South Dakota permanently. There our father built a home 1/2 mile south of Dupree where we farmed and raised cattle. We had a good life, we were active in church and community life. Our father was on the school board and was a County Commissioner. On November 6, 1920, a sister, Priscilla, was born and on October 5, 1923, Gordon was born. Things were going fine, crops were good. We all led healthy, active lives. In 1930, I married Thomas E. Riede. We lived and farmed and raised cattle in Dupree. We have two daughters, Patty May Riede and Virginia Ethel Riede. In 1933, things started to go bad. No rain, hot winds, drought, dust storms, and no crops. In 1936, things were real bad. We decided to move to Oregon, arriving in Corvallis July 17th. Our father worked at several jobs -- at a feed store and then caretaker of a bank until his retirement. Tom and I lived in Albany, Oregon for a few months. Eventually we came back to Corvallis. Our girls went to school in Corvallis, went to Oregon State University, graduating from the University of Oregon Medical School as Registered Nurses. They are married and each have three children. We (Tom and I) have one great-grandson. We have six grandchildren. Ree and Robert finished their education at Oregon State University. Ree went to Portland and then on to Washington, D.C. as a draftsman for the government. He married Doris Leake on December 14, 1941 in Washington, D.C. Their first son was born there. In 1945, they returned to Oregon and settled in Beaverton. They have two more sons, Jerry and John. They have five grandchildren. Robert went into the service after graduation. He married Grace Robinson on June 5, 1945. They returned to the west coast and lived in Longview, Washington. They have one daughter. Barbara is a lawyer and single. Now they are living in San Diego. Priscilla graduated from Corvallis High, attended two years at Oregon State University and then married Bill Hand, now passed away. They have three children. Priscilla now lives in Bakersfield, California and is in the oil business. Our sister Margaret stayed in South Dakota. She was working in the Courthouse. She married a classmate, Vernon Oliver, and has one son and two grandchildren. Gordon is a vice principal of Eugene Junior High. He is a graduate of Corvallis High and Oregon State University. He was in the service during World War II. He finished his education after he came back. On September 14, 1947, he married Alice Franklin in Corvallis. They went to Eugene. They have six children and two granddaughters. Our father passed away June 25, 1955. Our mother passed away April 8, 1958. FRED and JOHN BARTHOLD (taken from the Faith Country book) (written by Helen Wilson Lackey) In 1894 the Bartholds moved their headquarters to Thunder Butte Creek, where John and Fred, in partnership with their father, Ernest Barthold, merchant at Sheridan, Pennington County, built up the well known Barthold ranch. By 1901 or 1902 the EB outfit numbered close to 1500 head of cattle and near 500 head of horses, which were thrown on the range to be gathered by the roundups. Fred was the cowboy, while John ran the ranch. After both boys married, the livestock was divided. Fred kept the horses and the home ranch, and John took the cattle. About 1915 or 1916, John built a large cement block house on his ranch a short distance from the old ranch. Both brothers closed out their cattle and horses and went in the sheep business. Fred sold his sheep, about 4500 head, which he ran north of Isabel, to Ed Lemmon and John Barthold in 1915 and with Jim Lemmon as a partner, he formed the Dakota Livestock and Investment Company. The main headquarters was in Lemmon. W. L. Lackey, who had been his sheep foreman, became the Faith salesman, while John Hawley was kept as salesman in the Lemmon territory. Fred moved to St. Paul where he handled that end of the business. In 1918 Fred bought the Big Stone Ranch at Four Corners bridge across the Cheyenne River, where he ran both cattle and sheep. He ran about 6000 head on his reservation lease southeast of Faith (he took over the Staple M `lease after that company folded up). He also ran about 1200 head of cattle north of his place on the Cheyenne, besides his breeding cattle at home. Although Fred kept the same old log house built by Duff Quinn during the 90's, he modernized it, by putting in running water and both internal and exterior repairs and yard work, until it became one of the most picturesque ranches in western Dakota. He also kept a herd of buffalo and deer which were confined to pastures. For the reason it was hard to keep good help, Fred closed out his stock and leased his ranch to the Chicago Cattle Company. In 1957 the ranch was sold to Hanson Brothers. That spring Fred purchased a place in Florida, where he died a short time later. BEAR EAGLE Mate Wanbli or Bear Eagle (1842-1908) married Beaver/Elizabeth (1844-1910). They lived near the Big Spring south of the Cheyenne River, where Bridger residents found safety when a fire swept down from the north in 1870. Bear Eagles also lived on the flat west of Bridger, on their allotment. Seven of their children survived. Annie or Nellie (1857-1939) married David Blackman. Two of their four