Text of Ziebach Co., SD History (1982) - pages 581 - 600 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, . GLEN SHIVELY Glen Shivery settled on a homestead in Ziebach County, about 6 1/2 miles northeast of Dupree in the fall of 1910. He came to this country by train from Slayton, Minnesota and lived on this homestead for 14 months. Mr. Shivery worked for the city of Los Angeles during the war and later owned rooming houses in Washington, D.C. He also managed a 24- unit apartment house in Seattle, Washington. Mr. Shivery was married in Slayton, Minnesota in 1913. He had a son, William F. Croghan. FRED and SYLVIA SHUCK We were latecomers to the West River Empire, arriving there the 3rd of February in 1929. On the 5th day, we bought the Carl Olson estate. Winter set right in and we had 6 or 8 weeks of weather as bad as we had ever seen. The snow was hardly gone until here came the mosquitoes in droves such as we had never seen before. Then came the flies with appetites of a Polar Bear. It wasn't long until we began to see rattlesnakes, we killed about 3 dozen a year for several years. Then came the grasshoppers and they just about put a finish to us newcomers, who had never seen anything like it. We had never seen any Quack Grass, Creeping Jenny or Wild Oats, until we came to South Dakota. But it got so dry our Quack Grass and the other native grasses mostly died, the pastures came up to wild onions, and if you have never tasted milk or butter from a wild onion pasture, you sure ought to try some. Then when it got too bad for the onions, here come the pepper grass. Where it came from God only knows, but it gave the milk and butter a different flavor and almost made the onion flavor taste like honey. This went on for about ten years, but we were young and enjoyed every minute of it. Then, by golly, it started to rain and things began to grow. The grass came back in the pastures, and the onions and pepper grass all disappeared, and the west river country became the Garden of Eden. We sold out the fall of 1969 after spending nearly 41 years on that same place. We then moved to Philomath, Oregon. It seldom gets too hot or too cold here. We get about 40 inches of rain, but hardly ever get any snow. There is very little wind, and we seldom hear any thunder. We are doing OK, but we miss our South Dakota friends and the wide open spaces of the West River Empire. [photo - Fred and Sylvia Shuck’s 50th wedding anniversary. Taken on March 3, 1974. Back row: Nancy (oldest granddaughter), Fred, Melvin (only son) and wife, Lorretta. Front row: Lyle (grandson), Sylvia, Harley (grandson), and Judy (granddaughter)] [photo - Taken on Fred and Sylvia’s 50th anniversary in 1974] [photo - Mr. and Mrs. Fred Shuck, taken July 20, 1948] [photo Fred and Sylvia Shuck, taken in their wheat field in 1948] ADOLPH and LUCILE SILVERMAN by Lucile Silverman 1927 was the first time Adolph Silverman set foot in Dupree, having come here with his brother, Harry Silverman, who had come to purchase a business. The deal was closed and Harry became the owner of a general merchandise store which he purchased from MKT, a chain store. Adolph stayed on a short while to help Harry get set up and then he returned to Tolstoy where he was managing a store, also a part of MKT. In 1929 he moved to Roscoe where he had accepted a position in Redman's Cash Store. He stayed there until 1931. It was there where he met Lucile. In 1931 he moved to Leola and then back to Dupree for a short time in 1932. From Dupree he went to Hague, North Dakota. He remained there until he and Lucile were married in 1934. We blew into Dupree (literally) in one of the infamous dust storms of the 30's. To be exact, May 20, 1934. We were lucky during the dark days of the depression. Jobs were hard to come by -- but we had a job! We went to work for Adolph's brother, Harry, who owned the Leader Store, a general merchandise store, as clerks. Both of us received a combined salary of $65.00 per month. The hours then were not 8 hour days, 40 hour weeks. The store opened at 6:00 a.m. and closing time ran anytime from 8:00 p.m. to midnight, sometimes even later. Saturday nights were special. Everyone came to town to shop and visit. Benches were provided for the ladies, and the men usually spent their leisure time in the pool hall. Oftentimes we had to go to the pool hall and round up the husbands so we could close up. In 1935, Adolph left the store and started selling used cars from the building known as the Chas. Swift Implement, which was located just across the street south from where the A.S.C.S. office is now located. Adolph would hitchhike into Minneapolis, buy a car or two and drive one back, often towing a second car. Oftentimes, these cars couldn't make it and had to be abandoned. Even today, a few derelict cars are still waiting for him someplace in Minnesota. In 1938, he entered into a new car dealership with Severin Hegre, selling Dodge and Plymouth cars. This partnership lasted until 1939. Adolph then opened a full service garage in the Broberg building owned by Glen Main. This was located where the City Hall still stands. In addition to Dodge and Plymouth, he also sold Chrysler cars. In 1947, he purchased the building belonging to Al Tibke on the north end of Main Street, formerly known as the Al C. Tibke Implement Company, and moved his garage to that location. This was a frame building, but later a cement block addition was added. He then took on the John Deere Machinery Agency plus Jeep. We did business at this location until 1958 when we moved into the International Harvester building formerly owned by Severin Hegre. We enjoyed business there until 1974, when our business was destroyed by fire. We were at loose ends when this happened and a "do nothing" retirement was not for us, so Adolph started an antique business which he is actively engaged in now. Lucile has become a "Home Management Specialist", housewife to you, and is thoroughly enjoying her leisure time. [photo - Lucile and Adolph Silverman] FRANCES MACA SISTER MARY RACHEL, O.S,B. Frances Maca went to school in Dupree where she lived with her father. Jake Maca, who was well known for his cabinet making and his musical abilities. This is her story, written by Eileen McGurn in 1978 and edited for this publication with her permission. It's a long way from the tiny village of Burno, Moravia to Dupree, South Dakota. But it was in this small western community that a timid, lonely, frightened young girl - 10 year old Frances Maca - found a new kind of friendliness and caring which she had never expected to find among "foreigners in a strange land." "The many new friends I found in Dupree were so kind and wonderful to me," says Sr. Mary Rachel, O.S.B. The story of the traumatic early years in the life of this little Bohemian girl is perhaps best told in Sister's own words. "I was born in Moravia on February 28, 1902. My parents, Jacob and Theresa Maca, had been married very young and when my mother died at age 27, she left four children. I was the second youngest, 1%, and the baby, Ann, only a few months old. "Two weeks after my mother's death, my only brother, Jacob, also died. Two or three months later, baby Ann died. The awful weight of this sorrow fell so heavily on my father that what faith he had was crushed. He turned against God, whom he thought 'unjust'. My father hurriedly entered into a second marriage with a woman he did not love. It didn't work out. After a few years there was a church separation and, finally, a divorce from his second wife. "My father then left Emily and me with our grandparents while he went to America to find 'a new life.' In Chicago, he met and married his third wife, bought a house in Oak Park, and then in 1910 sent for us - his two daughters. "I was in the fourth grade when we moved to Dupree where my father and our Oak Park neighbors had decided to try their luck at homesteading. Our neighbors quickly became lonesome for Chicago, homesteaded only long enough to prove up - then left." Sister Rachel recalls "how very happy" she was that her father and stepmother also "liked South Dakota,'' deciding to remain in Dupree. Emily had not come west, but after several years health problems "forced her to move to Dupree." It was discovered she had a "touch of TB." "South Dakota's clean air, fresh milk and outdoor life soon cured Emily," Sister Rachel said, "but she still had no desire to continue her formal education." She was married at 18. Married out of the Church with the promise to have the marriage blessed, Emily's