Text of Ziebach Co., SD History (1982) - pages 560 - 581 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, . THE AL C. ROST FAMILY written by John Rost Al C. Rost was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. As a young man, he came to the Dakotas seeking employment. He married Frieda Drafahl of Reliance, South Dakota, and in 1910 homesteaded 10 miles southwest of Isabel,in northern Ziebach County. Jim Hersey had a team and wagon and helped them move out to the claim. In the spring they bought a team and buggy and returned to Reliance. They were caught in a late spring blizzard and had to remain in Cherry Creek for three days. At Reliance they traded and purchased two teams, 2 wagons, some farm machinery and some poultry. With each driving a team and wagon, they made the cross country trip in 5 days. There were no roads or bridges and they just headed across country in the general direction of their destination. lived in the traditional homestead shack and built a sod barn with a pole and hay roof that was used for many years. Through the years they built up a herd of Hereford cattle. During the years of drought, Al Rost and George King worked on the threshing rigs in the Groton area. Later, in the fall, they took their teams and picked corn at Mitchell and Sioux Falls. The wives and children stayed on the homestead and took care of the chores. Frieda Drafahl Rost was born and raised at Mitchell. She homesteaded on a quarter of land near Draper. She later traded this land near Draper for a quarter of land in Ziebach County next to Al Rost's homestead. She could relate many experiences in bringing their cattle and other belongings across the river on a ferry at Chamberlain, South Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Al Rost were blessed with two sons, Fred and John. They got their education in country schools and graduated from Isabel High School. After Fred graduated from high school in 1934, he left for Chicago, Illinois, to work in factories and construction work. He married Emily Brinker and they made their home there. They have one son, Robert. John graduated from high school in 1936. In 1940 he married Violet Ochsner. They made their home on the homestead where John was born and still lives. John and Violet had four children, Kenneth, Curtis, Denver and Marcia. They also raised two nieces, Laurie and Sheri Ochsner, children of the late Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Ochsner. They all grew up on the ranch, received their elementary education in Ziebach County, graduated from high school, and some received college education. While the children were growing up, they developed a dance band with their father and played for many dances in the community. They also played with other dance bands. Kenneth is a park manager supervisor for the State of South Dakota; Curtis is working for the highway department in Kingman, Arizona; Denver is with American Family Insurance in Rapid City; Marcia married Mike Maher and they live on the home ranch, which they have leased at present. Sheri married Kent Alien and lives in Akron, Iowa on a hog and beef farming operation. Laurie will graduate from high school in May and plans to go to college at Brookings. John Rost was born on the homestead in 1917 and has lived his entire life on the ranch. The original homestead is still in the Rost name. [photo - Al Rost homestead (Al in doorway). Seated next to him: Engbret Skangye, Russell Plummer, Martin Hopaland and Elmer Stolle] [photo - Al Rost farm] [photo - The John Rost family. Maria, Curtis, Denver, Kenneth, Sheri] RUNSAFTER Olney Runsafter was born August 1, 1896 at Pine Ridge. His mother died August 12, 1912 and his father February 12, 1920. Olney first married Rosa Face, who was born May 28, 1902. Her parents were Mary and Charlie Face. Their children are Belva, Hazel and Levi. The second wife was Olive One Skunk, the mother of Tex One Skunk. Olney served on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Council and is eighty-six years old. MILAN and FREDA SALISBURY Milan Salisbury was born June 4, 1892 at Henderson, Minnesota. His parents were Wilhelm and Emma Salisbury. He grew up in Minnesota, moving to Minneapolis at the age of 16. Milan moved to Perkins County, South Dakota, in 1917 and he served in the United States Army in World War I. After he returned from the army, he lived in Faith, South Dakota until 1923 when he moved to Dupree. Milan married Freda Pittam at Ipswich on July 30, 1924. Milan was in the grocery store and butcher shop with William Domes and Frank Heckmiller as partnership in the former Keller Store, where the Farmers Union Station now stands. They moved to the east side of Main street in 1923, then moved to the Campbell building on west Main street and Mr. Salisbury, Butch to everyone, bought out his partners. In 1928, he purchased a new building built by Frank Lange, next door to Frank Haagen's hardware store building, then owned and operated by Ogard Brothers as a grocery and dry goods store. November 22, 1932 Ogard's store caught fire and burned and along with it, Butch was also burned out. He then moved into the old Farmers State Bank building where Lewis Everyday Shop now stands. There again, disaster struck. February 9, 1939, the furnace in the August Bakeberg building exploded and burned the entire block. Butch then bought the building from George Hall (now the City Bar), and operated until he retired because of ill health. In the fall of 1974, they moved to Sturgis. The Salisbury's had five children: Merrill (deceased), William (deceased), Milan Francis of Sturgis, Leland R. of Sioux City, iowa, and Norma (Mrs. Richard Cameron) of Lead, South Dakota. Milan passed away in 1981 and is buried at the Black Hills National Cemetery. Freda and Francis continue to make their home in Sturgis. [photo - Freda and Milan Salisbury] CARL SAMUELSON FAMILY by Voyle Samuelson Carl Samuelson was born on a farm southeast of Sioux Falls on March 31, 1886. He moved first to a place northeast of Pierre and later came west and homesteaded south of Faith in 1908. Clara Neishem was born at Lily, South Dakota on October 12, 1889. Carl and Clara were married on June 24, 1915. They had six children: Nina, Voyle, Carl, Bob, Willow and Becky. They are all presently living except Carl II. He was in the United States Air Force during World War II and was killed on December 19, 1944 in a plane crash shortly after returning from serving overseas. The family lived in Ziebach County for a few years and then moved to a place south of Faith where they lived until 1936, when Clara moved to Spearfish so the children could go to school, and Carl took his cattle and horses south to White River as he was dried out at home. Carl and his boys leased some land on the reservation in 1942 and later bought what was known as Little Ireland, south of Dupree, where he lived until November 1959. At that time Carl, Voyle, and Bob bought a ranch in Montana. Voyle, Virginia and their five children moved to Volborg, Montana to run the ranch. Carl and Clara moved there also, but Carl spent most of his time in South Dakota. He died April 9, 1960 at Bob's ranch at Little Ireland. Carl was county commissioner of Ziebach County and a director of the Northwest Production Credit Association of Lemmon, South Dakota, at the time of his death. Clara continued to live in Montana, spending the winters in Arizona with her daughter, Willow Fallers. She passed away November 4, 1972 at Bob's place. At the present time, Nina is living in Hulett, Wyoming and is married to Woodrow Delaney. Voyle is still on the ranch at Volborg, Montana and is married to Virginia Shannon. Bob is on the ranch south of Faith, South Dakota and is married to Ruth Cooper. Willow is living in Glendale, Arizona, and is married to Bud Fallers. Becky is living in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, and is married to John Baranski. [photo - Bob, Carl, Jr., Voyle, Nina, Willow, Becky, Clara and Carl Samuelson] CARL SCHAUER FAMILY by Mrs. Carl Schauer Carl Schauer was born on New Year's Day, 1932, to Jacob and Louisa Schauer on a farm near Regent, North Dakota. Carl grew up on the farm and attended the country school seven miles away with his brothers, sisters and neighborhood children. Carl's father made a living mainly by wheat farming, but also raised livestock and did milking. Jacob died in 1952 from a lingering illness of cancer. Jacob's ancestors had migrated from Germany on to Russia and then to the Dakotas to homestead. Carl's mother, Louisa, was then left with the task of raising the eight children remaining at home, and managing the farm with the help