Text of Ziebach Co., SD History (1982) - pages 420 - 440
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 <chipnter@lnd.com>, final editing by Joy Fisher,
<sdgenweb@yahoo.com>.
ARTHUR R. (ART) HURST
I was born in Hamilton County, Iowa on November 14, 1908 and came
to Dupree, South Dakota in the spring of 1911 with my father and mother
and three brothers, Lloyd, Everett and Glynn.
I attended grade school at the Pretty Creek school. I graduated
from the Dupree High School in the spring of 1927. I then attended
college in Brookings, South Dakota, starting in the fall of 1927 and
became a registered pharmacist in the spring of 1931.
I was married to Erma Serr, March 22, 1930, to which union one son,
Raydon, was born. Raydon was married and today I have three fine
grandsons living in Miami, Florida. Erma passed away in 1958.
I was married to Ruth Jewett on April 20, 1958 and we are now
living in Sturgis, South Dakota.
I worked one year for Eric Blauert in the drug store in Dupree
before I became a registered pharmacist. I bought the store from Mr.
Blauert. I owned and operated the drug store in Dupree, known as "Hurst
Pharmacy" for thirty years, from November 1931 up to November 1961, at
which time I sold out and moved to Sturgis. My drug store burned up in
the fire in Dupree in the spring of 1939. I then rebuilt the store which
is today known as Lewis Everyday Shop.
EVERETT HURST
Everett Hurst, son of Levi and Julia Hurst moved to a farm
northeast of Dupree in Ziebach County in 1911. He had three brothers,
Lloyd, Arthur and Glynn.
Everett married Clara Bitterman in 1935 and moved to California.
They have two girls and one boy. Everett worked doing ranch work until
1941. He then worked at McClellan Air Force Depot until an accident in
1960, when he was struck by a car and forced to retire.
Everett now lives in Sacramento, California. He has six
grandchildren.
LEVI C. and JULIA HURST
by Glynn Hurst
My father and mother, Levi C. and Julia Hurst, arrived in Dupree in
an immigrant car along with their four sons, Lloyd, Everett, Arthur, and
Glynn, in the spring of 1911.
We lived in a tent that summer on the homestead, which was 8 1/2
miles northeast of Dupree. The Diamond A Cattle Company once grazed
their cattle on the land where we would later build a chicken coop and
then a house.
We were still living in the tent that autumn when Dad drove to town
in the buggy one day. Our neighbor, W. T. Searson, decided to fire up
his stove to take the chill out of the house. Burning particles escaped
the chimney to start a dreaded prairie fire. Fueled by typically
blustery South Dakota winds, the fire rushed north, taking precious
prairie grasses and livestock with it, before burning itself out at the
Moreau River. Seeing the smoke and fearing for his wife and children,
Dad hurried home in the buggy. He discovered that the flames had come
within 100 yards of our tent and found we were all safe.
Dad was a "sod-buster" or farmer--no easy occupation in those early
days. Conflicts of one kind or another seemed always to develop between
the farmer and cattlemen. Dad was able to put in a fair sized hay supply
that summer that several cowmen needed and wanted to buy. He needed it
for his own animals and, therefore, refused to sell. A short time later
our hay burned and arson was always suspected.
In the fall of the year, the Diamond A Outfit needed extra "hands"
to help round-up their cattle. They'd asked my dad, who told them he was
no cowboy, but they persisted. They needed him and he needed the money.
Dad then went shopping for a saddle horse since all we had was a team of
work animals and finally bought a pony from an Indian called Scarleg.
The next thing we knew Dad was the proud owner of a Sears, Roebuck
saddle, bridle and rope. The critter was about to be "broke" to ride!
Dad planted a strong post deep in the prairie gumbo in the center of the
corral; next he saddled the horse, tied him to the post and turned him
loose. That critter bucked so hard and long that new saddle and gumbo
were everywhere. The pieces of saddle were sent to Sears Roebuck and
they gave him another new one by return mail! Further testing proved
that all the buck had left the horse, and Dad was able to help with
gathering the cattle.
When I was 8 or 9 our place was struck by a tornado. It took the
barn, coal and pump houses, and chicken coop. Just after I graduated
from high school, another tornado took a cane stack and the rebuilt
chicken coop. And still a third tornado got the cattle shed, house
chimney, and moved the garage.
Lloyd went to school in Dupree for his 7th and 8th grades. He also
worked as the school janitor, and when the weather was nice, he would
ride his bicycle back and forth to school. Later, he attended Brookings
college taking a short course in agriculture. He graduated, spent some
time helping on the farm, then got a job with the State Highway working
a four-horse hitch on a patrol.
He married Muriel Minkner in the early 1930's. Their son, Vilas,
attended school in Dupree but later joined the Merchant Marines. Lloyd
was then married to a Mrs. Badure. He died in 1956; his second wife also
died soon after.
Everett wasn't able to complete his 8th grade; he was needed on the
farm. He took a Bitterman girl as his bride and farmed for a few years.
He and his wife moved to Sacramento, California where he worked as a
mechanic in an airplane depot. He was struck by a car as he left work
one day. Following a lengthy stay in the hospital, was released, but he
never fully recovered his equilibrium. Everett and his second wife now
reside in Sacramento, California.
Arthur and I began high school in Dupree together. We would ride
horseback to and from school in nice weather, milked 3-4 cows before and
after school, and helped out on the farm when we could.
Arthur graduated from Dupree High School and became a pharmacist
following graduation from Brookings. Erma Serr became his wife and they
had a son, Raydon. Raydon and his wife were victims of a car accident
west of Eagle Butte recently.
I was able to attend but one semester my first year in high school;
I was forced to drop out to help on the farm. One year, Dad, Mother,
Everett, and I went through Yellowstone Park ending up in Canada working
in the grain fields.
My mind was set on a high school diploma, so I went the next four
years, graduating when I was twenty years old. I worked as a truck
driver in the Civilian Conservation Corps and later as the PX Steward
until I resigned in 1936. I moved to Pierre, South Dakota in 1937 and
worked for four years as a timekeeper, milkman, and bartender.
My wife, the former Sybil Bird, and I moved to Ft. Ord, California
after I joined the National Guard in Pierre. I trained for a year, war
was declared, and I was shipped overseas in 1943 with the 975 Field
Artillery. Following my discharge in 1945, I stayed in California until
1950 when we returned to run the farm. Along with working the farm, the
next 20 years were spent as auditor or treasurer for Ziebach County.
Sybil was the victim of a car accident and after a long
hospitalization, passed away in 1979. Our daughter, Phyllis, graduated
from Dupree High School in May, 1981.
Dad and Mother died a few years ago and are buried in Dupree
Cemetery.
I remarried in 1980 to Velma Holloway Smith, and we divide our time
living in Rapid City, South Dakota and here in Dupree.
INAMONGST
Charlie Inamongst was born in 1865 and died in 1901. He was a
brother to Brown Thunder (1854-1915) but they took different names as
was the custom in the earlier days. He was married to "Seeks One
Without". She also went by the name of Mary Kills White Man and later
still went by the name of Mary Jackson. Their children were Charlie
Inamongst and Sarah Inamongst, who married Wallace Knight.
Charlie Inamongst, Jr. was born October 15, 1894 on Ash Creek near
Red Scaffold. He attended the Indian Mission School near Pierre, the
Carson Day School, Cheyenne Agency Boarding School and the Pierre Indian
School. He went to the seventh grade.
In 1915 he married Lucy Hollow Horn and they made their home on a
ranch near Ash Creek. Charlie was active in civic and church affairs in
his community. He belonged to the Catholic Church. He served as a
councilman with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe for more than 25 years,
representing the Red Scaffold District.
To visit with Charlie about his life time experiences was a real
treat, he could tell you about the early days in Ziebach County, about
the big cattle outfits and the cowboys who worked for them. He knew the
history of the reservation and its residents, how the government
programs operated and the congressmen. He was always well dressed and a
gentleman.
Charlie spent his last six years as a resident of the Mobridge Care
Center. He was plagued with diabetes in his later years. He passed away
November 14, 1981, and is buried at the Frazier Memorial Cemetery. His
great grandfather is also buried there. His children were Marvin
Inamongst, deceased; Elizabeth One Skunk, deceased, and Edward
Inamongst. Another son and daughter preceded him in death.
IRON HAWK FAMILY
by Frank Iron Hawk, 1936
My mother told me, I was born way back when the Lakota were living
in canvas covered shelters (tipis) and traveled by travois. 1 was born
within the camp of the 'Maspegnaka' (metal on the head or crown of
metal) Band from Carlin, South Dakota.
Chief Brown Thunder, of the Brown Thunder (Wakinyagi) Band and
grandmother, my mother's mother, are related. Brown Thunder being the
elder. Then, I have two grandmothers from the same mother and father,
known as blood relatives or of one blood.
My grandfather, Running Buffalo, is from a band who called
themselves the "Buffalo Dung". My grandfather wanted one of Brown
Thunder's sisters, the younger one, so he bought her with ten good
horses and married her. This is how the marriages take place in this
era. Another way of marrying is eloping. In those days getting married
is very hard.