marriage quickly became "an unhappy one" when that promise was not kept. Again her health broke. She left her husband and brought her only child, a son (Jack) home to live with the Maca family. Frances studied and eventually realized her dream to become a nun and a nurse, even though this was delayed by the death of her sister Emily and helping to care for her nephew, Jack. Having graduated from St. John's Nursing School in 1932, Frances then entered St. Martin's and made her final vows in 1940. As Sister Mary Rachel, she served as supervisor at hospitals in Deadwood and Hot Springs until she became ill with arthritis in 1944. For 10 years she struggled with the painful disease and convalesced through the help of other sisters. Finally, she recovered to nearly normal health and has since worked at St. Martin's. Her father had "sold out" in Dupree and returned to Chicago after her stepmother's death in 1943. But, said Sister, he missed the west and soon returned to South Dakota. In 1947, he came to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital where Sister was stationed, for minor surgery. While there he helped the sisters with numerous carpentry tasks around the hospital before returning to Dupree. Her father then moved to Hot Springs and found employment and also associated more closely with the sisters, eventually finding his way back into the Church before his death in 1960, at the age of 85. Sister Rachel still resides at St. Martin's Priory in Rapid City where she finds loving friends and the inner peace and tranquility given her in this country of pine covered hills. [photo - Sr. Mary Rachel, O. S. B.] SAM SHOT AT Sam Shot At was born in northwestern South Dakota, at his parents' camp north of the Black Hills, in October, 1859. His Indian name was Ecekutepi, a literal translation of which is "the only one shot at". This name was given to him by his father because at a battle Sam's father was in the front and the main mark that the enemy shot at, and the name was given in memory of that incident. In 1866 Sam was married to Esther Pretty Woman at Cheyenne Agency, South Dakota, by Reverend Edward Ashley, to which union there were born seven children, all of whom died when young, except Joseph Shot At, who was born in March, 1904. On December 12, 1890, he enlisted in the U.S. Indian Scouts at Fort Meade, serving until March 17, 1891, a period of three months, when he was honorably discharged, with others, by virtue of a military order from the War Department. In 1891 Sam was allotted land about one mile southwest of Dupree and continued to live there, farming and raising stock, until his death. Esther died in February, 1923 and Sam never remarried. Sam served for a time as an Indian police. In 1924 Sam was granted a pension as an Indian Scout by the U.S. Government of $50 a month, which he drew monthly until his death. Sam was the first human being County Judge T. R. Nelson met in Ziebach County when he made his first trip here in 1910. Sam was well and favorably known at Dupree and the surrounding country. He always had a cheerful disposition and enjoyed visiting with the white people, though he only learned to speak a little English. Sam died on June 29, 1936, of old age, aged 77 years. BERT F. SMITH Bert F. Smith came to Dupree in August, 1910 before the railroad. He came overland by mule team from Timber Lake, a very rainy, muddy trip. Mr. Smith had the job of building the F. R. Barnes store in Dupree and also worked on several other business places that were built. In the spring of 1911 he built the first building in the town of Redelm--a store for himself. He also was the postmaster in Redelm and took as his partner in the store, Earl Vance. Mr. Smith made a flagpole for the occasion of the first Old Settler's Picnic that was held in the Adams grove near Redelm. The Smith family moved to St. Paul in 1924 where Mr. Smith continued his work as a carpenter until the last few years when he worked in the office as a clerk for the Builders Engineering Company. CLARENCE SMITH HISTORY Born in Alpena, Michigan, March 17, 1888, Clarence Smith left his home at the age of 17 to seek adventure in western South Dakota. Via the old Bismarck trail he came to the Belle Fourche area in 1905. Clarence went to work for M. J. Smiley, a rancher who ran large bands of sheep. Charlotte Cizek was born in Chicago on December 25, 1895. In the spring of 1912 she came to Ziebach County with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Cizek. The Cizek's had homesteaded about 12 miles west of Isabel and this became Charlotte's home. In an account of the homestead days, Clarence wrote: "With the building of Orman dam, the country to the north and east of Belle Fourche was settling up fast and 'We', as M. J. Smiley always spoke of his outfit, were going to find some new range. He was running about 30,000 head of sheep at the time. The summer of 1910, we sheared over 100,000 head at the Smiley pens on Willow Creek, all with blades. The next March found us, the Tidball brothers (Denver, Jim and Vol), George Williams, Oliver Jewett, Art Smiley and myself on the reservation. That summer of 1911 we sheared on Firesteel Creek, north of Isabel. On July 4th and 5th of that same year, Isabel had a big celebration which was worth attending. No rodeo in those days, but there was a hardy bunch around. I wonder how many remember when Fay Yeager's house caught on fire and we ran over Walt Campman's leg with the two wheel hose cart and broke it. The cart was pulled by hand at that time. And then there was the homesteader whose wife died and he said 'I would rather have lost the best milk cow on the place and that's the truth!' Also in the spring of 1911, we had green grass, in May it was brown. Then the prairie fires started. We fought prairie fires nearly everyday till midsummer when we finally got some rain. Most people at that time didn't think the railroad would stop at Isabel, but would go on and tap the Slim Butte country, and that the Faith branch would go on to the Black Hills. In 1912 I met a little black haired girl who was to become my wife. Her name was Charlotte Cizek. By 1915 we decided to get married, so I filed on a homestead about 20 miles southwest of Isabel on Sophia Creek. There wasn't another homestead for miles in any direction, which made it hard for me to find the land I wanted. While riding during the daytime, I was always on the lookout for a cornerstone. One night after I had gone to bed, I remember the last thing I thought of was that I wished I could find a cornerstone, and in the morning when I rolled up my bed, right there at the foot was a cornerstone. Although it was a mile north of the land I wanted, I had at last something to work from. I would take my compass and pick out something that was straight south and more than a mile away, ride straight toward it, count my horse's steps until I thought we had gone a mile, then ride in circles, each one getting larger till we found the corner. We did the same thing east and west until we found all the corners. I also had a map of the reservation that showed the creeks where they crossed section lines, which helped a lot." Clarence and Charlotte were married in Isabel in April, 1916 and their first home was a sheep wagon on Clarence's homestead. In a few years they had built a beautiful ranch on Sophia Creek. This was their home until 1948 when they sold the ranch to Bud Young. Clarence passed away in April, 1976 and Charlotte still resides at Faith, South Dakota. While the Smiths never had any children, many young people can remember all the good times that were to be had at their ranch. I recall one time in the early thirties we went to the Smith ranch approximately six weeks after a devastating hailstorm had stripped all the trees. Clarence took us down in a bend in Sophia Creek and found enough ice still imbedded in the bank to make a freezer of homemade ice cream. [photo - Clarence Smith homestead] [photo - Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Smith in 1941] [photo - Clarence Smith in 1906] VINCENT J. and JESSIE (CASE) SMITH Vincent J., known as V. J., Smith of Wisconsin, married Jessie Case in Blair, Nebraska in the late 1880's. One son, Zenos B. Smith, was born Janury 17, 1890 in Memphis, Tennesee. Mr. Smith worked in construction with the railroad company and after living in various places moved to a homestead south and west of Redelm, South Dakota, in 1910. Jessie's parents were Daniel Watson Case of New York state and Sarah Ann Beales, born in England who came with her family to America in the 1840's, locating in Illinois. They moved to Calhoun, Nebraska in 1856. Daniel died in 1881. Sarah Case married Samuel G. Haller and took up a claim near Redelm about the same year the Smith's homesteaded, but later moved to Blair, Nebraska. V. J. and Jessie farmed and ranched in the Redelm community until Mr. Smith passed away in 1938. They were on a vacation trip visiting his people in Michigan and returned to Blair, Nebraska, where Mr. Smith died of a heart attack. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were true pioneers and very loyal to the west river country. They were active in church and community affairs and had large community gatherings at their home on Sundays and holidays. Mrs. Smith was known for her dainty, fancy cakes and entertaining. Some of the people that were neighbors and attended these affairs were -- Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Rosenthal, Mr. and Mrs. K. J. Nelson, Mr. and Mrs. Harold V. Nielsen, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Powers, Mr. and Mrs. O. C. Hanson, Mr. and Mrs. S. G. Haller, Mr. and Mrs. John Lewis, Bert Smith, L. O. Adams family, Oscar Hanson and family, E. G. Harmon and family, Albert Peck family, Otto Minkner and family, H. M. Spilman and family, Albert Burdick family, B. R. Cushing and family (parents of Reverend Sam Cushing), Earl Moore family, Wilbur Vance family, Dave Cratty family, Emily Rolfson, Roy Dougherty, W. S. Russell family, Charles Rousberry, Albert Kirkeberg and John Buck families. Richard Nixon congratulates Mrs. V. J. Smith, 1964, Watertown, South Dakota. Mrs. Smith was a member of the Saint Phillips Guild of Dupree and entertained the group at her home in October of 1926 and members of the Redelm Missionary Circle met with them. From Dupree those present were Mesdames G. A. McGarraugh, T. R. Nelson, Fred Frink, L. W. Bogue, J. C. Ogard, W. A. Ogard, Stanley Pugh, Bill Stevens, T. A. Krikac, J. J. Pollard, Kenneth Brush, Verdo Rinehart, Mary Miracle, Hattie Brush and Effie Leake. All who knew her knew she was a most charming hostess. In 1940, Mrs. Smith moved to Watertown, South Dakota. She was very active and kept busy and did a lot of traveling. Dupree held its Golden Jubilee in 1960 and Mrs. Smith was chosen Jubilee Queen at the age of 93 years. Mr. James Hersey was Jubilee King at the age of 84. Jessie Case Smith died June 8, 1965 at Watertown, South Dakota, age 98 years, and is buried in Ft. Calhoun, Nebraska. Son Zenos has three children: Alsyne Smith Jensen; Vinson Smith; and Gwenevere Smith Williams. Mrs. Smith had three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren at the time of her death. [photo - First sod house of V. J. Smith on homestead near Redelm, 1910] [photo - Richard Nixon congratulates Mrs. V. J. Smith, 1964. Watertown, South Dakota] [photo - Dupree Golden Jubilee, 1960. King James Hersey and Queen Mrs. V. J. Smith] WALTER J. SMITH FAMILY by Walter J. Smith In the fall of 1916, my brother and I decided that we would like some homestead land. In Sioux City, the agent tried to discourage us, telling us that where we were going, there were drifts 20 feet high; it was 30 degrees below zero; one blizzard after another and some of those towns on branch lines hadn't had a train for a month. On to McIntosh, and we were really blocked there, engines off the track and lying on their sides with boxcars snowed under, with loads of cattle in them. Cars half covered with snow and still 200 and 30" below weather. We were seeing South Dakota at its worst. They were hiring men to shovel snow, at 35 cents an hour, double time if you worked at night, and we hired out. I was surprised to find that I could get out in that cold weather and not freeze, so we stayed with it for several weeks. They hired me one night, but they took us out in a sled three miles where some stock cars were about snowed under. They said there was a stove there; one could get in and warm up. At twelve they were to send a man out after us. There was nothing to burn, and no one came for us, so we had to shovel or freeze. We walked back to town at daylight. Back to Mobridge we went, and again we bucked snow on the branch line to Lantry. One of my harrowing experiences was the time when I was going over to farm a piece of land which I had rented. There was an old shack where I was to spend the night, and I found an old cot which I used as a bed. I put some straw on top of it and added a quilt and was ready for the night. I was tired so I went to bed early. I heard plenty of mice running around, but I went to sleep. Something woke me up, and I heard something like a snake crawling across the foot of my bed - it made a noise in the straw. I raised up to light the lamp and then I heard that buzzing noise. My hair stood on end, foil knew it was a rattlesnake. I had never heard that sound before, and I will never forget it. Luckily the snake crawled off the bed into a corner of the room and was coiled and real to fight. A loose board nearby came in hand and I quickly used it. That was one night I did not sleep too well. We had a lot of fun as well as hard work the county in the homestead days. Then can the tractor with the changing times, the prairies were being broken up, and one would he tractors night and day. Some good crops we raised. The depression came along, WF days, the drought years, dust storms, grasshoppers, hail, floods, and yes, blizzards, and some big prairie fires. I went through it all was a South Dakotan, and I had learned adapt myself to the conditions I found myself in. Neighbors began to leave, for they could not make it on two quarters of land, or even section. Times changed again, people began build up herds of cattle. Land was cheap, ant purchased more land to build up my ranch besides leasing other land. In 1957, I sold my spread to Mike Keller. But I like to go back the prairie once in a while. W. E. SMOCK FAMILY Mr. Smock was a pioneer of the west river country, having arrived in Dupree in September, 1910 where he homesteaded 5 miles south east of Dupree. There he and Mrs. Smock lived until they moved to the west coast during World War II. As a pioneer, Mr. Smock did his part in the development of the country around Ziebach County, as he purchased large steam plowing and threshing outfit and farmed on an extended scale. He also was the house moving business besides caring for sizeable herd of cattle. He built a large two room sod house where the family lived 6 years. He and his nephew dug a well with pick and spade to a depth of 60 feet. He farmed large acreage, putting in his crop with his steam plow outfit. One year he threshed for one week on his own place, and it kept 32 men busy to care for the crop. One man had to haul coal with his team all the time, another hauled water in a large water tank continually. For or five men with teams hauled the grain to Dupree, five miles away. A team could only make two trips a day with a fifty bushel load. Several men were hauling grain to the threshing rig and others were busy with the machine. Mrs. Smock and a neighbor cooked for the big crew. After the days work was over, the men slept in the barn loft so that they would be on hand at dawn to start the work all over again. He was a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge and the Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Smock had five children: Arthur McClellan, Donald Clifton, Clarence Herbert, Alma Ruth, and Esther Mae. Mrs. Smock was also a member of the Episcopal Church and the Rebekah Lodge. Only Esther survives. [photo - This picture was taken at the Smock place in 1937. Left to right: Mr. and Mrs. Carl Griffith, Mrs. Maca, Mr. Birkeland, Mr. Greenhill, Mrs. Birkeland, Mrs. Marple, Jake Maca, Mr. and Mrs. Smock and Alfred Peterson. Irene Marple in front, and girl kneeling is Esther Smock] SMOKEY WOMAN Esther, Smokey Woman, was a spinster who lived in Cherry Creek. She made a living all by herself. She drove her buggy and was always busy tanning hides and beading. She owned a lot of sorrel and paint horses. It was rumored that Smokey Woman saw the Custer Battle when she was a girl of sixteen years. Harold Shunk interviewed her and with the aid of an interpreter, got a vivid description of the battle which is, in part, as follows: "The scouts were out looking and when they gave word that the enemy was coming, the people were moved back on the hill. Everyone was hurrying. She said as she watched the soldiers come closer she saw that they were riding those tall horses