of Carl, who was then the oldest at home. Louisa had come to Canada by ship at the age of nine, from Russia, where her father, Carl Dill, had migrated from Germany, and at one time was a wealthy flour miller. The Russian Bolshevik revolution left many homeless and penniless in search of freedom. In the fall of 1959, Carl married Velma Jean Kirschman, who was born and raised south of Regent, only twelve miles from the Schauer farm. The first time Carl and Velma met was when she was 17 years old at the big "Doc Hill Parade" where over 2000 of his babies attended. Both Carl and Velma were Doc Hill babies. Velma had attended the country school in her area, took high school correspondence study, and then attended public school in New England, North Dakota for her senior year. She then went on to nursing school at Bismarck, North Dakota, and graduated with an RN degree. Velma's parents, John and Martha (Zenker) Kirschman, also had ancestors in Germany migrating to Russia and then on to the Dakotas to homestead. Three girls were born to this family. Velma's parents are retired and presently residing in Hettinger, North Dakota. Carl and Velma lived in a tiny trailer house for three years on the Schauer farm and then moved to Hettinger, North Dakota, where Velma worked at the hospital and Carl continued to farm for his mother. In the fall of 1969, Carl and his brothers, Jake, Sam, David, Ron and Buss, purchasd the Charles Fuller farm south of Redelm. They did mainly winter and spring wheat farming. In 1973 the Schauer brothers purchased the M. M. Kiker farm near Dupree. At present, Jake lives on the farm near Bedelm and in Faith, and Carl lives on the Kiker place. Five children were born to Carl and Velma -- Karla Jean, age 19, who attended 10 years of school in Dupree; Kari Lynn, age 17, a 1981 Dupree High School graduate; Kayleen, age 12; Kandice Benae, age 10; and Karl Jacob, 1 1/2 years. [photo - Carl Schauer family. Velma, Carl, Karl, Kari, Kayleen, Karla, Kandice] [photo - John Kirschman family. Shirley, Rita, Velma, Martha and John. Taken 1959] [photo - Jacob Schauer family. Back: Jake, Karol, Carl, Edwin, Emma, Elizabeth, Otto (deceased). Front: Samuel, Louisa, Ronald, Linda, Russell, Jacob, David. Taken 1950] E. L. SCHETNAN from “Saga of an Immigrant” which is on file with the State Historical Society in Pierre From the rugged mountains and deep fjords of Norway have come many mighty sons of Wodan. E. L. Schetnan, former publisher of the West River Progress, weekly newspaper at Dupree, was one of them. He overcame seemingly insurmountable handicaps to become a newspaper man in his chosen land, even though he never really heard the English language spoken to understand it, having been stricken with "spotted fever" immediately after landing in Canada. Schetnan lost his hearing at the end of a transcontinental train journey in 1902. He beat down physical adversity through sheer pluck. For twenty years he waged a one-man battle to take the School for the Deaf from the administration of the Board of Charities and Corrections. Deaf people, he contended, needed neither charity nor correction. They needed education and with it, they could carve out their own livelihood. He carried his fight up and down the state; to politicians (he was one himself), to editors, to anyone interested. In 1944, the legislature placed the School for the Deaf under the Board of Regents. Schetnan was 19 when he fought his bout with spinal meningitis. It took him four years to regain his health. By reading and observation, he began to pick up English, though unable to hear it. He was able to enter the Washington State School for the Deaf in Vancouver in 1906. There he studied printing and two years later entered St. Olaf College at Northfield, Minnesota. During vacation, he took a six week linotype course in Chicago. He also met his future wife, who was deaf also, while in Chicago. The couple followed the western trail and homesteaded near Dupree. When a dry cycle hit, Schetnan rode nine miles horseback from the homestead to town to work in the Ziebach County News office. He started managing the old Redelm Record in 1921. When a newspaper in Mobridge suspended operation, Schetnan bought their type to start his own West River Progress at Redelm in 1925. He started operating a linotype at Faith in 1929, learning the trade over again, as he had forgotten most of it. He swapped his time to set type for his own paper. Schetnan moved his Progress from Redelm to Dupree in 1933. Later he obtained his own linotype, and acquired a four page press, which minimized his labor considerably. He branched into chain operation in 1938 when he purchased the Eagle Butte News. He spent one day a week printing the news in Eagle Butte. Sheaf of paper and pencil in hand, “Deafy” was a familiar sight to people all over the state, as well as in his own county. As all editors are wont to do, he printed a weekly column.which was entitled "So and So", where he commented freely on state and national events. "Deafy", undeterred by his handicap, participated actively in politics and community affairs from the time he first started to set type in Dupree. An outspoken Republican, he enjoyed joshing his Democrat friends. He waged an unending battle for an all-weather top for U. S. Highway 212 west from Faith to Newell. He had been active in the road association since its organization. The dirt links in the road slowly disappeared from the map. In the early 40's, Schetnan, along with a son-in-law, purchased land in Ziebach County to run cattle and sheep on. But his life and love was newspaper work and the quest for news. "Deafy" died in December of 1957, and at that time was still the publisher of the West River Progress. He was a shining example of the pluck and pioneering spirit that characterized the early day publishers of the west river country. The Schetnan children are: Mrs. Dorothy Fairbanks, now retired and living in Sturgis, South Dakota, and Lewis R. Schetnan, now retired and living in Battle Lake, Minnesota, and Winnifred, deceased. [photo - E. L. Schetnan] [photo - The Fairbanks. Back: Donald, Harry, Kenneth. Front: Joan, Dorothy, Harry, Joyce] [photo - Florence and Lewis Schetnan] THE GERALD SCHMAUTZ FAMILY by Shirley (Edwards) Schmautz Gerald Schmautz, son of Rueben and Edna Schmautz, was born in Glen Ullin, North Dakota on August 8, 1940. He spent his early childhood in North Dakota, living with his parents on dairy farms. He attended country schcols around Glen Ullin, Hebron and Hoff. He moved with his family (mother, father, sisters Diane and Renee) to Lead, South Dakota, when he was a teenager. He never had a chance to complete his education until later years, when he earned his GED here in Dupree. Gerald and I were married at the United Church of Christ in Dupree, on September 16, 1961. We made our home in Lead where he worked for Homestake Gold Mine until 1962, when we moved to Dupree, where we have continued to make our home. Duane, our oldest son, graduated from high school in May 1980. He entered the delayed entry training program with the U.S. Navy in January, 1980 and following his 18th birthday, July 15, of the same year left for the Great Lakes Naval Training Center near Chicago. He returned home after completing basic training and married Genevieve McQuirk of Faith on October 12, 1980. They now live in Waukegan, Illinois. Duane is continuing his nuclear schooling and "Genny" is working in the Naval Supply store there at the naval base. Dale, who had the misfortune of being in a gun accident January 21, has overcome the difficult task of restoring the use of his arm and hand. Thanks to some wonderful teachers, Dale was able to make up his work so he graduated with his class, in spite of the fact he was hospitalized two different times and the last time had to have surgery. He plans to attend trade school and become skilled in electronics. Scarlet was the recipient of the first Mascot Award, given by the Dupree Volunteer Fire Department, 1977. Timmy works for Ray Kintz at the Lakota Theatre as a ticket taker. Danny Lynn is a second grader -- he is a very active young lad, and becoming a good student. Gerald is a member of the Dupree Volunteer Fire Department and recently became a Gun Safety Instructor for this area. His first employment at Dupree was helping to build the Farmers State Bank. He was Chief of Police for the city, state highway employee for 5 years, school bus driver and assistant custodian for 5 years and Farmers Union bulk truck driver and station attendant for five years. He started work for the State Highway Department in Eagle Butte on February 2, 1981, where he is