children lived to adulthood: John, born in 1887, and Howard Blackman (1889-1913). Henry Slowly (1870-1950) married Annie Marion. Seven of their children died before 1916 and Louise L. Slowly, born in 1911, survived. George Bear Eagle lived from 1874 to 1955. He married Annie. Their children were Agatha (Mrs. Andrew Little Moon); Eva (Mrs. Isaac Long); Emily and Wallace Bear Eagle. Good Feather, a daughter, lived from 1876 to 1893. Harry Bear Eagle (1882-1965) married Sarah Little Crow or Cane Woman in 1906. They were the parents of: Mary May (1907-1943 Mrs. James Buck Elk Thunder); Winnie (1910-1960 Mrs. Thomas Slow); Noah Bear Eagle born in 1912; and Mabe1(1916- 1917). In 1917 Sarah died. In 1923 Harry Bear Eagle married Fannie Hunts the Horses (1899-1979) of Rosebud. To them were born: Spray Louie (1920); Zouie (Lone Eagle); and Celesta (Belt). Carrie Bear Eagle (1891-1914) married Matthew Yellow Hawk. They had two sons: James (1901-1911) and Leslie (1912). Stephen Bear Eagle, the seventh child of Bear Eagle and Elizabeth, married Marcella Lyman, daughter of Ed Lyman. Their children are Major Bear Eagle born in 1921 and Leona (Red Bull; Holy) born in 1926. BEAR LOOKS RUNNING A lady named Iron Lodge married Finger Ring. Their children were Grass Top, Kills Twice born in 1842, and Many Spotted Horses. Many Spotted Horses married Jumper. Their two sons were Brings Them and Bear Looks Running, their daughter's name was Chief Eagle. Bear Looks Running married Eagle Body. Their children were Yellow Iron; Sacred Blanket, and Frank Hard to Wound. Chief Eagle married Oglala and was the mother of Eagle Boy, also known as Eugene Motley. When he was young and went to the boarding school he was given an English name as most Indian children were at the time. There was a doctor there named Eugene Motley. Eagle Boy was given the doctor's name. Eugene lived east of Cherry Creek Station. Survivors of this family today include Frank Bear Running, who later changed his name to Waloke. He married Edith Little Shield, 1908-1979. Frank is eighty-three years old this year and likes to visit about his bronc riding days in the 1920's. Their children are Franklin, Clementine Big Eagle, Irene Traversie and Sylvester. THE RAY BECKERS written by Margaret (Heil) Becker My grandfather, (John Heil) came to Ziebach County in 1910 to homestead 12 miles south of Eagle Butte. As far as I know Grandpa came from Russia on September 10, 1901. He lived in Harvey, North Dakota until 1910 when he came to South Dakota. They had an only child, a daughter named Barbara and an adopted son named Peter who served in World War I. Grandma got sick around 1912 and came to North Dakota to stay with us where she passed away. As mother was an only child, she felt she should come to South Dakota to take Grandpa. So, Dad, Jacob Heil, sold his elevator in 1917 when I was 12 years old and we moved to South Dakota. Farming came hard for my Dad. I can remember the first summer we were on the farm. We had a good crop. Wheat was cut with a binder at that time. I was sent out alone to shock grain on a forty acre field. You can imagine how fast the binder got away from me. I'd set up a shock, sit down and cry, and go on again. I remember an Indian man named Charlie Face came by and pitched in and could he shock grain! At that time my folks didn't know Indian people very well and they said he had to come in and eat. After he'd eaten his fill he went home and again I was left alone. The next day Mom and Dad both came out and the grain was soon shocked. But, about our trip out here, my mother and six of us children came before Dad. My older sister stayed with Dad. When we got to Eagle Butte, we had to stay in the only hotel. My mother was afraid of bedbugs so we slept in our clothes. The next day, Mr. Naeve took us in his Model T twelve miles to the farm. About halfway a creek had to be crossed. We all had to get out while he drove across and then we waded across and went on. Then, after two years in South Dakota Grandpa remarried and moved to North Dakota and we were left alone on the farm. The first year when they had the Indian Fair, the Indians would come past our place, a caravan maybe two miles long, wagons, horses and what have you. We kids didn't get to the fair as it was too far. One thing I remember is taking grain in a three top wagon box with four horses to town to sell the grain and bring back supplies. I had to drive one wagon when I was about fourteen years old. At the time we had a high hill that we called High Elk Hill, and believe me, coming home down that hill was no fun with a load. Somehow I got down without mishap but with lots of praying. We were here about three years when a few of Dad's friends also moved here. There were the three Ganje brothers, Gabe, John and Tony, then came Joe Schatz, later Mike Keller, John Ehli, Doschs, and Heck brothers. As I remember Frank and Jack Niegel homesteaded south of us across Rudy Creek before we came. Shoeners were also here before us and they lived 1/2 mile north of us. As we were all Catholics, Father Vogel and Father Golden were priests who would come by horse and buggy two or three times a week to say Mass. Most of the time at our house, as we were in