At Carlin, in 1889, at the homestead of Fish Whiskers, the band of
Brown Thunder and Maspegnaka gathered. There were no wagons.
From there, Father, Mother, Grandfather and Grandmother, with three
travois went on a 'tateyape' (hunting trip). At that time, my father was
young, 33 years of age, my mother 22, and my sister 2 years. She is the
only girl they had.
The term 'tateya' means the hunting of all kinds of wild game. For
two years, 1888-1889, they went on their hunting trip, their last.
Traveling northward up the 'hinhan wakpa' (Owl Creek), now the
Moreau River, and through the 'Paha zizipela' (Slim Buttes) and on to
Montana. They camped at the Little Missouri, 'Wakpa Cunsoke', meaning
the Draw of Heavy Forest.
This is where I was born. I was born in the mid-summer, the Moon of
Black Cherries, which is the month of July.
A lot of wild game was killed during this time; deer of all kinds,
big chickens, antelope, elk, moose and mountain sheep. This is when a
buffalo was last seen, so they killed it and ate it. The last time they
had buffalo meat.
My mother having no milk for breast feeding, I was fed soup from
animals killed, with help of a buffalo horn spoon. They poured the soup
in my mouth, I was told. For ten days this went on. They told me nobody
could cry louder than me, then.
I was born in a tipi, carried on a backsack among the wild animals
that still roamed the wilderness on the border of Montana. Because they
have a lot of meat, coming home was difficult. Meat was carried in a
travois. Horses were led on foot. Traveling only half of a day at a
time, camped at nights, they arrived at Carlin.
Upon arriving at Carlin, they found only the remains of the Brown
Thunder Camp. My grandmother was heartbroken for not seeing her brother.
The very next day, they followed the trails of the horse drawn travois
eastward on the 'Wakpa Waste' meaning river of good or the good river,
now the Cheyenne River. Arriving at the mouth of the river, they came to
an army camp, Fort Bennett, where the 'Hoh woju' people camped.
Because of the closeness, respect and love among these people, they
cried as they saw their relatives. At this gathering, Three Stars
(General Crook) came to ask for land and (the touching of the pencil)
'wicazo yutanpi' took place, I was told.
From there the Brown Thunder Band went back to the mouth of the
'Wah eoju', where my sister died as 1 was told. There were no churches
in those days and prayers were unknown so after the death of my sister,
we were somewhat lost in heartbreak and sorrow, I was told.
At this location my father built a log cabin. As I remember, it was
a bad winter. Sitting Bull was killed and the killing of Spotted Tail
followed that same winter. Another event that took place was the Ghost
Dance. This was the year 1890, December 15th.
The community of Cherry Creek was first originated at this time.
Small log cabins went up and a round bowry was built for dancing. We
were still living in the cabin that my father build.
Sometimes we visited Grandfather Running Buffalo's sister. Her
husband was Sitting Eagle. Behind his house, the first Congregational
Church was built. I was five years old at that time, 1894. People were
joining the church and membership was strong. This same year the first
Mission meeting was held in Cherry Creek. It was one happy event, I've
seen.
At the age of 13, I started working digging ditches. At 15, in
1904, I went to school in the Black Hills, Rapid City Indian School.
Although I stayed in school for three years, I can't talk much English,
but I know the meaning of 'yes' and 'no'.
In the year 1907, I didn't go back to school. Instead, I worked at
various homes of white men to earn my money. On March 1, 1889, I joined
the Y.M.C.A. and on October 31, 1909, I joined the church with Reverend
T. L. Riggs doing the confirmation. On June 16, 1915, age of 26, we were
married in church.
My wife, Esther Mandan, was 20 years. We have four boys and one
girl.
The oldest was born April 13, 1916. At 16 years old, he went to
Haskell Institute, Lawrence, Kansas and stayed for four years. His name
is Wilson. Because of my lacking education, I encourage his schooling.
Our second oldest boy is going to school in Cheyenne Agency
Boarding School. He is 17 years old, Claude Iron Hawk is his name.
The third, Carl Iron Hawk, was in school but he got sick, so I
brought him home. Sidney is 7 years old and not yet in school. And, on
October 22, 1935, Sylvia was born, not yet baptized.
My 'kola' meaning good friend or good buddy, John Iron Hawk, was
active in this organization (church) until he died on May 27, 1935. He
was born October 1894. His son, Levi Iron Hawk, pitiful, I took him in.
Now, my father, "Cetanmazan" Iron Hawk, and his brother, Littlebird
"Zitkala Cikala", are warriors from the Wajaja band under Red Cloud,
"Mahpiya Luta". They are noted for their bravery, their ability to kill
and to steal horses.
My father went on a war party by himself twice and both times he
found the enemy, scalped and killed. Because of this, they have him lead
the traditional dances. Out of ninety warparties, he led forty of them,
as told by others and himself. Although leading a life of bravery, they
both died in poverty. Zitkala Cikala/Littlebird died July, 1915 and
Cetan Mazan Iron Hawk died July 12, 1916. Grandfather Running Buffalo
died April 12, 1923. Mrs. Running Buffalo died February 1899.
The year 1889, my father chose a piece of land and built a house on
it. This is where I grew up and called it my home up 'til now, 1936. It
seems like they have gone away somewhere leaving me behind to take care
of the place. I am saddened every time I walk out of the door and look
about.
Because I grew up in hardship, I thank the Great Spirit for giving
me many years of good health, good thoughts and guidance in this life
that He has given me.
reprinted from "I 0 ", 1936
POST SCRIPT
Her Different Horse (f. 1876-1880); John Iron Hawk (1893-1935) and
the author, Frank Iron Hawk (1889-1957), were the children of Cetan
Maza/Iron Hawk (1859-1916) and Lone Woman (1862-1932).
Cetan Maza was a son of Eating Beef and Moving Iron of Pine Ridge.
Lone Woman was the daughter of Jumps Over Buckskin Horse/Running
Buffalo/Running Bull (1835-1923) and Her Brown Cane (d. 1899). (See
Builds Fire.)
When John Iron Hawk died, his brother, Frank, adopted his son,
Levi. Levi Iron Hawk died in Oregon in 1978.
In 1915, Frank Iron Hawk married Esther Mandan (1896-1963), the
daughter of Watana/Amos Long Mandan (1857-1925) and Moves the Water
(1861-1911). Esther's brother was Patrick Eugene Long Mandan (b. 1894).
Frank and Esther Iron Hawk's children are as follows:
Wilson Iron Hawk (1916-1979) married Margie White Weasel.
Claude/Adolph, born in 1919, served in Germany during World War II. In
19__, he married Goldie War Bonnet. Carl lived from 1924-1932 and Sidney
lived from 1929 until 1938. Sylvia, born in 1935, married Gary Blue Arm.
Mathew/Ike (b. 1943) married Prairie Rose Charging Cloud.
IRON LIGHTNING FAMILY
by Myron G. Armstrong, 1941
Mr. Iron Lightning spent most of his life on this reservation at
Cherry Creek Station. At one time, however, it is said that he went with
others to Canada, taking his family with him. Mr. Iron Lightning didn't
stay long, but (re turned) to Cherry Creek.
Mr. Iron Lightning came to this vicinity to live on his allotment
in 1906 or 1907. With him, he brought his three wives, whom he had
married in traditional fashion. He had bargained for the oldest wife,
White Buffalo, with her father, to whom he gave a horse. White Buffalo's
father also gave him Red Crane (b. 1863), who was White Buffalo's
younger half-sister, then a young girl. It is said that Red Crane was
supposed to wait upon White Buffalo. Later, Mr. Iron Lightning brought
his second wife, Pretty Elk, another half-sister to White Buffalo.
Apparently, another horse was the price. So, Mr. Iron Lightning had
three wives, all of them half-sisters to each other, having had
different mothers. The middle wife, Pretty Elk, had the first born
child, a son named John, who lies in the Iron Lightning family cemetery
up on the hill. Then White Buffalo had the second child. Altogether, Mr.
Iron Lightning beget twenty-six children: seven by White Buffalo, twelve
by Pretty Elk, and seven by Red Crane. 111 health and tuberculosis
stalked this family. White Buffalo and Red Crane raised only one child a
piece and Pretty Elk, only seven. At present, (1941) four of Pretty
Elk's children are still living: Grant Iron Lightning, Rose Iron
Lightning Red Bull, Ellen Iron Lightning Red Bird and Gertie Iron
Lightning Iron Bird. None of White Buffalo's children has survived and
only one of Red Crane's is living, Dora Iron Lightning Talks.
When the government urged Mr. Iron Lightning to choose one of (his
wives) for his legal wife, the oldest and the youngest stepped aside and
said, "let it be Pretty Elk, for she has seven children living and we
have one a piece." However, it is said that Mr. Iron Lightning didn't
marry any of them (in the Christian way), leaving the matter of
establishing his legal heirs to be decided after his death.