currently employed. Gerald serves on the City Council, representing Ward 2. I was born July 6, 1937, in Dupree. I was the only daughter of Clarke and Marie (Maynard) Edwards. My brothers are Ray and Gaylord. I recall only two of the homes I lived in during my childhood. The first being the old Taylor place and the second the Echelbarger farm, which my mother still owns. During the early years, we more or less provided our own recreation. It consisted of a baseball game or just getting together with the neighbors for a picnic. The Fourth of July usually meant a fishing trip to Bednar Dam, a short distance away, if Dad could take the time. We had many teachers through the grade school years. Some I can recall were: Mrs. Ward Zimmerman, Mrs. Eberhard, Mrs. Birkenholz, Mrs. Charles Hersey, Mrs. Adolph Silverman, Miss Gladys Hegre, Mrs. Al Tibke, Miss Lotus Titus, Mrs. Leonard Linn and Mrs. Lee Eaten. Mrs. Eaten taught more years than any of the others. I entered Dupree High School in September, 1951 and graduated with the Class of 1955 in May. I worked as an aide at the Faith hospital the summer after graduation and began nurse's training that fall, but had a dream of becoming a teacher, so came back to Dupree in November of 1955. I worked for Dwyer's in the cafe a short time before attending BHSC in 1956-57. I obtained a one-year teaching certificate and began my career in the fall of 1957. Joyce Beiber, Judy, Merton, and Levi Eaten, Freddy Gebhart and Walter Stocklin (with an occasional visitation from his younger brother, Greg, on his stick horse) were my first students at the Redelm School. The following year I taught the lower grades at Lantry School and continued there the following year teaching all grades. The last school I taught in the country was Butte View, near Eagle Butte, in Dewey County. 1966 found me in the Head Start classroom with a group of 5 years olds. I became a teacher's aide in the second grade classroom at the Dupree school in 1969. In the fall, I became a library aide and followed that up with a secretarial position under Principal James Alien. I held this position until 1974, when I was forced to resign due to ill health. In 1975, I became food stamp cashier for Ziebach County and still hold this position. Gerald, Duane, Dale, Scarlet and I are all members of the United Church of Christ. Gerald is a member of the Masonic Lodge #171. Dale and I are 81 hour EMT's, and thus far have coordinated one 15 hour responder course in the community. We have been in our present home (the former R. K. Stout house) since August 1, 1969. ALVIN and CAROLINE (WILSMANTEL) SCHUCHHARDT Alvin Ernest Schuchhardt was born in Germany in 1869 and came to the U.S. with his parents in 1879. They settled in Yorktown, New York. They came to Dakota Territory in 1883, when his father homesteaded near Mina, South Dakota. His father drove a pair of oxen from Aberdeen to his homestead. Caroline Wilsmantel was born in Germany in 1874 and came to the U.S. in 1879 with her parents. They settled in Wisconsin before coming to Dakota Territory. Caroline worked as a hired girl in Aberdeen before she met and married Alvin Schuchhardt in November, 1896. They farmed near Aberdeen. In the spring of 1910, Alvin homesteaded 160 acres eight miles southwest of Dupree. He built a two room shack, his wife and five children joined him. They shared the trials of homesteading with others, the depression of the "dirty thirties" with poor crops and grasshoppers, and retired to Dupree in 1938. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1946 with all children present. Caroline passed away in March, 1950 and Alvin in September, 1950. Their daughter, Hildagard (Hilda), born in 1898, finished the 8th grade at the Robertson School and returned to Brown County. In 1916 she married Louie Rehfeld and they farmed and raised their family near Warner, South Dakota. Louie died in 1950 and eight years Later she married Delmar Ryman, who passed away in 1971. Hilda lives in Warner. Lena, born in 1899, also attended the Robertson School and returned to Brown County. In September, 1920 she married Tom Lovelady. They lived south of Redelm until 1927, when they moved to California. They had seven children. Tom died in 1965, and Lena now lives at Torrence, California. Lenora, born in 1903, married Arthur Fuller and they were the parents of four. Arthur died in 1953, and Nora lives in Faith, South Dakota. Ervin was born in 1905, brother Otto in 1909. Otto farmed with his brother and father until 1942, when he served his country in the Pacific theatre. In 1945 he bought the Paul Knott place, where he lived until his death in 1976. Thelma was the only child of Alvin and Caroline born in Ziebach County. She attended grade school at the Robertson School and high school in Dupree. In December, 1930 she married John Bieber. They made their home north of Redelm and were the parents of seven children. John died in 1946, and Thelma continued to live on the farm until 1963 when she sold it. In 1977 she married Harry Schroder and they make their home in Lane, South Dakota. [photo - Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Schuchhardt 50th anniversary. Lena Lovelady, Otto Schuchhardt, Lenora Fuller, Alvin Schuchhardt, Mrs. Schuchhardt, Ervin Schuchhardt, Hilda Rehfeld, Thelma Bieber] [photo - Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Schuchhardt, 1936] ERVIN and HERTHA (FREY) SCHUCHHARDT In October, 1935 Ervin and his brother, Otto, stopped at the home of a neighbor, Henry Ehresmann, to plan pheasant hunting. There he met Hertha Frey, sister of Mrs. Henry (Laura) Ehresmann. She had come from Scotland, South Dakota, to help her sister. Cupid worked swiftly, as she and Ervin were married six months later, in April 1936. Their first home was with Ervin's parents, who retired to Dupree in 1938. They lived on the homestead place until 1940, moving to the Jim Nelson place five miles southwest of Dupree, at that time. They were the parents of fourteen children. Mary Lou (Amy) graduated from DHS, attended beauty college and married Norman Hertel in 1956. Their children are Debbie, Scott, Mark and LeAnn. Donald, born in 1938, farmed with his father until Ervin's death in 1966. In 1972, he married Luetta Amold of Raton, New Mexico. They continue to farm, and have two adopted children, Robin and Johnny. Doris is a nurse, presently working at Ft. Meade Veteran's Hospital in Sturgis. Alvin, born in 1941, has made the navy his career. He married Virginia Edwards of Virginia. They have three sons, Chip, Rick and Eddie. Lavern died in infancy. Twins Carry and Larry were born in 1944. Carry works in the Dupree area and lives with his mother. Larry married Ethel Cook in 1974. They farm and ranch on the former Jim Miller place near Dupree. Their children are Sonja, Daryl, Adam and Lorin. Georgia attended National College of Business in Rapid City after high school, and married David Osterholt in 1973. They have Derek and Tara, and live in Rapid City. David, born in 1948, worked at ranching after high school, and married Kathy Fishbach in 1974. They ranch north of Redelm, and have Eric, Ryan and Becky. Robert, born in 1950, attended college in Spearfish for three years following graduation from high school. He returned to Dupree and lost his life in a car accident in 1974. Thomas was born in 1951. He enlisted in the army after high school graduation and served in Viet Nam. He returned home in 1972 and worked on area ranches until his death following an accident in 1976. In 1954 Craig was born. He went to a technical school after high school and in 1974 married Charlene Jurrens of Avon. they have Stephanie and Nicole and live in Mindon, Nebraska. Cathy was born in 1955 and following high school, attended National College of Business in Rapid City. She married Gary Redford in 1979. They have a son Justin, and a daughter, Kristin. They live in Manchester, Missouri. Steve joined the family in 1957, graduated from high school in 1976, and works for aerial contractors. The Schuchhardt children attended the Dupree School continuously for thirty-four years, battling gumbo and snow much of the time from 1942 until 1976. Hertha and Carry continue to live in a new home that was built shortly after Ervin's death in 1966. Donald and Lu live nearby. OTTO SCHUCHHARDT Otto Schuchhardt was born April 11, 1909 at Ordway, South Dakota. He moved with his parents at an early age to a farm six miles southwest of Dupree. During World War II, he served in the United States Army in the Phillipines and Korea. He returned to the family farm following his discharge from the army. He died on May 27, 1976 at the age of 67 years. Otto was