that took long gaits and moved such great lengths. The Indians had little 'scooter horses' that went like this, (motion) -- fast, but they were little. Soon there was a lot of dust and shooting and then all at once everything was quiet." From her description of only what she saw, Mr. Shunk was satisfied that Smokey Woman had indeed seen the battle. She had a log house on Eagle Chasing Bottom and lived by herself. As Smokey Woman got older, her neighbors hated to see her living out there alone, but the only ones she would live with in Cherry Creek Station were Elizabeth Stump and Dan Eagle Chasing. She lost her eyesight and they kept a rope tied from the house to the toilet, so she could take care of herself. She always talked about Crazy Horse and they thought she might have been his sister. She died in the 1930's and is buried in the Congregational Cemetery at Cherry Creek. [photo - Smokey Woman] SOLMONSON FAMILY Matilda Josephine Solmonson was born in Sweden on August 15, 1872. As a young girl she came to America, making her home in Omaha, Nebraska. She was married to Edward Solmonson in 1901. In 1912 they took a government claim in Ziebach County, living south of Dupree. They had one daughter, Ruth, who taught both grade and high school for many years in the Dupree area, Ridgeview and Eagle Butte and later in Kelso, Washington where they moved sometime after 1948. Edward Solmonson passed away in January, 1936, and "Tillie" died September 1, 1949. Ruth continued to live in Washington teaching school until her death. The two quarters of land on which they homesteaded in Ziebach County was willed to the Salvation Army. It was sold and Clint Farlee is the present owner. CLAUDE and JACKIE (BENNETT) SPEKER Claude is the second son of Milton G. (Butch) and Lena F. Speker. He has a twin sister, Claudette Stapert, their home is north of Lantry. Jackie is the fifth child of Charles E. (Chuck) and Lydia Elizabeth (Shorty) Bennett. her home was on the ranch south of Dupree. Jackie and Claude were married May 31, 1958. They lived the life of Gypsies the first twenty years as they moved twenty times. These were very interesting years. The most memorable move was in 1967 when they lived in the state of Missouri. During seven years there, Claude worked with turkeys, pigs and in a boat factory. In 1974, they moved back to Lantry. After the death of Chuck Bennett the next year, they moved into his house in Dupree where they remain. Claude works at city maintenance, Jackie is a teacher's aide in school. Their six children are: Brad, twenty-two, school janitor; Milton, twenty-one, in the army; Elizabeth Ann (Beth), twenty, English major in college; Kelly Gene, fifteen, sophomore; Tracy Alien, twelve, sixth grade; and Claudine Faye, ten years old and a piano player. Hopefully, music will fulfill her life as it did for Grandpa Chuck for so many years. GUSTAVE A. SPEKER by Milton Speker Gustave A. Speker was a pioneer of the west river country, having arrived in Lantry in 1910. He was born in Germany and came to America with his parents as a small child. They settled in Watertown, Wisconsin, later moving to Dorchester, Iowa, where he met and married Mary Wenig on April 3, 1888. They later moved to Caledonia, Minnesota. Gustave A. Speker came to Lantry South Dakota and homesteaded three miles north of Lantry on the place where his son, Milton, now lives. In 1911, he moved his family by emigrant car to Lantry. He was a farmer and rancher and farmed his land with horses and put in long hours. The first summer they were here, Mrs. Speker contracted typhoid fever due to poor drinking water and passed away, leaving three boys and five girls. Milton was only three years old at the time. The other children were: Paul, now deceased; Selma, now deceased; Lilly, now deceased; Charlotte, living at Boise, Idaho; Luella, now deceased. Paul never married. Selma married Arleigh McLellan. Lilly married Lester Brown. Charlotte better known as Lottie, married Lewis McDaniel. Luella married Jack Potter. Adeline or Elmer never married and Milton is married to Lena Stambach and lives on the home place yet. They have four children: Gary Speker and Claudette Stapert of Lantry; Claude of Dupree; and Karen Boehrs of Agoura, California. Two of Selma's boys and their families live in Ziebach County at the present time -- Owen and Archie McLellan. SPIES FAMILY written by Mary Spies Barkhousen William Spies, an Attorney-at-Law in Waterloo, Iowa, traveled on the train and brought prospective settlers to South Dakota. He liked the country and foresaw a great future for the pioneers in this new frontier on the plains. In 1911, he took out a claim south of Dupree, South Dakota. On June 25, 1912 he married Louisa Bessie Holaday, an elocutionist and librarian. They made their home on the claim. William Siggelkow, his brother-in-law, who had a claim north of Dupree, built their frame house surrounded by a sod wall. The wall was removed several years later. William Spies was elected the second County Judge of Ziebach County on November 30, 1912 and served 20 years. He also served 4 years as county treasurer of Ziebach County (January 1, 1933 to January 1, 1937). William and Bessie Spies were the parents of Mary, Varel and Lorraine. Their children attended both grade and high school in Dupree. Mary and Varel graduated from Dupree High School. Lorraine graduated from Riverside High School in Riverside, California. Varel also attended the Black Hills T~achers College in Spearfish, South Dakota. Mary was employed in the Ziebach County Treasurer's office for 3 L/z years. In August of 1937, the Spies family had a public sale and moved to St. Helena, California. During World War II, William Spies and family, except for Mary, lived in Richmond, California and worked in the shipyards in Richmond. William Spies, while employed at Shipyard No. 2, became ill and passed away. He was buried at the Sunset View Cemetery in Berkeley, California. Bessie Spies was employed as a filing clerk at Shipyard No. 4. Varel Spies was employed as a machinist at Shipyard No. 1. Lorraine Spies was employed as a draftsman at Shipyard No. 2. While working at the shipyard, Lorraine married Frank Holbrook, a carpenter at the shipyard. Later they moved to Montrose, Pennsylvania. They have 5 children: William (Bill, born in Richmond, California), Dennis, Neal, Donna and Duane. Varel Spies now lives in Ceres, California. He has been a member of the Labor Union for 30 years, and plans to retire soon. Mary Spies married Leonard Lee Barkhousen on January 27, 1941 and they were, divorced February 15, 1966. They have two sons, Leonard Lee Jr. and Wayne Dean. Their sons own and operate Barkhousen Brothers (Exxon) service station in Turlock, and the Barkhousen Country Store in Newman, California. Mary Spies worked for Armour and Company in Turlock for 24 years and now is retired. Some of the things I remember were my mother, Bessie Spies, putting a light in the front window when the weather was stormy. If anyone was lost, it would help them find their way. Ice and snow were usually plentiful during the winter, so we would make plenty of homemade ice cream in our hand-turned ice cream freezer. When we ate the delicious ice cream, we would sit close to the heater to keep warm. Sometimes we would make a small amount of ice cream, put it in a covered bowl and store it ia a snowbank to freeze. Our neighbor, Gene Smock, cut blocks of ice and stored them in his ice house for summer use. My father would buy 25 or 50 pounds of ice from him and we would enjoy some good homemade ice cream. When William and Bessie Spies passed away, their property in Ziebach County was inherited by Mary Spies Barkhousen, Varel Spies and Lorraine Spies Holbrook. We still own the property and lease it to William Collins of Dupree, South Dakota. [photo - Sod house taken in 2922. Still on the farm, used as a granary. Mary Holaday, Bessie Spies and Will Spies] [photo - Thomas R. Nelson and William Spies, both Attorneys, in 1911] [photo - William Spies, County Judge, in front of his office, 1912] EDWARD H. SPURLING Ed Spurling was a veteran of the Spanish-American War. He had also seen action on the Philippine Islands during that war. He came to Pierre, South Dakota in 1881 from his birthplace of Coming, Iowa. He was born February 9, 1877. He had a ranch south of the Cheyenne River, just across from the mouth of Cherry Creek. This site was originally selected by Captain Leslie who camped there with U.S. troops in 1890. They had come to quell an uprising of the Sioux. William