Mr. Iron Lightning had great herds of horses. I listened to a
eulogy of Mr. Iron Lightning the other day, given by Mrs. Pete Talks,
who was speaking for her husband. Of Mr. Iron Lightning, he said, in
effect, "He was a great and powerful man. He could walk great distances
and endure great physical hardships. His finesse in stealing horses
marked him as a great man. He would start out walking and always came
back with a horse. He was considered a Chief by the Indians, who admired
his prowess."
From this, I think we have the answer as to why this community was
named after the Iron Lightning family, as most of the families had
settled here long before the Iron Lightning family came, some of them
almost twenty years before.
While the present Mr. Iron Lightning (Grant), follows his father's
steps as a leader of his community, there the likeness ends. The old Mr.
Iron Lightning represents the Sioux of old traditions, the Sioux of
tribal life and customs. The present Mr. Iron Lightning represents the
modern Indian, who has adapted his life to fit in with the ways of white
culture, who has kept of the old way of life what is useful to him and
has discarded what is not. With his wife, educated at the Pierre Indian
School, Mr. Iron Lightning is trying hard to establish independence for
their nine healthy children.
Iron Lightning and Red Crane's daughter, Dora, married Charlie
Talks and was the mother of Dorothy, Lawrence and Andrew Talks.
Iron Lightning and Pretty Elk's children were: Grant, Rose (Mrs.
Wm. Red Bull); Ellen (1891-1981: Mrs. Wm. Red Bird); and Gertie (Mrs.
Sullivan Iron Bird).
Grant was the father of Cordelia (Mrs. Wilmer) Dupris, Florence
(Lafferty), John, Amy (Curly), Grant Jr., Caroline (Cook), Teter, Dale,
Delores (Hartfield), and Veronica (Thompson).
Ellen Red Bird was the mother of Cyril; Evelyn (Elk Eagle);
Earlwin, who married Mae High Elk; Rex; Martha (Mrs. Percy Marrowbone);
Gladys (Mrs. Bernhard LeClair); and Harold Red Bird.
Gertie Iron Bird was the mother of Harry, who married Anna Clown;
Nancy (Mrs. True Clown); and Edith (Mrs. Wilbur Dupris).
[photo - Iron Lightning, 1906 (SDSHS)]
[photo - Chiefs Black Eagle, Hump, and Iron Lightning, 1904 (SDSHS)]
HILDA JACOBSON
Hilda Jacobson, daughter of John and Martha Jacobson, was born
December 1, 1886, in Liverpool, England. After her mother's death, Hilda
and John moved to Osceola, Nebraska in 1900. In 1911, Hilda and her
father filed on a homestead south of Lantry. John died during the flu
epidemic of 1918 and 1919. Her uncle, Oscar, helped manage the homestead
until his ill health forced them to move into Dupree and purchase a home
in the northeast part of town. Hilda cared for her uncle until his
death.
Hilda enjoyed gardening and raising chickens. She was organist for
the Lutheran Church here in Dupree for several years. She moved into the
Dupree Manor when it opened in 1973.
Hilda had several birthday parties but in 1980 she was surprised by
her friends and enjoyed a beautiful cake and all the trimmings. She was
94 years old.
Ill health soon forced her to live in a nursing home in Mobridge.
She enjoys fair health for a lady nearly 96 years old.
[photo - Hilda Jacobson]
VINCENT W. and RUTH M. (CUNNINGHAM) JEFFRIES
Vin Jeffries was one of seven sons and four daughters born to John
Jeffries and Cynthia (Cooter) Jeffries in Tennessee. They moved to
Kansas when he was nine.
Ruth Cunningham was the youngest of seven children of Ernest
Cunningham and Florence (Campbell) Cunningham. She had two brothers.
Vin and Ruth were married at Geneseo, Kansas. They moved to
Littleton, Colorado, where he worked on a ranch. Their first two
offspring were born there, Marjorie and Vincent C., always called Jeff.
They moved to Haakon County, South Dakota in 1915 where he worked
on the Swartz ranch. Eileen was born the last day of 1916. They
homesteaded a quarter of land near the G. I. Towne ranch and Florence
Ethel, always called Jackie, was born the year the United States entered
World War I, and the year of the terrible flu epidemic that killed so
many.
Next they worked at the Bob Cheney ranch, up the Cheyenne River
several miles. There they went through their first flood. Mother, and by
now baby Doris, and four other children sought refuge in the haymow of
the barn. Vin and Ray McKillup rowed a boat out and plucked them to
safety from the door of the haymow.
Vin was in partnership with Ned Wilkinson, brother-in-law of Bob
Cheney, by 1921 when they moved to the L/Y ranch east of Cherry Creek
station about six miles. They had Hereford cattle, many horses, an
endless array of other animals--and of course the most beautiful of
alfalfa fields on the river bottomland.
They lived in a huge tent the first summer while carpenter Nedved
and his son erected the house. Nedved was from the Milesville flat,
south of the river. The east part of the building was a shop nearly as
large as the house. A sturdy platform hung from rafters near the peak of
the roof kept a winter's supply of flour high, dry and rodent free.
Those were good years, ridin' high and well on the way to a
rancher's dream of a spread of his own. There were always hired hands,
huge gardens, ponies to ride, and a teacher that stayed in the winter
time. There were rock gardens to build by the river, watermelons to pick
from a sandy patch--ouch, those sandburrs, too! There was plentiful
fish, one time Vin stood by a dead animal in the water and fished with a
pitchfork when the catfish neared!
Bud was born in 1923; Betty May in 1926, she lived only five
months.
School started there in 1924 when the schoolhouse was built back
toward the hills on higher ground. Marjorie and Jeff had bearded out in
Haakon County their first years. Eileen, Jackie and Doris all started
first grade that year.
Elizabeth Stinson taught, coming to the river each Monday morning
with her little three year old daughter, Bunny, where Vin met True
Stinson and ferried Lit and Bunny across. Sometimes it was by wagon, or
across the ice. In the spring the water was high and a boat was rowed.
The river flooded again in 1927. The team was trotting in water as
they pulled the wagon piled high with necessities to live in the
schoolhouse for a week or so. The building was about 14 x 14. It housed
Vin, Ruth, six children, Merle Simpson, the teacher and Mel and Elvin
Nesheim, the hired men. They picketed the milk cow and a couple horses.
That school ran until the spring of 1929 when the big move came.
With a little herd of cattle and other livestock, they went north of
Cherry Creek to land purchased from Ed Spurling where they would farm,
too. Neighbors were Joe Black Bear and Olney Runsafter. Vin bought a
pickup, a Case tractor and other necessities.
The bubble burst almost before it expanded. The stock market crash
of 1929 caused chaos. Even though the crop that year was good, wheat was
fourteen cents a bushel, barley was four cents. You couldn't afford to
thresh oats. Cows were twenty dollars apiece.
They did hang on during the depression until 1933. Some of the
children had started high school working for board and room in Dupree.
Jeff stayed at John Budahl's and brought Chester in to school one year;
Marjorie stayed at Jim Davis' and Giff Lafferty's; Eileen stayed with
Jim Pidcock's. Jeff and Eileen each missed a year, Jackie missed two,
Doris was ready to start high school. They threw in the towel, moved
near Dupree and Vin went to work on WPA. Marjorie had graduated in the
spring of 1933 so she worked and helped the rest, too. Vin worked at the
school site where the old building was demolished and the new one built.
Kay and Fay were born in 1929 and 1931. They started school in
Dupree.
Done with high school graduation in 1939, the Jeffries moved to
land he bought near the old Sword and Dagger ranch on Cherry Creek.
World War II came, two sons were in service. The battle cry of
producing more in the war effort for "our boys" excited them and they
moved to Spokane, Washington.
Vin passed away at the age of sixty-four in 1954. Ruth suffered a
stroke and was brought back to South Dakota. Her last stroke at the home
of her daughter, Jackie, in 1967 resulted in her death at seventy-one.
They are buried in Spokane.
[photo - Ruth and Vinn Jeffries. Fay, Kay, Bud, Doris, Jackie, Eileen,
Jeff, Marjorie]
[photo - Mr. & Mrs. Vin Jeffries]
NORMAN D. JENNERSON by George L. Jennerson
My father, Norman D. Jennerson, and I spent my 17th birthday, April
7, 1911, in an immigrant car on the way to Dupree to homestead the place
where the Harold Johnson family now live. We used the immigrant car as
living quarters while we were building a hen house as temporary living
quarters while we built the house. That house burned down several years
ago.
That year, 1911, was extremely dry. In spite of that we ripped up
several acres and planted corn and potatoes, which didn't even sprout
the ground was so dry. In the fall we had some light rain, and the corn
sprouted and grew to almost knee-high and the potatoes to about the size
of walnuts. We harvested both.
The following years we had both good and bad years, including hail,
drought, grasshoppers and rattlesnakes. I killed about 24 while I lived
there.
I remember well many of our neighbors, the Penningtons, Chases,
Leakes, Prices, Sam Stover, Fowlers, Langes, Callens, Solomonsons and
Longbrakes, and of course many people in Dupree. My father was Chase
postmaster for many years.
My brother homesteaded across the road from my folks and I about a
mile southwest of them.
I wonder how many of those who homesteaded in Ziebach County are
still living there, also anywhere else.