never married. BEN and MATHILDA SCIFORD written by Gertrude Sciford Martin Stewart Edlund My father and mother were born in Iowa. He was Ben F. Sciford. She was Mathilda Henshen, and they were married in 1898. My older brothers, John and Chester, and I were born in Charter Oak, Iowa. My dad heard of the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation opening up for homesteaders with the enticing offer of 160 acres of land, free, after a year of occupation. No doubt he was an adventurous spirit, because he soon sold our home and moved to the homestead nine miles south of Eagle Butte, in the year 1910. He spent almost all of his money and built a new home, fences, etc. In the meantime, we lived in a tent. There followed several years of severe drought. It seemed there was a sod house or tarpaper shack on every quarter of land. People who came to homestead, hoping to better their lives, soon went back to wherever they came from or just moved elsewhere, except for a few hardy souls who hung on desperately and stayed to prove up on their claims. Some of these old timers' children are still going on the original land of their parents. Some of their names are Nordvold, Zorc, Libolt, Keckler, Elsey, Vogler, Boydston, Fischer, Darlings, Hinzmans, Engelhards and Marsdens. My mother, two brothers, younger sister and I came on the train to Eagle Butte in 1910, after my father had been on the claim a while. He donated some land for our first school, which was called the Sciford School. At one time there were about 25 children in attendance. I can recall two of our first teachers were John W. Retz and Cecil Meacham, who later married Mrs. Jim Libolt. There was also, among the teachers, William Fisher, Edgar Olsen, Lawrence Davis and Ella Bywaters. Our family grew to seven children. They were John H. Sciford, who passed away in California in 1972; Chester W. Sciford, who was killed in an explosion in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1964; I, Gertrude Sciford, was the oldest daughter. My sister, Myrtle Sciford Phillips, came next, and is living in Portland, Oregon. My only living brother, Clarence R. Sciford, resides in Fresno, California. My twin sisters, Alma Sciford Nesland and Alta Sciford Maynard Johnson live in Portland, Oregon. Our mother died in 1915. I, being the oldest daughter, had to quit school to try to take her place in caring for the youngest children. We had a couple of housekeepers for the first years following her death. One was Mrs. Alice Dugan, who later married Ernst Eidson, who worked for the Diamond A Cattle Company at that time. Early in life, I married. My husband was Louis D. Martin, who was another homesteader living about three miles north of our place. He was a native of Bulgaria, and had arrived in the United States in 1906. He came to Eagle Butte in 1912. After our marriage, we moved to his home and lived there for 25 years, until his death in 1945. Our oldest daughter and first child, Florence, was born at Mobridge, South Dakota. She is Mrs. Donald Miller, and lives in Sturgis, South Dakota. Harvey Martin was born in Eagle Butte and still lives there. The following five children were born on the ranch. They are Wayne Martin, Darlene Martin Johnson LeBeau, Avin Martin, all living at Eagle Butte; Lynelle Martin Miles, presently living in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Martie Martin Hornback Sivertson at Bottineau, North Dakota; Kenneth Martin was born at Dupree, South Dakota and now lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he is personnel director in the H.E.W. office. I married Paul D. Stewart in 1947. He was born and grew up near Faith, South Dakota. He passed away at Eagle Butte in 1961. In 1968 I married my present husband, Leslie E. Edlund. He was a widower with five children, three of whom are living in Sturgis. Two were quite young at the time we were married, so I feel I raised my second family. The youngest son, Duane, is in his third year of college at South Dakota State University. Over the years I have been blessed with 36 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren, and 9 step-grandchildren. WILBUR SCOTT Wilbur Scott homesteaded 1 1/2 miles northwest of Dupree in the summer of 1910. He came by train to Isabel and then by stage to Dupree. He was in the bank and also served as county auditor and treasurer in the early years. In 1936 he moved to Spokane, Washington. Then in 1947 he returned to Iowa, and was living on his farm when he passed away in 1951. The Scott children were: James, John and Virginia. WILLIAM and GERTRUDE SEARSON William and Gertrude Searson were early pioneers in Ziebach County from Britt, Iowa. They homesteaded three and one-half miles north of Dupree. They were both animal lovers-- every cow, horse and pig had a name. At one time they raised a litter of skunks after the mother skunk was killed. William was a carpenter by trade. He was the first Ziebach County Highway Superintendent. He was county treasurer and government weatherman for several years. He belonged to the IOOF Lodge in Dupree. He played the Jews Harp. Gertrude was a seamstress. She belonged to the Rebekah Lodge and the Merifu Extension Club. Because of William's ill health, they retired and moved into Dupree where they resided for several years, until they moved into Mary House in Pierre, South Dakota, for care. Gertrude died May 6, 1954 and William died September 20, 1954. They are both buried in the Dupree Cemetery. [photo - Gertrude Searson] [photo - William Searson] [photo - William Searson] GUS SERR FAMILY by Dorothy Serr Gus was born at Herrick, South Dakota, near the town of Burke. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. John Serr. When he was six years of age, he moved with his parents and sisters to a home 21/2 miles north of Dupree, South Dakota. He attended the Dupree School. Feeling a patriotic call to duty, he enlisted in the United States Army Medical Corps and served from January 1941 to November 1945. During this time, he spent two years in the Pacific area. When he returned from the service, he went back to his former job with the South Dakota Department of Highways. He retired from that position after forty years of employment. At the present time he drives bus for the Dupree School and is active in several organizations. I was born in Sioux City, Iowa and came with my parents, Mrs. and Mrs. Oscar Herren, to their homestead when I was a small child. We didn't have a school in our area, so my parents taught me grades one and two. The Sunnybrook School was then built to accommodate the families in the area. I attended school there for the next seven years -- graduating from the 8th grade there and also taking my freshman year of high school, which was permitted at that time. Montel Creamer was my freshman teacher. I graduated from Dupree High School and attended Black Hills Teachers College in Spearfish. I then taught for six years in rural schools -- my first two years at Whittler School, followed by two years at Sunnybrook School and two years at Fairview School. Gus and I were married May 26, 1946. I continued my teaching career -- teaching grades seven and eight in the Dupree School for six years. I must say that I have many fond memories of my years of teaching. Many of my former students chose to remain in the Dupree area, so I visit with them often. I then retired from teaching and we raised a family of three boys. All three boys attended twelve years of school at Dupree. Our oldest son, Roger, graduated from a four year college course at Aberdeen, South Dakota, followed by some courses at Brookings, South Dakota, and then on to Macomb, Illinois where he graduated from the Western Illinois University with a Master of Science degree in College Student Personnel Services. At present, he is employed by that University. He is married to the former Konnie Haugen from Canton, South Dakota. After completing high school, Greg was employed by Dupree Lumber, Tibbs Gas and Martin and Associates, as an inspector for cable telephone. He then attended Wyoming Technical Institute at Laramie, Wyoming where he graduated from acourse in diesel mechanics. He married Janelle Johnson October 9, 1982. They make their home in Dupree. Kelly graduated from high school in 1980 and continues to work at the local Phillips 66 station, where he has worked for the past five years -- either full or part-time. THE JOHN SERR FAMILY by Amida Lawrence My parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Serr, came to Ziebach County in March of 1920 from Gregory County, South Dakota. My dad came with the emigrant car from Herrick, South Dakota, bringing four