Griffiths was the owner who sold to Ed in 1901. Ed became a post trader and a post office named Leslie was established. He was also the postmaster. Later that post office was moved about eight miles, up on Robb's Flat southeast of Cherry Creek and was in the G. I. Towne residence. Ed started a store at Cherry Creek in 1904, and was postmaster there in addition to his ranch work. Mail was delivered three times a week from Midland, which meant the mail had to be taken across the Cheyenne River by whatever means could be managed; across ice in winter, by horseback, or in times of high water, by boat. Mel Nesheim carried mail on that route which William Griffiths held by bid. Mr. Griffiths established a ranch a couple of miles east of the Spurling ranch. Ed Spurling and his wife had three children, Elizabeth (Mrs. Edward Bucholtz), William C. Spurling and Edwin B. Spurling. He left Cherry Creek in 1936 and worked at the Alex Johnson Hotel in Rapid City. He married Mae Hudson, the widow of Henry Hudson, in 1947. He passed away in 1955 at the age of 78 years. IRA SPURLING by Jackie Birkeland Ira Spurling, a man of small stature, and the brother of Ed Spurling, managed the Cherry Creek store in the 1920's. His wife and three daughters, Virginia, Ruth and Doris, lived there also, but moved to Pierre for the school years. Virginia taught the Jeffries School at the L/Y Ranch in 1925-26. Ira was quick of speech and always willing to please. My mother had repeatedly had toothpicks on the shopping list for the store. They remained out of stock until she appeared in person and asked Ira for some No. 50 white thread. She chuckled when he answered, "No, no, we don't have any of that -- but we do have some toothpicks!" The living quarters were connected to the store and customers came at any time, night or on Sunday. We were visiting the family on a Sunday and I can remember Ira rushing out to answer a knock on the door and calling out to the would-be customer, "All closed up, all closed up tighter than a jug; nothing to sell but gas”! HARRY and MARIAN STAMBACH written by Marian Stambach I moved with my folks from Stirum, North Dakota, in 1918. I was two years old. I attended country schools. My first year was at the Barr School, now known as the Rosene School. And then we moved to our grandfather's homestead, and I attended the Soliday School for seven years, graduating from the eighth grade. I went through the ninth grade at Rosene School. The Soliday School was not only a school, but a church and a Sunday School for a number of years. My younger brothers and sisters and I were baptized there by Reverend Monasmith. Years later our son, Freddie, was baptized there by Reverend Norman Rice. The late Arleigh McLellan was his godfather. After school I worked at various homes and farms, and in the depression of the 30's I worked on an N.Y.A. project, sewing, typing and assisting in various offices in the Dupree Courthouse. On June 2, 1938 I married Harry Stambach, son of Fred and Swin (Danner) Stambach. Harry was born at Frankfurt, South Dakota and moved with his folks to Lantry, South Dakota in 1928. Harry and I have one son and three daughters. We lived around Lantry for 17 years. Harry did trucking and farming. In 1955 we moved to Dupree, 1/4 mile south of the schoolhouse on a farm, as Harry was working for Ziebach County road construction, and to send our children to school. Harry worked for Ziebach County for 10 years, then worked for the State of South Dakota Department of Highways for 16 years. We are retired now (or should I say tired). Our four children are all graduates of Dupree High School. Our son, Fred, married Gail Seymour and they have five children, two girls and three boys. Fred works for Ziebach County road construction and farms and ranches, so he is a busy man. Darlene married Bill Marple and they have three daughters. Their only son, Duane, was a victim of muscular dystrophy and passed away at the age of 15. They are farmers and ranchers and reside seven miles southwest of Dupree. Marlene married Lawrence Woodward, Jr. and they have three children, one boy and two girls. They are farmers and ranchers and reside one mile northeast of Dupree. Micki, our youngest, married Glen Haines and they have one son and two daughters. Glen is in the trucking business and they reside at Faith, South Dakota. Harry and I have 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, both boys. [photo - Marian and Harry Stambach] [photo - Fred, Darlene, Marlene, Micki, Marian and Harry Stambach] THE STANDISH FAMILY On March 19, 1911, Delmar Standish, also known as D.C., arrived in Isabel, South Dakota with an immigrant car in which he brought three horses, farm machinery and household goods. He came from Marengo, Illinois where he was born and raised. On April 23, his wife, Fanny, and three children joined him, and they lived at the Isabel Stockyards for a while until they could file on a homestead. Fanny Knapp Standish was born in Woodstock, Illinois. After obtaining her education she taught school there until she married Delmar, and they lived on a farm near Marengo for a number of years. Their two oldest children, Marion and Myles were born there. Later they moved to Marengo where Delmar worked for the city. Here a third child, Mildred, was born. After looking around for a desirable homestead, the Standishes filed on a quarter section of land six mles northwest of Isabel. They moved to their new home and lived in a tent oh the "Old Evarts Trail". They hauled water from the Dan Boyle homestead which was over a mile away, and therefore their first project was to dig a well, sixty feet deep and dug by hand. This produced excellent drinking water and was used until the late 40's. They then built a two story house and were moved in by the fall of 1911. During the summer they had planted a garden, but as there was no rain, the seed did not grow. Mr. Standish helped with the building of the Center School, and Marion and Myles started to school that fall with Mrs. Elizabeth Felton as their teacher. During that first winter they were plagued by the longhorned Texas steers owned by the C7 Ranch. There was no grass, and these animals were starving, and they would come to the doors and windows of the homes for a little shelter from the severe cold. Many died in the area and many years later, a favorite pastime was looking for the longhorns and also for buffalo horns. Mrs. Standish organized the first Sunday School in the Center Schoolhouse, and it was attended by the nearby homesteaders. One of the fun times recalled was when the Standishes took their hay rack loaded with neighbors to the headwaters of the Irish Creek. There were a few trees for shade, and they all enjoyed a picnic. There were many other neighborhood get-togethers enjoyed by all. In June of 1913 a baby girl, Marjorie, was born. As there was no doctor available, a neighbor, Mrs. Dimon, helped care for the mother and baby. By this time the family life was fairly well established, and events became routine. As the nearby homesteaders proved up on their land and returned to their former homes, the Standishes bought their property and so enlarged their own farm and pasture land, and they also acquired more livestock. In 1918 Marion attended Northern School at Aberdeen and obtained her teacher's certificate. She taught in the local schools for four years and then married Nathaniel Morris. They had four sons, Marvin, Orlin, Russell and Lyle. For the first ten years of their marriage they lived in Corson County, and in 1932 they moved back to the Standish farm to be nearer to schools and to eventually take over the farm. In the late 20's Myles left home to go to Idaho where he worked in the U.S. Forest Service, first as a smoke chaser and eventually as a forest ranger. In 1932 he married Ruth Cleland, a nurse, from Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. They had one son, Lynn. Mildred and Marjorie attended Center and Kercher schools and Isabel High School. Marjorie attended Black Hills Teachers College in Spearfish and taught school for ten years in the local area and also in the Eagle Butte area, where she met her husband, Thomas Moland. In 1936 Mrs. Standish suffered a major stroke which left her paralyzed. She passed away in July of 1940 and was buried in Marengo, Illinois. Following her death, Mr. Standish and Mildred moved to Sacramento, California. Mr. Standish lived there with Mildred until his death in 1960. He is buried in Citrus Heights, California. Marion and Nathaniel Morris