I am the only one of my family left now, and my wife and I have
eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
CHRIS and BELLE JENSEN by Belle Jensen
Chris' parents came from Denmark by boat, which was about a 30 day
trip. His dad came first and settled at Blair, Nebraska, along the
Missouri River which flooded out at a later date and nothing was left of
the place. His father sent money back for his mother and three children
to come over later on. Chris was born in Blair, Nebraska and was about 9
years old when his father homesteaded in Tripp County (1910) near
Millboro, South Dakota. His brother and sister also took homesteads
which were later lost during the 30's drought and depression.
Belle's grandparents came from Ireland and Germany to Iowa where
her parents were born, later migrating to Nebraska. Her father
homesteaded in Tripp County, (Rosebud Reservation then) in 1910 near
Millboro. Father came first, building a house, then moving the family
there. Later bought more land but lost it during the 30's.
Chris and Belle were married. They lived at various farms, Chris
farming with a few cattle and horses. I taught school for a few years.
Wages were warrants which were sold to investors at 10% discount, so $50
per month became $45 cash. I rode a horse to school, built the fire and
did all janitor work.
In 1938, we moved to Dewey County to the Gus Matz place, near Leo
Kellers place. We hooked a trailer (homemade) onto our Model A, which
held all our possessions and Chris and I and four children, born in
Tripp County, set out. It was very hot for September and we got north of
Pierre and had a flat tire. Chris left the children and me in the
trailer shade and drove back to Pierre and got the tire fixed and we
went on. The distance seemed so far. The kids were very thirsty as we
were out of water so we stopped at Hayes. Edith Horton gave them a drink
of water there. She was returning from Pierre, having taken the
Fergusons to the doctor. We did not meet here again until we moved to
the Weeks place.
We spent the winter at Matz. Beulah rode to the Fox Ridge School
(near Morks) with Della McDaniel, who lived in Eagle Butte. In the
spring we moved to Jim Wiegands place. They moved to Eagle Butte as Mrs.
Wiegand taught Ganjes school south of Eagle Butte.
We had a nice house there and plenty of wood for fuel and good
neighbors, E. Brueschkes, Carl Petersons and Hans Joens, Sr.
We moved to the Albee place next year, 1/2 mile from Eagle Butte so
the kids walked to school and we even walked in for a free movie now and
then, as we could not go otherwise. Chris worked out most of the time
for Fay Lavender and others. Marvin was born at the Wiegand place. Dr.
Green attended, probably the last doctor who made house calls from Eagle
Butte.
In 1940 we moved to the Weeks place southwest of Eagle Butte. The
four oldest children attended the Johnson school. Edna Drummond, Daina
Dunbar and Barbara Linn were the teachers. Daina lived in Dupree and
rode the train to Eagle Butte where someone would bring her out to
school. Many times she walked from Mork's, 2 1/2 miles across country.
We had deep snow one January and she walked, got to Anton Zachers
exhausted. Mr. Zacher took her with the team and wagon to the school,
2 1/2 miles away.
Janice and Janelle were born on the Weeks place. Louie Meiers were
our near neighbors there. She came over to help at Janice's birth. Their
children got water from our well, with a little wagon and cream cans.
Their well water was not good.
Anna Meiers invited us to the Prairie Pride Club parties so we got
acquainted with the neighbors and I then joined the club.
Harry Weeks was a suicide victim. The hole remained in the attic
roof of the house but his ghost never haunted us while we lived there.
Floyd Parker bought the place and moved the house to his place.
During one bad winter, Chris walked to Vroomans, 1 mile south and
Lee Konkler, Myrtle Vrooman, Pete Zacher went with team and wagon to the
Gregory Zacher place and by auto to Eagle Butte. Coming home they
collided with Carl Peterson, who was driving a truck. The road was a
tunnel through the snowdrifts. They were all badly hurt, those in the
car, facial cuts, etc. Chris nearly bled to death. Carl Peterson put
pressure on the wound and the bleeding was stopped. They took them to
Mrs. Shannon in Eagle Butte and Dr. Creamer attended to them.
In 1946 we moved to the Rosene place. H. D. Woodward owned it, Jim
Keegan's lived there. The Woodwards lived in Lantry. Keegans moved to
the Blue Eye place south of here. Albert Rosene homesteaded there and
the school was named after him. Derl, Roger, Preston and Marvin drove a
team of horses hitched to the wagon, 3 1/2 miles south while they
attended school. Janice and Janelle graduated from Dupree High School.
Some of our good neighbors were: McGills, Severs, Arleigh McLellan,
Owen McLellan, Willis Thomas, Schad's, Yusko's. Mrs. Yusko had a few
sheep and she would walk over the prairie hunting for them when they
were missing. She enjoyed her walk as she very seldom accepted a ride.
We are retired now and live on the farm. Our sons farm the land. We
celebrated our S2nd wedding anniversary on February 16, 1981.
Our children are as follows:
Beulah, (Mrs. Gene Burgess) lives in Martin, South Dakota and is a
teacher there.
Derl is a farmer and rancher and lives in Lantry.
Roger, married Barbara Munroe and they live in Sturgis where he is
a maintenance engineer at Ft. Meade.
Preston lives in Merriman, Nebraska where he is a maintenance
engineer at Martin High School.
Marvin married JoAnn Selby from Faith and they operate the Philips
Station and live in Lantry.
Janice married James Selby and they live in Faith, South Dakota.
She is a homemaker and waitress.
Janelle married Bob Follett and they live in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She
is a beautician.
Lauren is a farmer and rancher and lives in Lantry.
Lloyd married Dianne LaPlante and he farms and ranches at Lantry.
We have 23 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
Two of the boys are veterans of World War II. Roger was in the
Marine Corps and Derl was in the Army.
[photo - Beulah, Derl, Mom (Belle) and Chris, Loren and Janelle. The old
house on the Rosene place]
[photo - December 1960 From right to left: Marvin, Preston, Roger, Derl,
Janelle, Janice, Beulah, Lauren, Belle, Chris and Lloyd]
[photo - An oil well being capped on the Chris Jensen place in 1963.
They capped it]
J. P. JENSEN
Mr. J. P. Jensen came to Ziebach County in 1910 and settled on a
homestead west of Dupree. Mr. Jensen had studied the carpenter trade
while a boy in Denmark and continued with this work after coming to
South Dakota.
On May 1, 1907 he landed in New York City. He went to Cedar Falls,
Iowa where he had relatives. He worked there that summer as a carpenter
for the going wages of 22 1/2 cents per hour. Several years later in
Chicago, he worked for the construction company that built the
Northwestern Railway Depot. But in 1910 it was the Milwaukee Railroad
which brought him to Eagle Butte, which was the end of the line at that
time. He found a quarter of land to his liking about five miles
northeast of Faith in Ziebach County. He filed on it in Aberdeen, South
Dakota in November 1910. In April 1911 he brought in two cars of
household goods, farm machinery and horses. He broke up 50 acres and had
planned to plant flax but it was so dry that he kept the seed in the
sack. He seeded ten acres of oats that never came up until fall when
they had a little rain. He also planted some potatoes and when he dug
them up in the fall, they were as good as when he had planted them. They
really kept well in dry storage. However, 1912, proved that crops could
be raised in this country.
On July 28, 1912 he was married to Anna Cecilie Hansen of Chicago,
Illinois. Four children were born to this union. Edith, Mrs. Karl
Dexheimer, lives in Faith, as does Margaret, Mrs. Raymond Burnett.
Folmer is deceased, as is Edwin. Mrs. Jensen passed away in 1930.
On June 20, 1935, he married Ida Hegre of Redelm, South Dakota.
Their three children are: Marie, Mrs. Dale Ingalls, of Opal, South
Dakota; Volmer and Eldon of Lemmon, South Dakota.
Through the years until 1950 he worked steadily either as a
carpenter or as a rancher. He built up his ranch from a 181 acre
homestead to about 5000 acres of deeded land. He had always taken an
active interest in the activities of Ziebach County and was always very
interested in the school situation.
THE THEODORE JENSEN FAMILY
by Mrs. Jim (Ray) Jensen
John Theodore Jensen, the son of Otto Jensen, was born in Iowa
City, Iowa, and arrived with his family in Ziebach County on September
3, 1921. Young Jensen's grandparents came to the United States from
Germany.
Emma Sinkula Jensen's grandparents came to this country from
Bohemia and settled in Wisconsin in 1854. The Sinkula's then moved to
Colfax County, Nebraska in 1873.
John (known as Theodore) and Emma were married in Stanton, Nebraska
on September 19, 1904. They then homesteaded near Burke in Gregory
County, South Dakota, where six of their seven children were born. In
1921 the family moved to Ziebach County to eventually settle five and
one-half miles south of Dupree. They were bounded by the Christiansen
family, Mr. and Mrs. William Peavoy, the Solmonson family, and on the
east by the vacant quarter of land owned by Bill Marple.
The two-week trip from Burke to Dupree in their Chalmers car was
quite arduous for the Jensen family. They had shipped their grand piano
and other furnishings by rail and later sought shelter with the
Solmonson's, the Peavoy's, and the Miracle's.