horses, farm machinery and household goods. Mother and the family (Freda, Amida, Erma, Oustaf and Amy) came on the passenger train. Before we reached Dupree, our trip was interrupted by a snowstorm. We were held up in Eagle Butte on Saturday night. The snow plow came through on Monday morning and we continued our journey to Dupree. I guess my mother had packed a good amount of food, fortunately, as I don't recall we were in need. Freda and I were allowed to walk up town on Sunday to buy some candy. We stayed at the Shelton Hotel in Dupree until my dad arrived late on Tuesday night. Dad had rented the Fred Wenger farm thirteen miles northeast of Dupree for one year while buildings were being constructed on a quarter of land two miles north of Dupree, which he had acquired in 1919. (Russell Stevens now owns the land). The day we moved to our new home was beautiful. The snow was melting and we had good weather while getting settled. By Sunday night, however, (I think it was March 17) a storm had moved in. By morning we could hardly see anywhere. By evening cattle began drifting through our yard. We had a large shed that was empty except for the horses, so many cattle found shelter in and around it. Some drifted on and were found frozen in water holes and draws. One steer froze while he was standing on a hillside. We had one stroke of luck as someone's milk cow also strayed in. After the storm, we noticed her, so we had a milk cow for a couple of days until the owner came by to claim her. We had lots of moisture that year and a good crop. One very frightening experience of that summer stands out in my memory. Dad was cutting the wheat and Freda and I were shocking it in a field near the house. Suddenly we could hear Mother calling and waving for us to come. We leisurely started home, but then noticed she was calling and motioning for us to hurry. My little sister, Amy, had been playing outside and was bitten on the arm by a rattlesnake! I hurriedly bridled our pony to go for help from our neighbors, the John Burkes, a half-mile away. Freda made a cut in the bite and sucked out some blood. Erma was down on her knees asking for God's help. It didn't take long for John Burke, Jr., to get going and he took Amy, Mother and Dad to Dr. Creamer. Mother and Amy stayed in town for a few days and all went well. The folks moved to their own place in April of 1921 and continued to live there until 1943 when they retired and moved into town. Dad passed away March 16, 1957, and Mother (Katherine) passed away September 2, 1960. Their children have married and live as follows: Alvina (Mrs. John Martin), who was married and living on a farm near Burke, South Dakota when the folks came to Dupree, still lives there with a son, one of her eight children. Freda (Mrs. Art Jones) lived on a farm near Dupree, and later in Dupree for several years, before moving to Aberdeen, South Dakota in September, 1980. Amida (Mrs. Roy Lawrence) still lives in Dupree. Erma (Mrs. Art Hurst) passed away January 21, 1958. Gustaf (married to Dorothy Herren) lives in Dupree. Amy (Mrs. Ronald Brown) lives in Eugene, Oregon. Surviving grandchildren are: John, Robert, Arthur, Kenneth and Howard Martin, and Clara Martin Ruttman; Leland, Robert and Larry Jones, and Kathleen Jones Greene; Barbara Lawrence Stradinger, Beverly Lawrence Huckins and Ronald Lawrence; Roger, Greg and Kelly Serr; Gloriene Brown Leismiester and Lynn Brown Ronk. There are 45 great-grandchildren [photo - John Serr family, 1955. Alvina Martin, Freda Jones, Amida Lawrence, Gustaf Serr, Emma Hurst, Mr. and Mrs. Serr] [photo - Amy Serr Brown] JACK and LYDA SERRES by Lyda Serres Jack and Lyda Serres and two daughters, Fern and Delma, came to Dupree in 1927. My father, Charles Campbell, had bought this raw land 15 miles south of Dupree and asked us if we wanted to make a change, and we were game. There was a little shack one-half mile from the place we built, that we lived in while a house was built and a well dug. The milk cows could go for miles and Jack had a long horseback ride every milking time. My uncles, Fred and Eck, and my dad, were there helping. I had plenty of cooking to do on the cookstove. I baked lots of bread and custard pies. We didn't unpack all the boxes and one day I looked in one and a mouse had little ones in it. I ran to the barn for my dad to get rid of them! Jack broke up all the land by horses and a walking plow. We worked hard, had good neighbors, and all enjoyed ourselves with get-together picnics on Sundays. We sold our ranch and moved to Sturgis in 1947. We bought a small apartment house and Jack worked at Ft. Meade for nearly 15 years. He retired and helped with ranching for a year, then worked as a janitor at the American National Bank for twelve years. He had two surgeries and wasn't very well, and passed away in 1975. We were blessed with three grand-girls, five great-grandchildren - three girls and two boys, and now a great-greatgrandgirl 2 1/2 years old. Our two daughters live here in Sturgis and take good care of me. [photo - Jack Serres family. Jack, Delma, Fern, Lyda] THE FRANK SEVER FAMILY written by Helen (Sever) Pugh Frank Sever was born March 29, 1882 in Indiana. He married Emma Carrie Zacharias on February 17, 1909. She was born October 5, 1891 in Hinsdale, Illinois. She moved with her parents to Morocco, Indiana when she was a little girl. Soon after Frank and Emma got married, they moved to Stirum, North Dakota, living there seven years. Three children were born there, Myrtle, Raymond and Earl. They moved to South Dakota in 1915 and homesteaded 15 miles south of Lantry. Four more children were born, Helena, Edythe, Ruth and Donald. Emma died July 30, 1925. Frank Sever died in April of 1957. Myrtle married Kenneth Collins, better known as Shorty, on February 4, 1930. God blessed them with seven wonderful children, Jack, Ted, Larry, Jerry, Tom, Gene and Carol (Norris). Shorty died in 1958 and Myrtle died on April 23, 1981. Raymond drowned July 14, 1940. Earl lived in Dupree for a while and ran a pool hall. He then moved to Winner, where he now lives. He has three children, Linda, Greg and Vicky. Helena married Kelly Pugh on May 25, 1946. They live near Hayes and have one daughter, Sharon (Kendall), who lives in Rapid City. Edythe married Joe Dwyer and they ran a restaurant in Eagle Butte for several years. They now live in Rapid City. They have one son, Joe, who lives in Seattle, Washington. Ruth married Allan Eberhard and they have one daughter, Janet. They live in Venice, California. Don married Ruth and they have four children. They live at Boulder, Montana. We went through some hard times. I was only nine years old when my mother died, and my brother, Don, was only two. We lived through drought and dust storms, blizzards and grasshoppers that ate everything. They were just black on the side of the house, fence posts and everywhere else. Food was scarce, but we had milk, cream, butter and eggs. We milked several cows and shipped the cream from Lantry by train, burned lignite coal, wood, cobs and even cow chips. We walked 21/2 miles to school. Myrtle, Raymond and Earl rode horseback, all on one horse, but there wasn't room for me, so I walked. I have vivid memories of my school days. I got so cold and so tired, had frostbitten fingers and toes many times. Dad used to tell us that if it was storming, to stay at the schoolhouse, and he would come and get us. When he came, he always came afoot. But it wasn't all bad times. We visited with our neighbors. We used to meet in schoolhouses or people's homes for card parties and square dancing. We went by sled or wagon. We didn't have a car until much later. My dad really loved to play cards and square dance. he usually was the caller. He would rather do that than eat. Those were what they called "The Good Old Days". [photo - The Frank Sever family. Back row: Myrtle, Earl and Raymond. Front: Helena, Edythe, Ruth and Donnie on Frank Sever’s lap] [photo - Raymond, Earl and Donnie. (Frank Sever’s three boys] FRED and HAZEL SEVER written by Marian Stambach Fred Sever, son of John E. Sever and Mary (Malady) Sever, was born January 16, 1891 and raised in Indiana. When he was a young man he moved to Stirum, North Dakota with his folks and his brothers in an immigrant car, where he farmed with his father. In 1910 he married Hazel Hawkins, daughter of William and Nettle (Loomis) Hawkins. Four of us children, Gladys, Wade, Mayme and Marian, were born in North Dakota. In 1918 he moved his family to 5 miles south of Lantry, South Dakota. My first recollection is that we lived on what is now known as the John Lemke farm. Two more children were added to the