the center. It must have been in the early 30's or late 20's that people got together and decided we needed a church. For a couple years we had a basement church and then finally built a church. Now we had a Church and school so everyone said we needed a name. Father Golden and Dad came up with Pleasant Valley so that is how it was named and still is. As time went on and times got bad, people began to think land was better around Eagle Butte. One by one they moved. My family stayed until 1937 when they moved to Rapid City. The Church was no longer needed so it was sold to Frank Zacher. He moved it to Eagle Butte and made a pool hall out of it. There are nine children in my family. I am the only one left in South Dakota. I now have 32 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. [photo – 1927. First home of Ray Beckers] [photo – Taken in 1926 before Margaret Heil and Ray Becker were married.] (Wedding date, October 4, 1927] [photo – The Ray Becker family] AUGUST and KATHERINE BEER August Beer, son of John and Anna Lederer Beer, was born in Germany in 1905. He came to the United States in 1924 to Plankinton, South Dakota. In 1927 he came to Ziebach County and worked for his brother, Fred Beer, near Isabel, South Dakota. August married Katherine R. Diebert on April4, 1932 at Glad Valley, and lived on the Vic Matter farm until 1935, then moved to a farm in Brown County. In 1940 he moved to a farm he bought near Westport, South Dakota, and still lives there. Mrs. Beer says her only memories of Ziebach County are the "Dirty Thirties". August worked for the Milwaukee Railroad for 20 years and is now retired on his farm. August and Katherine have five children. Marson (Marty)- married Bonnie Yates of Mobridge and both are teachers in Rapid City. Their children are Leo J., going to School of Mines; Teresa, a freshman at University of Minnesota at Morris, Minnesota; Mary, a junior at Stevens High School in Rapid City. Joanna M. -- married Ronald Jones, a dentist at Britton, South Dakota. They have two daughters, Roette M., a freshman at Concordia College; Suzanna, a sophomore at Britton High School. Monica -- married Glenn Gondeiro. They live on a ranch at Geyser, Montana. They have six children. Anita married Mark Cross of Nebraska and they have one son Brandon; Mike lives on a farm near Geyser, Montana; Robert is also of Geyser, Montana; Andrew at home, a senior at Geyser High School; Phyllis, at home and a junior at Geyser High School; Charles, at home and a sophomore at Geyser High School. Mary -- married to James Vodicka of Black River Falls, Wisconsin. They live at Morango, Illinois where he works for United Airlines. They have three adopted children -- Jennifer, Dorothy and Robert, all in grade school. Charlotte -- married William Boldt of Isabel, South Dakota at Rapid City, South Dakota. Bill works for a pulp mill at Frenchtown, Montana. They have two daughters, Christina and Katrina. August Beer died January 22, 1982. FRED BEER FAMILY by Mary Boeding Beer Fred Beer was born in Weiden, Germany, February 24, 1896. After serving in the German Army from 1916 to 1919 he came to the United States in the fall of 1923. He settled at Plankinton, South Dakota. In 1925, he came to the Isabel area and on June 15, 1926 married Mary Boeding of Glad Valley. They began their married life on a farm 11 miles west of Isabel and are presently living on the same homestead. They will celebrate their 56th wedding anniversary this summer. They are also anxiously awaiting the arrival of their first great-grandchild in July. The Beers are members of the St. Mary's Catholic Church of Isabel. Fred served 16 years as County Commissioner of Ziebach County, and many years on the school board in his district. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. Mary has been active in St. Mary's Altar Society and the Helping Hand Extension Club. She enjoys crocheting, tatting and cooking. Eight children were born to Fred and Mary Beer. They are: Louise, now deceased; LeRoy, who lives at home and sells Milbank Insurance and prepares income tax returns; Adolph, who married Margaret Alley, farms and ranches on the home place. They have 5 children, Craig, Edward, Cathy, Douglas and Nancy. John, who married Maureen Oarrow of Havana, North Dakota, farms and ranches south of Timber Lake, and has one son, Kevin. Alice married James Hulm and they farm and ranch and are in the dairy business southwest of Timber Lake. They have 5 children, Cindy (Mrs. Benji Dollarhide), Debra, James, Jr., Fred and Jenifer. Mary married William Alley and they farm and ranch north of Isabel. They have five children, Louise, David, Thomas, Lisa and Suzanne. Fred, Jr. married Karen Ginther of Lemmon, and they own and operate the Keldron Store and Post Office. They have 3 children, Michael, Ryan and Jeanna. Bernard married Karen Alley, and he is employed by the Farmers State Bank of Faith. They have 9 children, JoAnn, Cheryl, Patty, Barbara, Carolyn, Kenneth, Mary, LeAnne and Bradley. Fred's brother August also came to this area in the spring of 1926. He worked for various farmers and married Katherine Diebert in 1932. A few years after that they moved to the Aberdeen area. August passed away January 22, 1982.