Following Theodore's death in December, 1921, Emma traded the
Chalmers for a Maxwell and enough lumber to build a one-room house. She
then traded the Maxwell to Pete Knodel to build the house for them.
Because the lumber was a long time in delivery, the house did not become
a reality until 1925.
Mildred, Evelyn, Jim and Geraldine attended the Gage school for two
years. Because it was four and one-half miles from home, they would stay
at the schoolhouse all week. Their teachers were Lillian Martin and
Kitty Davis. Mrs. Davis would also spend the week at the school. Ted
rode back and forth on a horse he bought for twelve dollars from Jim
Davis. After Mildred's graduation, she and Adeline attended high school
and worked for their board in the Shamrock Cafe in Dupree.
Emma and Jim lived in the rectory and kept house for Father Timothy
O'Brien, in Dupree. A small house was rented for the other children, and
Mildred and Ted ran the farm. Jim served as Father O'Brien's altar boy
and following the Sunday Mass at the Dupree church, they would drive to
outlying missions for a second Mass. Quite often they would go hungry
until their return to Dupree.
In the spring of 1925, upon completion of the 12' x 16' house, Emma
and her family moved to the farm. She canned wild fruit which she traded
to the Indians in exchange for digging a cave and setting fences. Later
that summer Emma built a bowery to give dances to raise money for the
church. In the fall she used the lumber from the bowery to build a
granary and then decided to move it up against the house for use as a
bedroom.
Emma and Ted farmed about fifty acres of virgin prairie and raised
corn to feed their livestock. Jim would herd cattle for twenty-five
cents a day and trapped muskrats, skunks, mink, and other small fur-
bearing animals to help support the family. He would earn an average of
eight dollars per week to add to the family's bank account. Ted left
home late in 1925 to do some travelling and in February, 1926, Mildred
became Sister Mary Theodore, R.S.M.
In 1928 Emma, Evelyn, Jim, Geraldine, and Robinette moved to Omaha,
Nebraska. Emma first worked at St. Catherine's Hospital, sewed at an
overall factory, then taught homemaking for the W.P.A. Still later she
sewed at the Blackstone Hotel, a linen supply company, and Boys Town
until she retired.
Sister Mary Theodore (Mildred) and Sister Mary Roch (Adeline)
alternate weeks caring for Emma, who recently celebrated her ninety-
sixth birthday.
Adeline Jensen graduated from Dupree High School, attended college
in Huron, South Dakota, and taught in Timber Lake, South Dakota and
Dubuque, Iowa. She entered the Monastery of St. Glare in Omaha to become
Sister Mary Roch, O.S.C.
Alice Mildred entered St. Mary's Seminary of the Sisters of Mercy
in Omaha in 1925. She became Sister Mary Theodore, R.S.M. and graduated
from nurse's training at the St. Catherine's School of Nursing. She was
assigned to supervision and teaching while taking classes at Creighton
University. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing in
June, 1935. She is currently in charge of St. Catherine's Hospital
School of Nursing Alumnae Association.
Theodore Otto (Ted) married a North Dakota native and has worked as
a carpenter all through the years.
Evelyn Rose married Edward Smajka. They lived in Omaha until Ed
retired from the Union Pacific Railroad. Evelyn died in 1976; Ed, in
1978.
Woodrow James (Jim) married Harriett Katherine (Kay) Hartley in
1938. He worked for forty-nine years for Standard Blueprint Company of
Omaha. They had two sons and one daughter.
Geraldine Agnes worked for the 7th Service Command of the War
Department in Omaha and met her husband, Joseph Krznarich, at a USO
activity. They moved to Minneapolis where Joe worked until retirement
for Minneapolis-Honeywel1.
Robinette Juliette became a registered nurse and worked during
World War II in Gorgas Hospital, Panama Canal Zone, and later in various
hospitals throughout the United States, including Alaska. She was
married to William M. Thorpe.
NELS A. JEPPSON FAMILY by Mrs. Katherine Jeppson
Nels A. Jeppson filed on a homestead in Ziebach County in June
1910. The homestead was 4 1/2 miles west of Isabel. In October Mr.
Jeppson brought his family to the claim. The family moved from St.
Peter, Minnesota bringing with them two children. Mr. Jeppson returned
to St. Peter to his work and his wife and the two children stayed on the
homestead until the year of 1913, when he returned with the fifth
immigrant car intending to farm. He began to pay taxes in 1911; our
first crop and garden was planted in 1911. We saw no rain until
September of that year. There were four cows to care for and some
chickens. Our first year on the homestead was difficult for we had
trouble with range cattle, but later we got up a fence which helped. The
winter of 1911 and 1912 brought heavy snow, and we could not get about
with our horse and buggy. A good neighbor made a sled and took us to
town to get our supplies. Every homestead around us was taken, many of
them by young single fellows. Our first real crop was five acres of flax
in 1912, and it seemed all years ending in the even numbers were good
years. Our expenses increased; more machinery was bought and we got in
debt. We rented more land, as homesteaders left the county. When the
children left, we had to hire help, as we could not manage alone.
We had some wonderful neighbors, the Spellmans, Herseys, Chas.
Young, the Schmidt brothers, Charles Bennett and to the north of us were
the Feltons, Diamonds, Njos', Dragesets and many others that I do not
recall.
By 1914, a schoolhouse was built and in this we had dances; our
music was a graphophone owned by Fred Little. Many happy hours were
spent together in good neighborliness until the flu got bad; then all
meetings were taboo, it was so fatal. For a time, we had a Red Cross
branch from Dupree, but that too was cut off by the flu illnesses.
When we got a crop, prices were low. However, our stock increased,
and we milked more cows to make our expenses. When an inheritance came
along, more land was bought. In 1932, we had a wonderful crop, but wheat
was 16 cents a bushel and oats 15 cents. The machine companies took back
the threshing machine and other farming implements. We sold our land to
keep going, until in 1941, we had one quarter left. In 1944 the place
was rented, and Mrs. Jeppson moved to Isabel, as Mr. Jeppson passed away
in 1943. In August, 1946, the land was sold for $1.00 per acre, and the
buyers did not make good the price at that. (Mrs. Jeppson lived in
Aberdeen and was 87 years of age in 1960.)
ORLIE W. JEWETT
Orlie W. Jewett was born February 22, 1910 in Pierre, South Dakota.
He attended school in Sturgis. In April 1934 he married Velma DeRoos in
Ft. Pierre, South Dakota. The couple ranched in the Dupree area until
1950. They then farmed for four years in the Arpan area, before moving
to Nisland. In 1960 they moved to Belle Fourche and he was the custodian
at the school until he retired in 1972. He was a charter member of the
Moose Lodge of Belle Fourche. Orlie died in June 1978 at the age of 68.
The Orlie Jewett children are: Orlin, Gary, Sandi, Sharon and
Ellen.
PEARL UNDERWOOD HANKINS JEWETT
written by Barbara Begeman
information by Frances Reich
Pearl Underwood was born August 31, 1882 in Redmond, Boon County,
Nebraska. In 1883 she and her family packed their belongings in a
covered wagon, joined a wagon train and headed for South Dakota. There
were ten families that traveled together and settled twenty miles east
of Rapid City on Rapid Creek Divide.
Pearl was married at the early age of -sixteen to Arthur James
Hankins. In 1900 a daughter, Helen Lillian, was born to them. She is now
Mrs. Walter Weaver, Whitewood, South Dakota. When Helen was eleven
months old, tragedy struck the Hankins household. Arthur became ill and
died.
As money was scarce, Pearl and baby Helen moved into Rapid City and
stayed with Arthur's sister. This lady took care of Helen while mother
Pearl worked at various jobs, usually in other people's homes taking
care of someone who was ill.
One source of entertainment in those days was dances. It was at one
of these functions that she met a handsome cowboy named Frank Jewett. In
1905 Pearl and Frank were married. Five children were born to this
union. George, Frances (my mother, Mrs. John Reich), Gladys, Orlie and
Ruth.
Frank ranched and by the time Frances was about seven, they lived
in a big house near the railroad tracks in Wasta. Pearl and Frank had
warned their children about railroad tramps. One day Mom and Dad Jewett
went to another town leaving all the children at home. The kids were
playing when Helen spotted a man coming to their house. Helen herded all
the children in the house and locked them in a closet with Frances
standing guard. The unknown fellow knocked on the door but not a sound
was heard. He eventually assumed no one was home and wandered on down
the railroad tracks. Apparently the Jewett clan was plenty scared as
Aunt Helen and Mother recall this incident quite vividly.
Mother attended first grade in Rapid City, second grade in Sulphur
and third through seventh in Sturgis. All this time Pearl worked as a
mid-wife and helped bring many babies into this world, in addition to
rearing her own.
When mother was an eighth grader, the Jewett family moved to the
Dupree area. She attended the eighth grade at the O'Donnell school which
was taught by Elmer Leckness.
They had become interested in this area through two Jewett
brothers, Bob and Oliver. The latter told Frank about the Robert Makes
Room ranch on the Little Moreau River which was for sale. Pearl, Frank
and family moved to this ranch. It later became the Chauncey Johnson
Ranch and is now owned by Curly Johnson.