lived in Ziebach County until his death in 1948. Their oldest son, Marvin, passed away in World War II in 1946. His body was returned home and is buried in the Isabel Cemetery. After Nathaniel's death in 1948, Marion and her three sons moved to California, where she lived until her death in April of 1978. Myles and his wife, Ruth, lived in Spokane, Washington until 1945 when they joined the rest of the family in California. Myles worked as a correctional officer at Folsom Prison. He retired in 1966. Ruth passed away in 1964 and Myles in 1976. Their son, Lynn, and his wife, Janelle, and their family live in Covelo, California. During the war years Mildred worked as a mail carrier and then transferred to work for the State of California. She retired in 1968 with 21 years of service. She now resides in Citrus Heights, California. Marjorie traveled with her husband until he was sent overseas in 1944. She then returned to Sacramento to teach kindergarten in the Robla School District and retired from there in 1973 after 39 years of teaching. Her husband, Thomas Moland, returned from the service in 1945 and went into carpenter work. He retired in 1974 as general superintendent of Refnes Construction Company. They now live in Citrus Heights, California. Orlin Morris and his wife, Ruth, live in Carmichael, California. He is employed at Sears Roebuck and Company. They have one daughter, Glenda. Russell Morris and his wife, Donna, live in Sheridan, California. He operated his own trucking company. Donna is employed at McLellan Field. They have six children, LeRoy, Robert, Lyla, Lori, Ronald and Russell Jr. All are married except for Russell Jr., and there are eight grandchildren. Lyle Morris and his wife Janis live in Phoenix, Arizona. Lyle is employed as a supervisor in data programming. They have six children, LaVerne, Yvonne, Mark, Roger, Amy and Heidi. Although the early pioneer years brought many hardships, they also brought many blessings and memories of close friendships. Ziebach County will always be "back home" to our family. BERNARD STAPERT FAMILY Bernard Stapert was born June 3, 1905 at Holland, Michigan. In 1911 he moved to Isabel, South Dakota and farmed and ranched all of his life. Mabel Blattner was born March 25, 1909 at Bridgewater, South Dakota. They were married on June 8, 1939. Mrs. Stapert was active in the Rebekah Lodge, Royal Neighbor Lodge, and the Cloverleaf Extension Club. Mr. Stapert was active in the Odd Fellow Lodge of Dupree. Mrs. Stapert passed away in 1976 and Mr. Stapert in 1978. They were living in Dupree at the time of their death. The Stapert children are: Bonnie Mitchell, Dupree, South Dakota; Ruth Goon, Greenfield, Oklahoma; Dale Stapert, Kirley, South Dakota; Lloyd Stapert, Dupree, South Dakota; and Russell Stapert, Lawrenceville, New Jersey. [photo - Mabel and Bob Stapert] A. J. and GLENDA STARR A. J. Starr, son of Leon and Irene (Fields) Starr, was born at Faith, South Dakota, during the winter of 1952 when the snow was deep and roads impassable. In order to get home after his birth, A. J. and his mom were flown by airplane to within a mile of the ranch where they were met by his dad with horses and hayrack to finish the journey home. The first ten years of A. J.'s life were spent living on a ranch ten miles south of Lantry, South Dakota. He attended the Rosene School until the middle of his 4th grade year. Then his parents moved their family, Leota, Vernon, A. J., and Lester, to a place two miles south of Dupree. Glenda Birkeland was born April 30, 1951 to Russell C. and Susan (Montie) Birkeland at Mobridge, South Dakota. She lived in Dupree and attended all twelve years of school at Dupree. She has three sisters, Julie (Christianson), Kristi (Farlee) and Colette, and three brothers, Jim, Marc and Brett. A. J. and Glenda were married in the summer of 1970. They moved on his parents place where A. J. is engaged in farming and ranching with his father. Glenda has worked as sec retary in the Department of Social Services and is presently a secretary at Dupree High School. Two boys were born to A. J. and Glenda. Brian Dale, ten and Jayde Ryan, age five. LEO STARR Francis Marion Starr was born November 8, 1897 at Millard, Missouri. At an early age he moved to Oklahoma and attended school. He was involved in World War I and following his discharge from the army, April 1, 1919, he became a 1st Degree Mason, and also joined his friend, Fletch Hensley, in a venture to South Dakota where they eventually formed a ranching partnership in Ziebach County. Leo received his 2nd Degree Masonry in Dupree Lodge #171 in 1919 and his 3rd Degree in Dupree in 1929 and Consistory at Aberdeen, South Dakota. In 1930 he joined the Shriners. He served as Master of the Dupree Lodge #171 in 1957. Leo married Zetah Davis on March 26, 1957. He received a 50 year Masonic membership pin in 1971. He passed away August 3,, 1971 at Deadwood, South Dakota. LEON and IRENE STARR by Irene Starr Leon Kenneth Starr, son of Charles William and Mabel Mary (Bailey) Starr was born January 3, 1919 at Mooreland, Oklahoma. He was the eldest child of a family of nine. He attended grade school in a rural school known as Hawkeye. His father passed away when he was only 15 years of age, so a lot of his younger years were spent helping as breadwinner for the family. While attending high school he drove a school bus from the area where he lived to the city of Mooreland. During the summer months he worked in a feed store in Mooreland and also helped with the farm work at home, so much responsibility was placed upon him at an early age. Irene Lois Fields was born February 12, 1923 at Curtis, Oklahoma. My parents were Ralph Washington and Eva Lane (Weiszbrod) Fields. We lived on a farm and ranch 2 1/2 miles from Curtis, Oklahoma where I attended grade school. My mother drove the family car for several years delivering the neighborhood children to grade school until the school buses came into the picture. I received my high school education in the Mooreland High School, working as secretary to the principal on the NYC program. The families of Starr-Fields were joined together when Leon and I were married on April 17, 1941 at Woodward, Oklahoma. Our first child, Leota, was born in Woodward on August 14, 1942. During the years we were in Oklahoma we attempted to get a start in farming and ranching but mostly depending upon the good old faithful milk cows to support us. In November, 1946, we decided to venture out of Oklahoma, as land was hard to come by, so we found ourselves settling on a farm and ranch 8 miles south of Lantry, South Dakota, bought from Jim and Dorothy Nielsen. Added to this was a few quarters of county and school land. It seems we couldn't "shake" the milk cow business, so our livelihood still consisted of such, along with farming, ranching and gardening. It was pretty hard being without electricity and phones, but we patiently waited until both finally came. The neighborhood men banded together and erected the telephone system. Three sons were born while living on this farm -- Vernon, A. J. and Lester. In November 1961 we purchased the Emil Hertel property 2 1/2 miles southwest of Dupree, moving on account of school purposes. Leon worked for two years as supervisor of the Title V program on the Cheyenne Reservation. We were both active in 4-H and saddle club activities with the children, serving as assistant leaders for several years. Leon is still active in 4-H Club and other rodeo activities. I was active in the Young Homemakers Extension Club at Lantry until we moved to the Dupree area. Now I try to keep busy with church activities, and my hobbies are crocheting and quilting. All our children have married and raised families. Leota (deceased) married Bruce Birkeland and three children were born to them: Sherrie, Dean and Rhea. Vernon married Sue Miller and four children were born to them: Lisa, Lori, Jess and Duke. A. J. married Glenda Birkeland and they have 2 sons: Brian and Jayde. Lester married Debra Dunbar and they have 2 daughters: Vicky Sue and Lindy. Upon the high school graduation of granddaughter Sherrie, a 3 generation incident just took place. I was salutatorian of my class (1940), Leota was salutatorian of her class (1960), and Sherrie was salutatorian of her class (1981). [photo - Snow in the spring of 1950 on the Starr ranch] [photo - The Starr family: Leota, Irene and Leon in back. A. J., Lester and Vernon in front] ALBERT and ELIZABETH STEEN Albert Steen was born in Dakota Territory in 1883. His wife, Elizabeth "Lizzie", was born