family. They were Mildred and David. My father did road work at this time with four horses and a fresno. He made roads all over Ziebach County and would be gone two or three weeks at a time. Mother took care of us, the sewing, gardening and cooking. She was a beautiful seamstress and made all of our clothes. She had a driving horse and buggy that she drove to town for provisions or wherever we went. We moved from the Ed McGill place to a place called the Barr place where we lived until 1922, when we moved to our grandfather's homestead and my father started farming and raising livestock. In 1926, a baby girl was born named Jessie, then came John in 1929, Faye in 1932, Mile in 1933 and Marlys in 1935. There were eleven of us children. We were saddened in January of 1933 with the sudden death of our sister, Mayme, a victim of the flu. Dad farmed and raised livestock, milked cows, and then came the dirty 30's. Dad was foreman on the dam construction W.P.A. project. They made dams with horses and fresnos. Our home burned down in May of 1933. It was a spring day with a terrific wind and sparks from the chimney set the fire. I don't know yet how all our good neighbors got there in minutes to help us save what we could. Arleigh McLellan, Marion and Jessie Smith, Elmer Parker, Roy Horton, Bill Lemke, Fred Shuck, John Yusko, Donald Schad, Otto Albers. Then they all took up a donation of $100.00, which was quite a lot of money in those years. This was greatly appreciated. May God Bless them all. What I always remember is those hot dry falls and the prairie fires. There was no way to fight them except by hand and wet sacks. Ziebach County had what they called a fire drag, built of chains somehow and drawn by horses or trucks. When a fire broke out, it was always down in Cherry Creek or Little Ireland, the farthest corner of the county. My father continued to farm and raise livestock until his sudden death in January of 1938 at the age of 47. Mother gave up the farm in the summer of 1940 and moved the house to the town of Dupree, across the street west of the Dupree School, to raise her younger children and send them to school. Mother worked as a nurse in the Dupree Hospital helping with maternity cases and whatever. Mother passed away in September of 1970 at the age of 77. We had a lot of bad times, but also a lot of good times as all large families do. Gladys married Ray Seymour and they raised seven children. Ray passed away in 1945, and Gladys passed away in March of 1978 at Sturgis, South Dakota. Wade married Zola Stambach and raised two children. Wade passed away in February of 1977 in Tacoma, Washington. Mildred married Rick Farlee who was killed in World War II in Germany. She then married Alex Aiken and had one daughter. Mildred passed away in July of 1975 at Phoenix, Arizona. Jessie married Edward Pope and they raised six children. Jessie passed away in December of 1979 at Las Vegas, Nevada. David married Grace Wishard and raised one son, from his wife's first marriage. David passed away in March of 1979 at Sheridan, Wyoming. John married Lila Hinzman and has one son and two daughters. Their second son was bitten by a rabid skunk and died at the age of 10. Faye married Wayne Glee of Presho, South Dakota. They have five children, two girls and three boys. They reside one mile north of Pierre, South Dakota. Milo married Betty Baker and they have two sons, and reside in Rapid City, South Dakota. Marlys married Henry Laurenz and they have nine children, six sons and three daughters. They reside at Eagle Butte, South Dakota. Marian married Harry Stambach and they have one son and three daughters and they reside in Dupree, South Dakota. [photo - Fred Sever family: Gladys, Marion, Hazel, Fred and Baby John, Wade, Mayme, Millie, Dave and Jessie] [photo - Fred Sever and four sons: Dave, Wade, John (Bud) and Milo] JOHN and MARY SEVER by Myrtle Sever John E. Sever was born in Indiana in 1857. His wife, Mary Malady Sever, was also born in Indiana in 1857; her parents came to the United States from Ireland. They raised six boys and two girls, three of them getting married before the family moved to North Dakota in 1906, where they rented a farm at Harlem. John drew a homestead south of Lantry in 1910 in Ziebach County. The boys stayed in North Dakota and farmed while he proved up on the homestead. He fenced some, dug a well and plowed a few acres, and also built a small house. The first time he came to Lantry, the train bridge was across the river at Mobridge, but all other traffic had to cross on a ferry boat. The train only came as far as Parker's, east of Lantry. Men and teams were working at making the roadbed for the new track. When the boys and their mother came in 1912, the railroad had been built as far as Faith. Lee rode in the immigrant car with his dad, and spent the first night in a small hotel in Lantry. The building is still there, and is owned by Floyd Linn. The boys, Arch, Glenn, Fred and Lee, worked on roads with horses, helped build bridges, and did some carpenter work. Lee helped build the Cheyenne River bridge on Highway 63. The steel beams and timbers arrived in Lantry by train and were hauled by horse and wagon to the location. Lee, being the youngest, attended Soliday School. Some of his teachers were Norman Olson, Mrs. Moody Drummond and Selma Speker McLellan. Arch served in Germany in World War I. Glenn also served in the army in the United States. They both left Dupree, returning in 1919. Their father, John E. Sever, served as county commissioner for eight years, and was also a rural county assessor for several years. He sat on the election boards many times. A son, Jake Sever, homesteaded in Ziebach County in 1910, and Frank Sever also homesteaded in Ziebach County in about 1915. Jake and his wife and one son, Harold, who was born on the homestead south of Lantry, returned to Indiana after two years. Fred married a girl from North Dakota, Hazel Hawkins, and lived in Ziebach County many years. In 1922 it was so hot and dry here that there was nothing to harvest, so Glenn and Lee went to Stirum, North Dakota, to work in the harvest fields. Their brother, Arch, had a business in town and decided to move to California with his family, so he turned the business over to Glenn and Lee. They ran it for three years. Then Glenn married Marie McDonald from Stirum, and moved to Elgin, Illinois, and Lee married Myrtle Royal from Cogswell and returned to Lantry. They have lived in the area for 55 years. Both couples were married in November, 1925. Lee Sever has lived in the area for 68 years. John Sever was county commissioner in Ziebach County for eight years. His transportation was Billy, a little black pacer with a big white star on his forehead. John Sever passed away in Dupree in 1933. [photo - Grandma Sever (Mrs. John Sever) feeding her turkeys] LEE and MYRTLE SEVER written by Myrtle Sever Lee Sever was born in Independence, Indiana on June 11, 1900, and Myrtle Royal Sever was born in Ames, Iowa on December 11, 1907. We met in the fall of 1922 at the Sargent County Fair at Forman, North Dakota. Lee worked at Stirum, North Dakota and I worked at Cogswell, North Dakota. These small towns were eight miles apart and booming. Now they are both ghost towns, no trains or schools. We were married November 16, 1925 on Thanksgiving Day at Britton, South Dakota. Lee's parents were expecting us to come for a visit. They lived five miles southwest of Lantry in Ziebach County. When we arrived at Lantry, the pool hall was still open, so Lee said he would stop in and see if there was anyone in there he knew. Herman Lake ran the pool hall. When Lee came out, they had told him his mother had passed away, and his family could not get in touch with us. The funeral had been on December 5, 1925. We lived with Lee's dad for eight years, until he passed away in 1933. There were no manors or nursing homes in those days. We farmed for a share of the crop and raised very little or nothing each year, even borrowed money for seed. The 20's and 30's were terrible, we didn't know what rain was. We lived through drought, dust storms, army worms and grasshoppers that ate everything. Food and fuel were scarce, and wheat was 32 cents a bushel, but when we had a complete failure, we always had a beautiful new baby. Irma was born in 1926 and Kenneth was born in 1932. Both were born at home. Dr. Creamer came out to homes then. Later when we had the small hospital in Dupree, the other three were born there. They were Elaine, Dallas and Dwight. Dwight was born on February 9, 1945, the 604th baby born at Dupree hospital and was the 1,862nd baby delivered by Dr. Creamer at that time. If I