The Jewetts lived on this place until 1927. At that time Pearl
moved into Dupree and began her job of nursing with Dr. Creamer. Frank
moved to Big Timber, Montana. Walt and Helen Weaver lived on the ranch.
Pearl's granddaughter, Lavonne Weaver, born June 25, 1927, was the
first child she helped deliver while working with Dr. Creamer. Pearl
worked for Dr. Creamer until ill health forced his retirement in 1949.
She returned to Sturgis at that time and lived with daughter Ruth. In
the 1960's she moved to Rapid City where she took care of a patient
until the patient passed away.
Pearl moved into a nursing home in Belle Fourche, later she was
moved to Sturgis.
As her grandchild, I don't remember Grandma until she had reached
her later years of life. I remember that she came to visit us only in
the summertime. The outdoor jaunts to the little biffy and no running
water were two things she liked to forget. I thought she was the
prettiest lady I had ever seen and certainly the grandest. She always
had her nails painted a bright red. It was the delight of her visit when
she would paint my nails red just like hers. When she was in good
health, after much pleading she would dance the jig for us much to the
delight of her grandchildren.
Pearl Underwood Hankins Jewett passed away at the Sturgis Hospital
on January 17, 1972 after suffering a stroke. She was eighty-nine.
PEARL JEWETT by Ruth Jewett Hurst
These memories I've been asked to share Of Pearl Jewett's work as a
nurse out there. The first hint of a hospital came
Just two blocks east of Main
In a three room house located between Jim Howard's home and Helen
Wenger.
The first baby born was Lavonne Weaver on June 25th, 1927, a girl
to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Weaver delivered by Dr. Creamer and Pearl Jewett.
With lots of babies and not enough space they had to move to
another place.
This building next to the Ziebach County News office, owned by Mr.
and Mrs. Lange was a hat shop. It was sold to Mrs. Effie Weaver, she ran
a hat shop. Dr. Creamer rented this larger place, it soon became crowded
but served them well while the new hospital was being built. They moved
into it two years later. Dr. Creamer's office was in the front with a
main street entrance. The hospital behind the office had a side entrance
with a neat board walk.
Nurses and helpers besides Pearl Jewett were Mrs. (Nettle) Ward
Zimmerman, Mrs. Walter Menzel and Hazel Sever.
Ill health forced Dr. Creamer to retire, they moved back to Boone,
Iowa. Mrs. Jewett returned to her old camping ground of Sturgis, South
Dakota. They delivered most of the babies of the area near Dupree from
1927 until 1949.
I, as Ruth Jewett, started the first dress shop at Dupree. Ruth's
Dress Shop kept me too busy to run the streets or spend time in the pool
halls. The Dupree Saturday night dances could never keep me home. These
were Dupree's goodies of the week!
My sister and her husband, Helen and Walt Weaver had an excellent
cafe there for lots of busy years. Another sister, Frances, and her
husband Johnnie Reich, have built a new home on their ranch north of
Dupree where they have raised their children, farmed and ranched for so
many years.
Time jets by but I can remember many experiences and lots of fun
that would take too much time and I've got to run.
Pearl Jewett, the nurse who held your hand
Brought the bed pan at your command,
Cooked your goodies
Served on a tray,
Spoiled your babies your ten day stay.
She was happy giving her best.
Now she and Dr. Creamer are both at rest,
God bless them!
THE CARL JOHNSON FAMILY
by Harold Johnson
My father, Carl Johnson, immigrated from Sweden in 1908 at the age
of eighteen. He often repeated the story of how all newcomers had to
have twenty-five dollars each to be admitted to the United States. He
didn't have it, so when they arrived at Ellis Island, he and a friend
connived to have one at the head of the inspection line and the other at
the rear. The front man used the money, rushed to the rear and gave it
to his friend so they both got by inspection. Imagine coming to a new,
strange land under these circumstances!
He went to Moline, Illinois where the shops were hiring "green"
immigrants for just the wages needed for a couple meals a day and a sack
to crawl in at night.
My mother, Gerda Clausen, came in 1912 and worked as a "Swedish
maid" for a doctor on Chicago's North Shore.
Dad worked in Illinois for a couple of years until the factory life
was getting the best of his health. He then worked on a farm in Iowa and
later on construction in Minnesota.
He heard about the free land in South Dakota and came to Ziebach
County in 1913 to file on the N.E. 1/4 12-11-20. He built the usual
shack and had a barn dug in the bank with a roof made of hay and straw.
As a quarter of land was not productive enough to provide even the
necessities for one bachelor, he worked at different jobs, staying on
the claim just long enough to comply with the requirements for proving
up.
Every quarter in this area had a claim holder on it. Many stayed
only a short time. Some around Dad's quarter were: James Price, John
Holt, Callens, Leakes, Solmonson's and Langes.
In 1918 Mother and a friend came out on vacation to this wonderful
land my father had been describing to her. She never went back to
Chicago and they were married on July 8, 1918.
I was born in the homestead shack on May 2, 1919 with Dr. Creamer
the attending physician.
A quarter of land was not enough. Some of the owners sold their
land, pocketed the money and leased larger places, others borrowed from
the State of South Dakota on what was known as Rural Credit. Very few
ever paid up these loans. Dad sold his homestead quarter and moved to
the John Grenhild place east of Cliff Birkeland's farm. Later they moved
to the G. P. Warner place along the Cherry Creek road.
My sister, Viola, was born here. My youngest sister, Carol was born
in the Dupree hospital.
In the fall of 1936 we bought the N. D. Jennerson farm where our
family still resides. The Chase postoffice was closed that year and the
Jennersons moved to Los Angeles to be near their son, George.
A source of income for the small farmer was the raising of turkeys.
Most families would have from fifty to one hundred turkeys each summer,
depending on how hungry the coyotes were or how many died from
"blackhead,' a disease like cholera that would really clean up a turkey
flock in a hurry. This money would be used to clothe the family for the
winter.
Viola and I attended Gage School. We rode the four miles on
horseback. The school was located one mile east of the present Clint
Farlee ranch. Carol attended the White Swan School.
I started working for the A.S.C.S. in Dupree in 1939 on a part-time
basis. I enlisted in the Navy in 1942 and served three and one-half
years in the Pacific area. I received my discharge in 1945 and returned
to Dupree. In 1946 I started working for the farm program as a range
inspector, which was mostly staking stock water dams. In 1953 I was
elected to the Ziebach County A.S.C.S. Committee. I served here for
twenty-one years, twenty years as chairman.
I married Neoma Bierman in 1956, and we have four boys. Mark works
for Montana Dakota Utilities in Lemmon. He is married to the former
Carolyn McDaniel. Douglas works for Dupree Lumber and Supply. Richard is
a student at the National College of Business in Rapid City, and Dale is
a sophomore in Dupree High School.
Viola graduated from Dupree High School, served as deputy auditor
and one term as auditor. She married Everett Shrader who was a teacher
in the Dupree school. He later became a pharmacist working in Belle
Fourche, Rapid City and is now in Denver nearing retirement from the
Walgreen Company. They have two children: David, working in Denver and
attending Colorado University; Donna is married and lives in California
with her husband who is in the Air Force.
Carol also graduated from Dupree High School. She was employed in
Belle Fourche where she met and married Leon Pope. They have two boys
Boyd and Brian. Brian is at home and Boyd is married to Tarah Ritchie
and they have one son, Brandon, the only great grandchild. They all live
in the Wichita, Kansas area.
Dad passed away December 24, 1959 at the age of seventy. Mother is
now ninety years old and lives with Viola in Denver.
CHAUNCEY L. JOHNSON
Chauncey L. Johnson was born October 14, 1881 at Peoria, Kansas.
Edith Johnson was born June 6, 1896 on the Missouri River south of La
Plant. At the age of 19 Chauncey went to work on the Narcisse Narcelle
ranch 20 miles south of Faith where he stayed for nine years. In 1909 he
went to work as foreman for Mrs. Herbert on the 24 Ranch, eight miles
north of Lantry on Bear Creek. While there he homesteaded two miles west
of the ranch and married his first wife, Josephine, who died in 1918. In
1919 he moved to California and later returned to Timber Lake and there
he married Edith Pearman. Edith had attended St. Elizabeth Mission,
Pierre Indian School and graduated from Haskell Institute at Lawrence,
Kansas. She later was a matron in the Pierre Indian School and in 1919
moved to Timber Lake. The couple lived on a ranch` northeast of Dupree
most of their lives. Chauncey died November, 1974 at the age of 93 and
Edith died in August 1974 at the age of 78. The Johnson children are
Anthony (Curley) Johnson, Ella Belle Tomlin, Mrs. Lawrence (Evelyn)
O'Leary, Mrs. F. C. (Eda Jewell) Reno, Jr., Mrs. Billy J. (Betty) Brooks
and Mrs. Dean (Emma Lu) Reeves.