in Iowa. They met in Huron, South Dakota where he was a fireman for the railroad. In 1910 he homesteaded on land about fifteen miles south of Faith, near the Meade County line. He continued to work for the railroad until 1913 when he and Elizabeth were married and moved to his claim. They lived there the rest of his life. He passed away in 1969. Steen's had five children, Charles, Eugene, Lawrence and Albert, Jr. One child died in infancy. All of the boys attended the Bachman rural school. In 1937 when the federal government was cost-sharing the building of stock water dams, Albert added surveying to his ranch work. He staked out dams in Ziebach County from 1937 to 1952, when Slim Glass took over his territory. In June of 1963 the Steen's celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary with a barbeque at their ranch. The huge crowd in attendance at this gala affair testified to the affection and respect felt for this friendly pioneer couple by their many friends and neighbors. Lizzie moved to Faith in 1970 where she continues to live an active life. Charles served in the European theatre during World War II. He returned in 1945. He and his wife, Verna (Delker), ranched southeast of his parents home near Red Scaffold. They built a new home in Faith where they are now retired. Eugene also ranched for many years. He moved on the Jess Overacker place east of his parents ranch in 1946. He married Helen Cooper of Belie Fourche. They moved to a ranch near Rapid City where he died of cancer November 11, 1978. Lawrence married Florence McGuire. They ranched near Faith, South Dakota for several years. They presently live in Rapid City, where they are engaged in bee-keeping. They celebrated their fortieth wedding anniversary in 1981. Albert Jr. married Lila Knight and they live at the ranch home of his parents. MATHEW and BRIDGET STEPHENSON by Elizabeth Till Mathew was born at Niagara Falls, New York in 1854. Bridget O'Brien was born in Lincoln, Illinois in 1870. She moved with her parents, three brothers, and three sisters to their farm in Minnesota. She moved to Jasper, Minnesota, where she met Mathew Stephenson. To this union two sons and two daughters were born, one son dying in infancy. In 1910, the family moved to Bowman, North Dakota, where they lived for a year. Mother, Matt, Margaret and I came to Dupree on April 10, 1911. There was no depot so we were put off at the Hersey crossing west of town. A man met us with a kerosene lantern and we walked to the hotel. There were many in the group and it was dark, windy and dirt blowing. The next morning, while many peo pie were sitting in the waiting room, Mr. Maupin (I think) asked, "Who can cook?" Mother got the job and she spent three weeks helping until Dad came. Dad came down from Bismarck, North Dakota with our team (Pete and Tom) and all our valuables were packed in the wagon. It was dry and windy all the way, but not cold. We moved out to where the Serr family lived and while there, we lived in a tent. The tent blew down in a windstorm and there was soot all over our cornbread. Dad said "Eat it children, you will all be Metropolitan singers before the week's out." We ate it, but rather dark, we did have more brown sugar to kill the soot and we didn't get to the Metropolitan either. We drove to our claim to dig a well and build a sod house. The hand-dug well was a good sized hole. Dad would put dirt in a bucket up. It was hard water. We then moved over to the claim and worked on the sod house. The house had a cornerstone and Dad put a tobacco box with our names on a slip of paper signed by the family. We lived in the sod house for twenty years and found the corner stone when the wall fell down. Dad worked as a carpenter on the first courthouse, and the first schoolhouse. He also dug and set up toilets in town. He had a trademark for his work. The aristocrat had a red bow tacked on the seat and common people a white bow when finished. Mother made many white bows. We went to school on the U.C.C. lot for lower grades. School during the week and all church services on Sunday. The high school went to school in the Hank Lafferty building, now the liquor store. Mr. Stephenson was killed in an accident on his farm November 7, 1927. He had a team hitched to a wagon and was dragging a small building on the back of the wagon. He had it moved to the location where he wanted to leave it and stopped the horses, wrapping the lines around a wheel of the wagon, and was at the side of the wagon when the horses made a sudden lurch sideways, turning the wagon over on top of him. His wife, who had been with him while he was moving the building, had just gone to the house a short distance away when she heard him scream. Rushing out she found her husband underneath the wagon. She unhitched the horses and tried to lift the wagon off him. Finding it too much, she hurried to a neighbor's for assistance. When the wagon was lifted off, it was found he had died. Later examination showed that he had died instantly from heart trouble, a result of shock. He was well known and highly respected by all. Mrs. Stephenson spent the remaining years of her life living with her children, Mrs. Elizabeth Till in Dupree, Mrs. Margaret Parrott, living near Lemmon, and Matt Stephenson in Spearfish. Bridget passed away December 4th, 1955. Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson are buried at the Dupree Cemetery. WILLIAM and BESSIE STEVENS by Ruth Stevens Hersey William was born on a farm near Ralston, Iowa on December 21, 1874, the second of eight children. His parents came from Stevens Point, Wisconsin in a covered wagon with their eldest child, a newborn girl. While still a young man, William Stevens moved to DeKalb, Illinois where he worked in a barbed wire factory, went to school to learn the trade of a carriage maker, and belonged to the Illinois State Militia for nine years. Stevens' next move was back to Iowa. He went into the blacksmith business with his brother-in-law in Scranton, Iowa. He would later meet and marry my mother, Bessie Lissenden, the daughter of the local veterinarian. I was born in Scranton. We then moved to a wiregrass hay camp near Brainerd. Wiregrass was used to make rugs and my father also served as the camp blacksmith. While living in Brainerd, my sisters, Grace and Ione, were born. In 1909 our parents decided to try farming in South Dakota; we were to move to Geddes where my father had two sisters. Our small home was dismantled and loaded, along with the blacksmith tools, three horses, and our household goods onto an immigrant car. Dad sent for us to come after his arrival in Geddes and we were to live near the small town of on the eastern bank of the Missouri River. We lived near Wheeler ten years, and we number many the happy memories and rich experiences with our cousins, aunt, and uncles. In the fall of 1919 my parents decided they wanted a home of their own, so Dad came to Dupree where he had many friends and acquaintances. He then bought some land from Lillian Lafferty, a mile northwest of Dupree. He came to Dupree on the first train to leave Mobridge following the terrible blizzard in March, 1920. The family soon followed when we received word that he had arrived safely. I still remember the huge snowbanks all along the tracks and animals that had perished which were visible in several places. We always loved our home along the banks of the creek. Much to the joy of the whole family, our brother, Russell, was born in February, 1925. All four of us graduated from Dupree High School. William Stevens died in 1939 and Bessie Stevens passed away in 1967. [photo - Mr. and Mrs. William Stevens] [photo - Ruth, Grace and Ione Stevens] [photo - Russell Stevens] RONALD K. STOUT FAMILY Ronald and Theda Rae Stout came to South Dakota in July of 1947 from Freedom, Oklahoma to look for a ranch. They purchased the ranch of Eddie Presslar and returned in August of the same year to make their home here on that ranch. They lived there, moving to Dupree during the winter months so that the children could attend school, until the fall of 1958 when they left the ranch for health reasons. They bought the Phillips 66 bulk plant from Sidney Syverson in January of 1959. Ronnie's brother Wilbur and family had been in partnership with them on the ranch and when they moved back to Oklahoma, Ronnie bought their half of the ranch. He leased the ranch for a year to Pete Abel, then Bud Day took over the lease and remained on the ranch for several years. A. J. Starr is now leasing the ranch. In January