remember right, Roy Foltzes had the first baby delivered by Dr. Creamer. The last baby born there was Yvonne McLellan Donovan, as Dr. Creamer was in failing health and preparing to move to Iowa. All of us, young and old, looked forward to the Saturday night kitchen sweet parties. In winter we went by sled or wagons, not many had cars. They met at the farm homes or the schoolhouses, where the young danced in a small room, and others played cards. Each family took cake or sandwiches for lunch. Bert Bailey played violin and his wife Ruby played banjo. Jake Knodel played harmonica. They also sang and called square dances. In the early 40's folks started to raise some crops and had more hay to make. We lived in the homestead shack until 1948 when we bought the house that is still on the farm. Cal Smith moved it down there from east of Eagle Butte. After Lee's dad passed away, we bought his land from the State Rural Credit and four more quarters later from the county for tax deeds. We also leased one quarter for many years. We still have this land, Dallas and sons rent it from us. Lee bought his first small Case tractor in 1946; he worked horses until then. All five children graduated from Rosene School. It was just across the road from our house until it was moved two miles south in 1937 or so. It burned down when Edie Johnson was teacher. It was rebuilt, and was later moved two miles north of our place where it is now closed. Irma graduated from Dupree High School in 1944. She went her first year in the Legion Hall while the new school was being built. She went to Spearfish College one summer and taught school one year north of Lantry, then she worked as clerk for John Francis in the Dupree Post Office for three years. She married Pete Fischer from Eagle Butte, and they have owned and operated the Phillips 66 station for many years. Kenneth graduated from Dupree High School in 1949. He taught school two years and went to Spearfish College during summers. He was drafted into the army and had his basic training in Fort Sill, Oklahoma; then he served two years in Germany. He married Lois Seymour before he left. He returned in 1953 and taught at Fairview School one year. Then they moved to Spearfish where he graduated with a bachelor's degree. In 1960 he attended college in Greeley, Colorado, and has served in the same school system in Lead ever since, where he is now an administrator. Elaine graduated from Dupree High School. She taught the Soliday School one year and attended Spearfish College one summer. She has worked at various jobs, at the Onida Bank and for Cable TV in Deadwood as office manager for 10 years.She was married May 16, 1980 to Joe Floyd and lives in Sioux Falls. Dallas is a rancher and farmer south of Dupree. He married Connie Bennett in Dupree in 1959. They later bought her father (Charles Bennett's) farm, but had to move to town to send the boys to school. Dallas worked for Pete Fischer in his service station for 15 years before farming. Monty and his family live on the farm now. Darvel works in Eagle Butte and stays with us, and young Chucky was five in December so will start school next year. Dwight was born in 1945, so Dr. Creamer and I named him Dwight Douglas after the two generals, Dwight Eisenhower and Douglas McArthur. Dwight attended rural schools, and when he was in the eighth grade, he was the best oral speller in Ziebach County. He attended one year of high school in the new high school in Eagle Butte in 1960, and was killed in a car accident between Eagle Butte and Lantry on June 15, 1960. We stayed on the farm several years longer, and in 1969 we bought our home in Eagle Butte. We drove back and forth for a year, but it was too hard in winter, so in the fall of 1970 we sold all the cattle and haystacks to Archie and Owen McLellan, and moved to town to stay. We have 11 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, also 3 step great- grandchildren. The arrival of REA in 1953 or 1954 was truly a blessing. Lee's dad would have been so happy to see the windmill go up that is still there. He pumped water by hand for his sheep. Another thing that would of pleased him very much was having Franklin Delano Roosevelt for President for so many years, Dad Sever being a good Democrat. Our generation has seen many changes. We burned lignite coal from Isabel for many years; now this house has electric heat. Lee is the only one left of his family of six brothers and two sisters; and I am the only one left of my family of two brothers and one sister. [photo - The Lee Sever children, taken February, 1957. Irma, Kenneth, Elaine, Dallas and Dwight] [photo - Lee and Myrtle Sever in front of their home in Eagle Butte] [photo - This was our first home, from 1925 to 1926. Lee, Irma and nephew, Sonny Sever] HAPPY and NOLA SEYMOUR I married Happy Seymour in 1933. I lived at home the first year, while Happy continued working for the Diamond A Cattle Company, where he had worked for 10 years at various jobs. He did a lot of trucking, taking feed from camp to camp. Headquarters were at Mossman's. It was a bachelor's camp, so he learned to be a pretty good cook. Lois was born in 1934, while I was still at home. Then we moved to our first home, the place where Floyd Emst lives. Jack was born in 1935 while we still lived on this place. Happy and my dad worked for W.P.A. in those days. That was the time of drought and grasshoppers. About 1937 we moved to our next home, which we later bought, about three miles west. This was where we lived until I moved to Dupree in 1972 after Happy's death. We lived through dust storms that were as bad as blizzards. We lived in a neighborhood where we all helped one another in working cattle, haying, threshing, etc. Threshing was always a big thing in the fall. All neighbors came with horses and hay racks and went from neighbor to neighbor until it was all done. Cooking for the men was a big chore, as we didn't have refrigerators at first. All the food had to be prepared in one day. Our meat was usually fried chicken which we dressed every morning. My mother always came and helped me. In 1941 Gail was born and in 1947 another girl joined the family - Bonnie. Jack and Lois went four years to the Cloverleaf School and then to Aldridge for the rest of their schooling. Gail attended all of her eight years at Aldridge School. Bonnie started school there with her sister, Lois, as the teacher. She finished her 7th and 8th grades at the O'Donnell School three miles north of us as our school had closed. They all attended Dupree High School. In 1949, when the country was snowed in, Rollin Eulberg and Calvin Anderson flew our mail to us and checked to see if anything was needed. Rollin also flew Lois home from school. She was a freshman at Dupree High School. Lois is married to Kenneth Sever and they live in Lead. She is a teacher's aide. They have four girls. Jack lives in Sturgis and is married to Joan Fairbanks. He teaches at VoTech at Sturgis. They have two children. Gail lives on a farm near Dupree and is married to Fred Stambach. They have five children and they have bought the home place. Bonnie is married to Kenneth Fairbanks and lives in Sturgis. She babysits. They have three children. I now have four great-grandchildren. [photo - Happy Seymour and Diamond A truck he drove for many years] [photo - Happy and Nola Seymour] THE OTIS SHANNON FAMILY by Alice Shannon Otis E. Shannon (better known as “Beannie”) was born in Jasper County, Iowa. As a young boy, he came with his parents to Geddes, South Dakota where they lived for a few years. In 1910 he came with his parents to Eagle Butte, where his dad homesteaded south and east of Eagle Butte. He began working for the Diamond A Cattle Company when he was 16 years old and made his first trip to Montana to trail cattle back. He said it rained every day they were gone. He also worked for Mike Dunn, herding horses, and this is where he got his nickname of Beannie. One old cowboy could never remember his name, and as the horses he was herding liked to get in a homesteader's bean patch, hence the nickname came about. He married Alice Olsen of Lantry. To this marriage, seven children were born. Philip, who lives in Pierre; Stella Vance, Rapid City; Virginia Samuelson, Broadus, Montana; Roy of Broadus, Montana; Audrey Holmes, Dupree; Norman of Terry, Montana; and Robert of Dupree. During the time he lived in Eagle Butte, he was employed by the U.S. Indian Department, living at the government barn south and east of Eagle Butte. Beannie was known for his horsemanship. He worked for the Diamond A Cattle Company for many years. In 1930, he began working for the CBC Horse outfit. His