THE CHESTER JOHNSON FAMILY
by Gertrude Trask
Chester was the son of Christopher Johnson, who immigrated to
Carthage, South Dakota from near Trondhiem, Norway in 1887; and Gertrude
Ness who immigrated to South Dakota from near Hardanger, Norway in 1884.
His parents were married in Sioux Falls in 1891 and came to Faith, South
Dakota in 1910 to homestead on a location 4 miles north of town in
Perkins County. Chester was 16 years of age at that time. His brothers
and sisters were: Inez (who married in eastern Dakota), Inga, Jesse,
Violet, Elsie, Curtis, Laura, Maurice and Arthur. He worked at many
jobs, farming for his father, breaking land with horses and plow for
other settlers, delivering milk to the residents of Faith and clerking
in George W. Jenks grocery store. He recalls the excitement of January
12, 1911 when the first train came to Faith. On July 23, 1916, he filed
on a homestead south and east of Faith, on Mud Creek in Ziebach County.
Kate Spilman was also a child of immigrants. Daniel Spilman, the
son of a Vicar of Yorkshire, England, came to America from England in
1868. Kate's mother, Thea Anderson, came to America from Valders, Norway
which was situated in Hollingdal Valley. In the summer of 1914 Kate came
by train to Faith to visit her brother Tom who had a "claim" 15 miles
north of Faith near the Moreau River. When she arrived she learned, to
her dismay, that brother Tom had gone to the harvest fields in North
Dakota. Kindly neighbors, the Joe Miller family, invited her to stay
with them until Tom returned. Kate learned to love the prairie, and the
people, and when she returned home to Iowa to fulfill her teaching
contract, which was for a term of 2 months, it was with a promise that
she would return later in the fall to teach school on the Moreau River.
When she returned, she filed on a 'claim' adjoining her brother Tom. She
never returned to her native Iowa to live, and in October of 1916 she
and Chester Johnson were married at Bison, South Dakota. They went to
live on Chesters homestead on Mud Creek.
They lived on this Mud Creek ranch for about a quarter of a
century, and next to their children, they loved this ranch as much as
anything on earth. Seven children were born to them: Daniel, Gertrude,
Kenneth, Thelma, Russell, Ethel, and Beverly. In June of 1943 they were
saddened when their youngest son, Russell, was killed by lightning while
riding on the prairie during a sudden thunderstorm. They turned the
operation of the ranch over to their son, Kenneth, and he and his wife
have continued to live there for almost 40 years.
Daniel, the oldest son, was graduated from the South Dakota School
of Mines in 1940, holding a degree in Chemical Engineering. He married
Adeline Knutson of Rapid City and they have three children: Sharon,
Marion and David. Dan had lived in Seattle working for Boeing for 25
years prior to his death from cancer in 1980.
Gertrude attended college at Spearfish and became a teacher. During
the summer months she worked at a Black Hills Resort near Hill City,
where she met Kenneth Trask. They were married in 1939 and have three
children: Belva, Virginia and Alien. They operated a Ford agency in
Custer 20 years prior to Kenny's death of a heart attack in 1975.
Kenneth married Carol Frame in 1940. Thelma married Jim Frame in 1941.
Ethel was married to Lester Lammers in 1951. She had one daughter
Leslie, Mrs. Raymond Driving Hawk of Mission, South Dakota. Leslie died
September 17, 1982 of a lingering illness. Ethel lives in the Dupree
Manor.
In 1955 Beverly was married to Dan Lindblom whom she met while
attending college in Brookings. They have six children: Greg, Owen,
David, Mary, Scott, and Ryan. Bev and Dan live on a ranch near Rapid
City.
Kate and Chester celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary in 1980.
Kate passed away at Sturgis in March of 1981 and is buried in the family
plot at Faith, South Dakota. Chester continues to live at their home in
Sturgis.
[photo - Kate and Chester Johnson, wedding picture 1916]
[photo - Kate and Chester Johnson on their 50th wedding anniversary.
Beverly, Kenneth, Thelma, Ethel, Daniel and Gertrude]
JOHN J. and BERTHA E. (HALLEM) JOHNSON
by Mrs. Robert Hoherz
John J. Johnson was born in 1877 in Dell Rapids, South Dakota and
died in Glendale, California in 1956. Bertha Hallem was born in Sweden
in 1881. Her parents were Norwegian. She died in Glendale, California in
1972.
Her mother passed away in 1884 and the next year the family moved
to the United States. Bertha, her sister Anna and two brothers were
raised in the homes of relatives near Sioux Falls.
John and Bertha were married in 1899 at Garretson, South Dakota.
Fifteen years later, with five daughters and a son, they came to Eagle
Butte. They stayed at the Art Chalmers home (Anna was her sister) until
a house they purchased could be moved eight miles southwest of Eagle
Butte to their homestead. They had 320 acres in Ziebach County. Lutheran
church services and school classes were held in one of the rooms of the
Johnson home. G. M. Drummond taught Myrtle and Edith in their 7th and
8th grades. He was also high school superintendent in 1915 when Myrtle
attended her freshman year. There was a teacher shortage, she attended
summer school in 1915, then taught the Hoxing school for two years.
Their last child, E. Vincent, was born on the farm in 1916.
In 1919 the farm home was destroyed by fire. It occurred on a
Monday--wash day for our family. As a result we were all wearing our
oldest clothing and that was all that was salvaged from the fire. Ralph
Hallem, Bertha's father, was an experienced carpenter so he, with the
help of family and neighbors immediately constructed another home. It
was enclosed so we could move in before winter. This was a two story,
five bedroom home with large dining room, living room and kitchen. There
was a floor furnace, hardwood floors and a basement.
The oldest daughter, Myrtle, was engaged to be married to Frank
Peterson. Her wedding dress and all shower gifts were lost in the fire
that destroyed the Johnson home in 1919. She replaced her dress and
received additional gifts that were stored at the home of Uncle Art and
Aunt Emma Chalmers in Eagle Butte. While the Chalmers were helping
volunteers replace the Johnson home, their home burned to the ground.
Also stored in their home were items such as a sewing machine, dishes,
cooking utensils, clothing and new material for clothing, etc. given to
the Johnson family. Myrtle and Frank were married in 1919, their
children are Ernest and Viola Faye.
The school built in 1919 was called the Johnson School. John and
Harry Weeks served on the school board for several years. A teacher who
bearded at the Johnson home was Grace Ronninger. There was no school
dormitory, traveling eight miles daily was impossible so the Johnsons
moved to Eagle Butte in 1927 where Fern, Maurice, Margaret, Ilda and
Vincent graduated from high school.
John and Bertha operated a cafe for two years. John became school
custodian and continued that for twenty-three years. He took a very
special interest in the school grounds, planted trees and carried water
for them. When running water was available in 1930 he planted many more
shrubs and trees.
Bertha had delivered many babies and in 1928 began operating a
maternity home. They purchased the Starkey home and lived there until
moving to California in 1949. Their home in the country was moved into
Eagle Butte and is still occupied.
Bertha "Muzzle" was the only one in the family and was the only one
in the neighborhood to escape the 1918 flu epidemic which took many
lives. She cared for the family and livestock and also helped many
stricken neighbors.
The family never had a Christmas tree in their home, but the
children would hang up stockings with much excitement and the
expectation of receiving an apple, orange, some candy and peanuts.
Besides the stocking often would be much needed shoes or boots.
Christmas morning hours were spent in glee, counting candy and nuts to
determine how long they would last if only one piece a day was eaten!
The much valued boots or shoes were tried on many times.
Prior to Christmas, mother would do much baking and popped corn for
us to string along with cranberries for the tree at school. The program
and tree was perhaps the highlight of the year! Dressed in their very
best, perhaps a new dress if mother could manage to make it, all the
children performed in the program. Lighting the tree with real candles
was a great delight. Parents stood by to guard against a tree fire.
Refreshments were shared by every one.
Social gatherings were held in the Johnson home in the winter, and
near the creek in summertime. There would be dancing and visiting, John
would provide music with his fiddle. Extra large groups were served
coffee made in the copper boiler, the only container large enough. The
women made ice cream in the summer, the men turned the cranks.
MR. and MRS. KENNETH JOHNSON
[photo - Kenneth and Carol Johnson - 1947 Dennis, Arlyce, Cheryl, Dean]
Kenneth Johnson and Carol Frame were married November 21, 1940.
They worked on the ranch with Kenneth's father, Chester Johnson. In 1943
Kenneth took over his father's ranch and operated on a partnership basis
until 1967 when he purchased the home place.
Kenneth and Carol raised sheep for many years with some cattle as a
sideline. Low prices, lack of good help, and loss from coyotes made the
sheep business very discouraging. Kenneth sold the sheep and went into
the cattle business.
Kenneth and Carol have four children, two boys and two girls.
Dennis Marvin was born October 11, 1941 at Dupree, South Dakota. He
attended elementary grades at the Mud Butte rural school, high school in
Faith, and graduated from the School of Mines in Rapid City as a
Commissioned Officer and with a degree in metallurgy. He went into the
armed service and spent time in Germany, later in the First Cavalry in
Vietnam. He returned to the United States and spent another year in the
service at Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was married to
Welma Hawkins in Colorado Springs. Dennis and Welma have two children,
Angelique and Lyle Eric. Dennis and his family have resided in Arvada,
Colorado for a number of years where he is employed by Hazen Industries,
a metal research company.