of 1962, Ronnie and Theda bought Roy Lawrence's home on the north side of Highway 212, and have made their home there. In 1961 they bought the Phillips 66 station on Highway 212 and ran it until May of 1973, when they sold it to Gerald Frame. They had built and opened a motel right next to the station in November of 1964. Their son, John, and his wife Sally, managed the motel for a while, then Eugene Herrman and his wife managed it for two years. In April of 1968, their son J. T. and his wife Judy, took over management of the motel and they are managing it at the present time. The Stout's had three children: Carolyn, who married Lonnie Witham of Amherst, South Dakota. They live in Little Rock, Arkansas and have one daughter, Stephanie; James T., married Judy Miller of Dupree, and they have made their home in Dupree. They have three daughters, Rhonda, Rhea and Robin; John married Sally Miller of Dupree and they have four children: Kelly, Kristy, Jeffrey and Sara. John makes his home in Clute, Texas and works for Dow Chemical. [photo - The Stouts, 1962. John, J. T. and Carolyn, Theda Rae and Ronnie] STRAIGHT HEAD There is a creek from a spring in southwestern Ziebach County. The creek flows into the Cheyenne and is named Straight Head Creek for the man who lived there before the area was opened for homesteading. Mr. Straight Head worked for the U.S. Army as a scout. Later he became chief of the Indian Police. His job was to police the area of Indian land, keeping their timber, livestock, etc. under surveillance. He was considered a fair man and did his job well. Moses Straight Head was married to Flora Bear Eagle. She had been married to others, among them Patterson and White Wolf. It was during the time she was married to Patterson that she became blind from a blow on the head when they had an accident with their team and wagon. Flora's brothers were Grouse Running, Holy Bull, Eagle Chasing and White Antelope. Grouse Running was a Catholic lay minister who lived in the St. Mark's churchyard by the cemetery along Cherry Creek. Holy Bull lived on the flat north of the Brown Dog place. His wife, Alice, was an invalid, and had to crawl on her hands and knees to do her housework. White Antelope became a scout for the U.S. Army, and was discharged from service in December, 1876. His discharge papers are still in the possession of the Straight Head family. They were kept through the years by Grandma Bear Eagle and passed on. Her family was "wicazo eyutanpi", which means "touch the pencil". In those days, to "touch the pencil" meant agreeing to the terms of a government negotiation. When she talked about "wicazo eyutanpi", perhaps she meant that the family liked to get along with others and be in agreement. Grandma Bear Eagle told her grandchildren about the smallpox epidemic in 1900, and remembered that whole families died. The bodies and homes were burned to prevent spreading the dreadful disease. Moses Straight Head had a son, Robert, who lived at Thunder Butte. Robert is the father of Roy and Alex Straight Head, and Mary Straight Head Bagola. The Moses Straight Head family remains in the Cherry Creek area. Francis Straight Head was a son of Moses and Flora. He married Louise Slowly, the daughter of Henry Slowly and Owl Woman (Hihan wia). They lived on the bottom land near Cherry Creek. They raised cattle and horses and always had a large garden. They milked cows and traded the cream to neighbors. They put up ice in winter and cut timber to sell for firewood and fence posts. They had a family of four daughters and one son. The girls are Rosalyn Dupris, Doris Ward, Victoria LaClaire, and Angeline Afraid of Hawk. Francis, Jr. "Tuffy", is deceased. They all helped with the work of homemaking and the outdoor work of riding, repairing fences and hauling water. They attended school at Cherry Creek, Stephan and Cheyenne Agency. They and their families make their homes at Cherry Creek. They are members of the Catholic Church. Rosalyn served in the Women's Army Corps in World War II. Angeline served on the Cheyenne River Tribal Council. Mrs. Straight Head died in 1956 and Francis in 1967. They are buried at Cherry Creek. LESLIE STREET by Maye Street Fuller My father and mother, Leslie O. and Victoria Street, brought their four children, Roy, Harry, Evelyn and Maye, from Illinois to a homestead near Flint Rock Creek in Ziebach County in the fall of 1911. We were all born in Illinois. We came on the train to Faith and then by horse and buggy to our homestead shack. My father farmed and raised cattle and did carpenter work. Father's parents, Fred and Francis Street, lived with us until their death. They are both buried in the Faith Cemetery. I attended Sage Brush School through the eighth grade and Faith High School for three years and went one year to high school in Dupree, graduating in 1931. In 1933 I married Leslie Fuller. We had two children. Cleo Roberts, our daughter, lives in Sundance, Wyoming. She has a daughter, Gay, and a son, Brian. Our son, Clyde, lives in Gasper, Wyoming. He has two daughters, Debra and Carol, and one son, Donald. In the early thirties, we all went our separate ways. My folks spent their retirement years in Sturgis and are both buried there. Roy passed away at Havre, Montana, and is buried there. Harry lived in South Dakota all his life except for overseas duty in World War II. He is buried in the National Cemetery at Sturgis. Evelyn is still living at Salmon, Idaho. I am retired and live at Upton, Wyoming. My husband passed away in April, 1982. I. B. STRONG by Zeta Strong Linderman I. B. and Margaret Gibson Strong, along with their children arrived in Lemmon by train in March, 1918, from Grand River, Iowa. The move was made to South Dakota to be near relatives in the area. The Millers, Munyons, Browns and Brammers had settled in this locality in the early 1900's. They traveled by wagon to their claim, located 1 mile from Brayton, 1/2 mile east of the Perkins County line on Lime Creek. The first summer, the family occupied a tent and kept busy with their crops, garden and securing shelter and fuel for the winter. A small shack was built. The first winter, the family lived in a cave. Two members of the family would sleep in the shack to shovel out the cave entrance in the morning. In the spring of 1919, Grandpa Miller came to help erect the new sod house. This was a 24 x 24 structure with a wooden roof and sleeping rooms upstairs. The family lived in this same house until they sold the farm in 1941. In addition to farming and looking after the livestock, Mr. Strong worked the coal mine and participated with the work crews to build roads and bridges. Everyone worked together on threshing crews and roundups. As with all early settlers, the family was pretty much self- contained. Everything that could be grown for food was. The huge garden was located close to the well and it was given constant care. Each spring and fall, the team was hitched and the two-day trip to Isabel was undertaken to buy supplies. Many times this trip proved risky because of the sudden storms that were so prevalent in this area. Trying to outguess the weather was an occupational hazard of the times. The Strong children were fortunate in that they had a school less than a mile away, within walking distance. However, the 8th grade was held at Briscoe School, five miles away. Church services were an important segment of this existence. Services were held in the homes, outdoors when the weather permitted, and also in the school. Services were usually held afternoon and evening, unless the weather turned bad. The neighbors would come for services and bring potluck for the day. If there is a most memorable thing about the days in the sod house, it would probably be the hospitality. Anyone planning to be in the area would certainly arrange to be near the Strong house at mealtime. It was common knowledge that all meals were accompanied by fresh baked biscuits with milk gravy and "Mrs. Strong" was the best biscuit maker in the community. In 1941 the Strong's sold their homestead and moved 4 miles north of Dupree. In 1952, they retired in Isabel. Mr. Strong passed away in 1954 and Mrs. Strong in 1965. Names and addresses of the Strong children are: James Brown, Dupree, South Dakota; Ralph Strong, deceased; Zeta Linderman, Isabel, South Dakota; Hiram Strong, Spearfish, South Dakota; Jack Strong, Eagle Butte, South Dakota; Ruth Morris, Cody, Wyoming; and Reuben Strong, Prairie Grove, Arkansas. [photo - I. B. Strong’s 50th Anniversary] [photo - I. B. and Maggie Strong]