family lived on the Ford Annis place, which had been leased by the CBC Horse outfit. This place was one of the main camps on the west side, and many hundreds of horses were corralled at the same place. There were also many cowboys working. In the spring of 1932, Beannie was kicked in the face by a horse, and spent much time at the Pierre Hospital. In 1934 the CBC Horse outfit was moving out, and Beannie and family moved up to the government barn. It was here the CBC's spent their last days. In 1936 Beannie and his family moved to the Mosher place at Dupree. We had to get closer to schools. We did some farming and ranching. Then we moved into Dupree and Beannie served as deputy sheriff and sheriff of Ziebach County. He was also night marshall for the town of Dupree. He worked for the Chicago Cattle Company and on construction work. Beannie became ill and passed away in 1956. Alice and son Robert live in Dupree. [photo - The Shannons 1979. Robert, Stella, Norman, Alice, Roy, Virginia, Audrey. Not pictured, Phillip] THE CHILDREN OF ALICE and BEANNIE SHANNON by Alice Shannon Phillip was born south and east of Lantry. He attended his first four years of school at Eagle Butte, staying with his grandparents, the Bill Shannon's. He then attended rural school until moving with his parents to Dupree. He enlisted into the service of World War II, and saw active duty overseas. He was an M.P. until after the war was over. He followed the rodeo circuit for some time. He worked for various ranchers and broke horses to ride. He married Betty Evans of Hayes, South Dakota. They have no children. He was employed by the State Highway Department. Stella was born at Eagle Butte and attended the first 2 years of school at Eagle Butte, staying with her grandparents. She went to rural schools until moving to Dupree with her parents. She attended Dupree School and graduated from there. She attended Spearfish College and taught in the rural schools. She married Wayne Vance and they have one daughter, Audra. Wayne passed away in 1978. Stella and daughter live in Rapid City, South Dakota. Virginia was born at Eagle Butte, South Dakota. She attended rural schools I year, before moving with her family to Dupree, South Dakota where she attended school. She married Voyle Samuelson. Five children were born to this couple: Carl, Sherry, Sydney, Norman and Donald. They lived and ranched on Cherry Creek for quite a few years, then moved to Montana to a large ranch, where school would be better. All the children live close by except Donald, who is at Bozeman, Montana, going to college. They are all married. Roy was born on the C B C ranch south and east of Dupree, and he attended Dupree School. When quite a small boy, he had his thumb taken off leading a bronco to pasture. Leonard Birkeland brought him to town to Dr. Creamer to have his thumb repaired. He went to work for the Chicago Cattle Company until they moved out of this part of the country. He worked for the Samuelson Ranch on Cherry Creek for a number of years, until Samuelson's moved to Montana. He went with them and is still working there. Roy never married. Audrey was born south of Eagle Butte. She moved to Dupree when quite small and attended Dupree grade and high school. She worked in various cafes here in Dupree. She married Wayne Holmes and they live on the ranch about 21 miles south and east of Dupree. They have four children: Jon, married Toni Farlee of Lantry; Donna, married Jim Dunbar of Dupree; David, graduated from high school in 1981; Carla is a junior at the Dupree High School. They run cattle and sheep. Norman was born at Dupree, South Dakota. He attended all 12 years of school at Dupree. After graduation, he worked for various ranchers before going to Montana where he worked on the Samuelson ranch and the Luckhuck ranch. He began working for the Tongue River Electric Company. He was transferred to Terry, Montana, where he still works for the TRECO. He married Vonnie Steadham of Broadus, Montana. They have two sons, Randy and Scott. Robert was born at Dupree and attended the Dupree School and graduated. He worked summers for ranchers while going to school. After graduation, he began working for the South Dakota State Highway Department and is still with them. He is not married and lives with his mother. ISAAC W. SHANNON FAMILY by Alice Shannon Isaac W. Shannon, better known as "Bill", was born in Iowa and lived there as a young man. He married Estella Decker and they continued living there farming. To this union two children were born, Otis E. and Thelma. They moved to Geddes, South Dakota and lived there a few years. In 1910, he filed on a homestead 9 miles southeast of Eagle Butte, where he did some farming and ranching. In 1914, the family moved to Eagle Butte where Bill operated the Standard bulk station. He also served as deputy sheriff for Dewey County and was town marshall for a number of years. He was the assessor for the town of Eagle Butte, also. Bill always had a friendly smile and 'Hello' for everyone, and he will be remembered for his enthusiasm for fishing. After retiring from active work, the Shannon's moved to Rapid City. Bill's health began to fail after a few years and he passed away in August of 1956. Estella died soon after. SHELTONS and EWINGS by Fern Shelton Ewing Joseph and Zoie Kensler Langlois and their family came from the Sisseton Reservation to Ft. Pierre, where he homesteaded and built up a ranch and raised his family. Joseph was French and Zoie was 1/2 Indian, 1/4 French and 1/4 German. I think the girls were already married. Tava Langlois married Jim Herald, Maggie Langlois married Babe LaPlante, Juliann Langlois married Eb Jones, and Louise Langlois married Aquilla Ewing. There were also two boys, Henry and Louie Langlois. Their mother registered them at the Cheyenne Agency as quarter- breeds. They always claimed they were one-eighth Indian. The Eb Jones family moved to Cherry Creek where his wife and children were allotted a quarter of land each. Aquilla and Louise Ewing moved to the original townsite of Dupree. Their children, Bill and Irene Ewing were allotted land on Bear Creek east of Dupree, now owned by Lawrence and Virginia Woodward. They built a log house there. Bill Ewing married Fern Shelton and they Lived in the log house for three years. At that time, his mother Louise, married Jake Halvorsen and moved back home. They went to work for Pat Coates for five years, then for the CBC horse outfit until 1934. We bought a ranch on the Moreau River, seven miles up from White Horse, and lived there until 1959. Then I bought the hotel in Timber Lake. We kept the ranch until 1967. Bill was dragged to death by a horse in 1965 at the age of 71. I found the ranch too much of a worry, so I sold it in 1967 to Harlan Gunville, who still lives there. I sold the hotel in 1979 to Chuck Booth and moved to Lincoln, Nebraska because of my health. I have a real nice home. I miss my old friends, but when you get to be 80, you find your old friends dying and leaving you behind. My father's family lived in Allerton, Iowa. He was the son of James and Delores Cassidy Shelton. They had twelve children. Mother's folks lived in Chillicothe, Illinois. Her dad's name was Peter Foster and her mother, Bridget O'Brien. They had fourteen children. We left Allerton in 1904 and moved to Geddes, South Dakota. Dad fed cattle until the 1907 panic. He had fourteen carloads of steers on the Sioux City market and couldn't sell them. We then moved into Geddes and he started a restaurant. We lived there until 1912 when we moved to Dupree in May of that year, and filed on a claim of 160 acres. We lived there until school started, then Dad bought Kaufman's Restaurant and Hotel, which he later sold to Mr. Pollard. They moved it a couple of blocks south on Main Street and lived in it. Dad built the new hotel and ran it until 1926. He sold it to Matt Stephenson, and they moved to Goldendale, Washington, where my sister, Cleo, was going to teach. Mother died in 1934. Dad remarried in 1955 and died in February, 1976 at the age of 95. Cleo married William Hudson and still lives in Goldendale during the summer. They have a winter home in Mesa, Arizona. They had two children, a boy, Barry, who was an invalid, and a girl, Susan, who married James Parton and lives in Dallas, Texas. They also adopted a girl, Betty Jo, who married Richard Fitzgeorge and lives in Mesa. Neither of the girls have children. My daughter lives in Lincoln, Nebraska. She bought a duplex, which I live in. It is beautiful, with a rock garden, pond, bridge, etc. and lots of lovely trees. The lady that takes care of me lives in the lower part with her family.