Dean Malvin was born February 2, 1945 in Pierre, South Dakota. he
attended the Mud Butte rural elementary school and high school in Faith,
South Dakota. He joined the National Guard after graduation and spent
several years in the service. He was married to Barbara Highline in
Washington state. They returned to the Faith area and worked for several
local ranchers. Dean and Barbara had two children, Devin and Rebecca.
The couple was later divorced and Dean married Judy Griffith whom he met
where he was working near Loveland, Colorado. Dean and Judy have three
children, Christopher Warren, John Isaacs, and Russel Dean.
Dean and Judy have purchased the Lloyd Dunbar land adjoining his
father and they engage in both farming and ranching.
Arlyce Marilyn Johnson was born December 4, 1944 at Dupree, South
Dakota. She attended elementary grades at the Mud Butte rural school,
high school in Faith, and graduated from Dakota Wesleyan at Mitchell
with a degree in elementary education. She was married to Harry (Butch)
Krause in 1966. Arlyce and Butch have three children, Kyle Lynn, Kenneth
Wayne, and Karyl Anne, all of whom are attending school in Faith. They
live about one mile east of Faith on the place formerly owned by Harry
Krause Sr. Arlyce is teaching in the Faith school and Butch is in
partnership with his father in the meat processing business in Faith.
Cheryl Marlene Johnson was born December 30, 1945 at Dupree, South
Dakota. She attended elementary grades at the Mud Butte rural school,
high school in Faith, and graduated from college in Greeley, Colorado
with a teaching degree in Home Economics. She was married to Alan Fowler
from Faith in 1965 while she was still in college. After her graduation
they moved to Loveland, Colorado where Alan was employed by Hulett-
Packard. They later moved back to Faith. Alan and Cheryl have two
children, Darin and Faith, who are attending school in Faith. The
Fowlers have established their own Prairie Gold Honey business in Faith.
Cheryl works part time at the post office.
Kenneth continues to operate the ranch which he has expanded
considerably by purchasing adjoining land when it was available. Carol
taught school for many years and is now elementary principal for the
Faith School District.
Kenneth and Carol have purchased a new home in Faith, but as yet,
are still living and working on the ranch.
ART and FREDA JONES
by Art Jones
We were both born in Nebraska but came to Gregory County, South
Dakota at the tender age of one year. My folks came to Burke, South
Dakota from Columbus, Nebraska, in 1905, in two covered wagons. My older
brother, who is still alive and well at 92, drove one of the wagons. He
was only fourteen at the time, but still remembers the trip well.
Freda's folks came to Naper, Nebraska. She too moved into South
Dakota when a baby but only over the state line to Herrick, South
Dakota. She moved with her family to Ziebach County in 1918 and I guess
she could qualify as a pioneer. She is the oldest living member of the
Dupree Congregational Church (United Church of Christ).
My family did not come to Dupree until 1932--that period of history
is now known as the "Good Old Days." Going back to that time of the
'Dirty Thirties', there are many changes in Ziebach County as everywhere
else, some good and some bad. A lot of people now think they have rough
going. Everyone today should experience one year of living then--no
money, no jobs, no crops and no welfare, no Social Security and you
really had to make it the hard way or not at all. On the other hand,
nobody had anything, so everybody was friends and would share. That, of
course, was before the affluent society, the me and I time. We have only
one big problem today and that is we have been blessed with too much of
everything.
The physical changes in Ziebach County have been great, due to the
outside help. The greatest need is and always will be water and
rainfall. Building of stock dams in western South Dakota has been the
greatest accomplishment in the improvement of physical conditions. The
second greatest item to improve conditions in Ziebach County was
beginning of larger units of operation, better farming practices and
above all, better equipment and better seeds. A lot of sage brush and
"hard pan" has been put into good producing land. Now it must be taken
care of from year to year and not left to blow away.
Perhaps the greatest handicap is lack of medical facilities. It is
too bad that something in this line couldn't have been accomplished
twenty or thirty years ago, at Dupree, the center of the entire area.
But this was not to be. Now it means long travel for anyone needing
medical aid. For those who do not have children or other close relatives
it means that you must infringe on other people to get you there. This
is especially true of older people. The next best thing is that you move
to where those medical facilities are located.
This is not much of a historical report but does express things
that concern Ziebach County. Freda and I both shall never forget the
almost fifty years we lived in Ziebach County and for our four wonderful
children that grew up there, we know that they are better because of it.
Nor, will we forget the friendly people and help we got in the "Dirty
Thirties." We would be in Dupree yet if it were not for medical and
other problems that go with older age.
Freda and I feel this writing is 'historical' and hope it may
encourage others to write of their life and experiences in the past or
present in Ziebach County. History is made by people at certain periods
of time.
[photo - Freda and Art Jones]
ELBERT (Eb) JONES
submitted from memories of Jackie Birkeland
Eb was born at Sioux Point, Dakota Territory, April 3, 1866. His
father and mother, John Milton Jones and Sophia Dicy Swift, married at
Sioux Falls, Iowa in 1864. Eb worked for many cattle outfits and was a
scout for the United States Army.
In 1888 he and Julie Anne Langlois of Valentine, Nebraska were
married. Her father, Joe Langlois had been a scout with Lieutenant
Colonel George A. Custer in Kansas. He later came to Ft. Pierre, then
lived near the forks of the Cheyenne River.
In 1906 Eb and Julie Anne Jones moved to Cherry Creek where the
children could go to school. It was there that they lost their 13-
yearold daughter, Sophia Dicy. In 1908 Eb was elected County
Commissioner of Stanley County, an honor he relinquished after moving to
Dupree. There he was appointed deputy sheriff.
At Dupree Eb was engaged, with partners, in the activity of
locating homesteaders. Their work was extensive and they had offices in
Aberdeen, LeBeau and Dupree. In the dry year of 1911, Eb was forced to
move his stock to the Moreau River for feed. While they were up there,
he and a daughter were employed in making two pictures for a movie
company. He furnished seventy-five head of horses at a pretty fair
price.
Eb's wife died in the spring of 1928 while in Wyoming and is buried
at Wheatland. He purchased and moved to a place on Cherry Creek, fifteen
miles from the mouth of that stream. His home there was a dugout type
house, the back room served as a cellar. The house was very cool in
summer and warm in winter with windows facing the south.
In 1931 Eb and Dessie Jamieson were married. They had known each
other for forty years. They lived there until 1936 when they moved to
Whitewood, South Dakota. Eb passed away there at the age of 72 on
February 17, 1939.
Eb served Greater Stanley County as deputy sheriff, U.S. Marshall
and county commissioner. While in Ziebach County and with the coming of
the railroad in 1910, he founded the town of Dupree, built its first
store and post office, a land office building and a livery stable, and
the Ziebach County News. His formal education ended with the 4th grade.
At that time he joined his father in a long freighting trip along the
east bank of the Missouri River to Ft. Berthold about 150 miles above
Bismarck, North Dakota. He was then ten years old and doing a man's work
as far as his size permitted. (The above submitted by Leonard Linn from
notes left by his mother, Alice Linn).
Eb and his second wife, Dessie Jamison Jones, were our friends and
neighbors where we lived several miles apart, he on Ash Creek and we on
Cherry Creek. He spoke the Indian language fluently and was a great
historian and story teller. Unfortunately, his lifetime diary was lost
when their home burned. He pointed out to me the pine covered draw near
the Francis Straighthead place, just up the creek from the old Carson
Day School, where the Indians fled south just before the Battle of
Wounded Knee. This is just below the old Sword and Dagger headquarters,
on the south side of Cherry Creek.
In about 1931, my sister and I accompanied Eb and Dessie to Rapid
City. The purpose of the trip was to see the launching of a stratosphere
balloon from a natural "bowl" near Rapid City. It did not lift off and a
subsequent attempt wasn't successful. We stopped at the Ben Ash monument
west of Faith and he told us of his old friend. The inscription reads:
"The Trail Blazers here on December 26, 1875, Ben Ash, S. C. Dodge, Russ
Marsh, Ed Donahue and Stimmy Stimson on their trip from Bismarck through
the Indian country first sighted the Black Hills."
We camped in a tent while in Rapid City. Mrs. Jones, a Christian
Scientist, went to a revivalist meeting. The next day we drove to the
Veteran's Home in Hot Springs where my sister and I had the pleasure of
meeting Ben Ash and enjoy the reunion of old friends, listening to their
stories. Ben Ash was very old and blind.
[photo - Eb Jones (SDSHS)]
SEYMOUR JONES
Seymour Jones was born Apri1 29, 1899 on the Rosebud Reservation. He
attended rural school in Gregory and graduated from high school in
Santee, Nebraska. He attended Yankton College and later worked in the
shipyards on the west coast. He married Louise Fisherman White Feather
and they lived in Rapid City. He retired in 1962 and returned to Dupree.
He was a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge and the United Church of Christ
in Dupree. He died in December 1973.