Biographies
A to F
1915

BENEDICT, WILLIS E. Willis E. Benedict, engaged in the practice of law in Belle Fourche and financially interested in other business affairs and property in Butte county, was born in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, near Belmont, July 16, 1858, a son of Hiram F. and Lydia A. (Thompson) Benedict, who were natives of New York, born December 26, 1830, and September 26, 1832, respectively. The father learned the carpenter's trade in early life and in 1871 came to South Dakota, settling in Lincoln county, near Canton, where he homesteaded. In connection with the development of his land he worked at his trade in that county up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1901. He proved a worthy and influential citizen and held various offices in connection with the schools, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion.  In a family of four children Willis E. Benedict was the eldest and his education was acquired through attendance at the schools of Darlington, Wisconsin, and of Lincoln county, this state, attending the latter through the winter terms. That district was then a frontier settlement and the schools of the county had not attained their present condition of excellence, but he made good use of his opportunities and throughout his life has embraced every chance to further his knowledge. When sixteen years of age he taught all the rural schools of Lincoln county but continued to reside at home until he attained his majority. He was then a reporter and assistant on the Sioux Valley News at Canton until he was elected county superintendent in 1884. He occupied that position acceptably for two terms, bringing about various needed improvements in connection with the schools, and on retiring from the position he went upon the road for a year, representing the Sioux Falls Daily, a paper owned and edited by the firm of Caldwell & Bliss. In the spring of 1889 he made his way west of the river, having purchased an interest in the Hot Springs Star. He afterward became sole owner of that paper, which he conducted for three years, and in the meantime he took up the study of law, which he carefully and thoroughly pursued until admitted to the bar on the 30th of March, 1887. He practiced at Hot Springs for a time in connection with the publication of the newspaper but in 1892 disposed of his interest in the Star and removed to Custer, South Dakota, where he engaged in law practice for twelve or thirteen years. He then came to Belle Fourche, where he has practiced continuously since, and is now accorded a good clientage, which is an indication of the ability which he displays in handling the work of the courts. He owns land in South Dakota, including both ranch and irrigated farm property, and he also has farm lands in the eastern part of the state, but he devotes the greater part of his time and attention to his law practice, which is constantly growing in volume and importance.  Mr. Benedict has always been very active in political circles. He votes with the republican party and has done much to further its interests and win success for its candidates. Aside from serving as county superintendent of schools in Lincoln county he filled the office of states attorney of Custer county in 1895 and 1896 and was elected to the state senate from the district comprising Custer and Fall River counties, serving during the session of 1899. He was afterward elected from Custer county as its representative in the lower house of the general assembly, serving during the session of 1901. He has been a member of school boards and acted as city police justice under the first city election of Hot Springs. No one has ever questioned his fidelity to a public offic, which he has ever regarded as a public trust, and it is a well known fact that no trust reposed in Mr. Benedict has ever been betrayed.  On the 12th of August, 1889, occurred the marriage of Willis E. Benedict and Miss Maude Ionia Druse, a native of McHenry county, Illinois, in which state her father passed away, while her mother afterward removed to the vicinity of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and is now living with a son in Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Benedict have one child, Marjorie Alice, who is a teacher. She was educated in the public schools of Custer and Belle Fourche, in All Saints College at Sioux Falls and in Oberlin College at Oberlin, Ohio. The family hold membership in the Congregational church and Mr. Benedict likewise has membership relations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is past grand master of the state, having been elected in 1895, and for five years he was a representative in the Sovereign Grand Lodge. He has also been chairman of the judiciary committee in the Grand Lodge. He likewise belongs to the blue lodge Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Benedict is today one of the pioneer residents of South Dakota, his father having reached Lincoln county in 1871, while he came to this state in the spring of 1872. Forty-three years have since passed, years in which time and man have wrought wonderful changes, developing the district from a wild and sparsely settled frontier region into one of the populous and prosperous commonwealths of the Union. BENNETT, FRANKLIN E. Among the prominent citizens of Belle Fourche is Franklin E. Bennett, who has many business interests in that part of the state and is engaged in breeding pure bred stock on a large scale. He was born in La Salle, Illinois, January 20, 1865, the eldest of five children whose parents were William C. and Florence (De Merritt) Bennett. The father was born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, August 10, 1836, and the mother in Portland, Maine, in 1845. William C. Bennett engaged in steamboating in early life and in the '50s emigrated from eastern Pennsylvania to Illinois, where he was employed on the river during the Civil war and afterward until 1868. In that year he entered the employ of Deere & Company at Moline, with whom he remained until 1871. He then became connected with the Barnard & Las Manufacturing Company of that city, and is still president of that company and an important factor in the industrial interests of his locality. He served as mayor of Moline for one term and the affairs of the city were managed in an efficient, businesslike manner during his administration. His wife passed away in 1881. Franklin E. Bennett attended high school at Moline and for a short time was a student in a business college at Davenport, Iowa. When fifteen years of age he went west and worked for others, herding cattle in central Nebraska for a time, after which he returned home. When twenty years of age he entered the employ of the Deere & Mansure Company at Moline as stenographer and paymaster and was connected with that concern until 1887. In August of that year he went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was employed as office man by the Wilford & Northway Manufacturing Company until the spring of 1891, when he came to Belle Fourche and in association with a Mr. Teall erected a flour mill. He was engaged in the milling business until 1903 or 1904 and from 1893 to 1906 also dealt in lumber. These connections were not his only interests as he was identified with the waterworks and also with the Belle Fourche Electric Light & Power Company, which is now the Belle Fourche Consolidated Power & Light Company. He is now president of the company which publishes the Belle Fouche Bee, a wide-awake and enterprising weekly newspaper. His attention at present, however, is mainly given to the breeding and raising of pure bred Rambouillets as a member of the firm of Cock & Bennett, which owns extensive grazing lands in Butte county. Mr. Bennett was married on the 15th of October, 1890, to Miss Gertrude Teall. She was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, of the marriage of Benjamin F. and Julia (Van Cleef) Teall, both of whom were born in the vicinity of Seneca, New York. Mr. Teall engaged in mercantile business and in 1891 came with his family to Belle Fouche. He formed a partnership with Mr. Bennett and the firm built a mill with which he was connected until his death in 1902. His widow is still living in Belle Fourche, To their union were born three children, of whom Mrs. Bennett is the eldest. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have two children: Franklin Teall, whose birth occurred July 25, 1892; and Sara L., born June 3, 1894. Both are attending the University of Minnesota. Mr. Bennett is a republican and was county auditor of Butte county from March 1, 1913 to March 1, 1915. For two terms he was county treasurer and that his record in that connection was satisfactory to his constituents is proven by his being chosen county auditor. He likewise served for two terms as trustee of the township board. He is a member of the Masonic blue lodge and chapter and served as master for two terms and is at present secretary. He likewise holds membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Strict attention to business, conformity to high standards of morality and the exercise of sound judgment have brought him to his present position as one of the well-to-do men of his county, and he possesses the goodwill and esteem of those who have been brought in contact with him. BROWN, JUDGE THERON G. Theron G. Brown is engaged in the real-estate, loan, insurance and abstract business at Belle Fourche, conducting his interests under the name of the Belle Fourche Realty Company. He is perhaps even more widely known as county judge of Butte county, serving for the fourth term upon the bench. He was born near Ithaca, in Tompkins county, New York, March 21, 1856, a son of Aaron and Elizabeth (Gibbs) Brown, who were natives of Lansing township, Tompkins county, the former born August 23, 1832, and the latter on the 30th of July, 1836. The father followed farming practically throughout his entire life, but in 1865 removed to Rochester, Minnesota, where he engaged in merchandising for a number of years. Later, however, he resumed farming and continued to make his home in that locality until the death of his wife in 1912, after which he removed to Belle Fourche to live with his son. He is still the owner of property in Rochester, Minnesota, where he was a well known and highly respected citizen, holding various local offices there. Theron G. Brown, the oldest of five children, was about nine years of age when his parents removed to Rochester, Minnesota, where he attended school until he had completed the work of the eighth grade. Later he became a student in the Phonographic Institute at Ithaca, New York. He remained with his parents until he attained his majority, and it was after this that he attended the shorthand school at Ithaca, in which he spent two and a half years. He then made his way to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he accepted the position of official stenographer for the eighth district under Judges Kidder and Palmer, acting in that capacity for eight years. During that time he was at the head of a shorthand school for five or six years and likewise acted as state agent for the Remington typewriter, being the pioneer agent in that field in South Dakota. He afterward spent one year in the Moody County Bank and then returned to Sioux Falls, where he conducted a shirt factory for two years. On leaving Sioux Falls in 1897 he removed to Howard, where he engaged in the real estate and insurance business for about a year. He then went to De Smet, where he conducted an abstract business for about four years, and while the family resided in De Smet he was employed as bookkeeper at Iroquois for a year. Later he was bookkeeper in the state auditor,s office under Richard Halliday, and when the latter retired from office Judge Brown removed to Belle Fourche in 1907, opened a set of abstract books and also established an insurance, loan and real-estate business, which he is now conducting under the name of the Belle Fourche Realty Company. He owns land and has handled much property for others, having secured a good clientage in these different branches of the business. Judge Brown has been married twice. In Sioux Falls, in 1881, he wedded Miss Cora B. Chamberlain, who was born near Rochester, Minnesota, a daughter of Henry J. and Catherine Chamberlain, who were natives of New England. They removed to Minnesota, where the mother died, and the father now makes his home in Los Angeles, California. Mrs. Brown passed away in August, 1890, leaving three children: Florence H., who has charge of vital statistics in the office of Doan Robinson: Curtis C.. associated with his father in business; and Bessie E., who died in Sioux Falls at the age of seven years. In 1896 Mr. Brown wedded Miss Harriet O. Griswold, who was born in Beaver, Pennsylvania, December 22, 1854, a daughter of Lester and Fannie (Gates) Griswold, the former born October 28, 1817, and the latter April 5, 1820. They removed westward to Spring Valley, Minnesota, where the father engaged in merchandising, but both he and his wife are now deceased. To the second marriage of Judge Brown there have been born four children, of whom one died in infancy, the others being Huldah M., Harold G. and Wallace A. The family attend the Congregational church, of which the parents are members, and Judge Brown also holds membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has taken the degrees in various branches of that order, is the present secretary of the local lodge and was grand master of South Dakota in 1902. In politics he is a republican and is now serving for the fourth term as county judge. He filled the office of city auditor of Sioux Falls and was justice of the peace in Sanborn county, South Dakota. He acted as official stenographer at both of the constitutional conventions and the original state constitution is largely in his writing. He has proved himself a worthy and valued citizen during the years of his residence in South Dakota and has been actively connected with various important events which have shaped its history. BUTTS, MILTON WALLACE One of the prominent and successful business men of Belle Fourche is Milton Wallace Butts, who is a dealer in ice, coal and fuel and also conducts a livery and transfer business. He was born in Linn county, Kansas, October 2, 1861, a son of Milton Wallace and Cynthia A. (Dunham) Butts, natives of New York and Ohio respectively The father emigrated from New York to Illinois and thence to Indiana, where his marriage occurred. He later removed to Kansas and in 1862 went to Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, where he followed agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his life, passing away in 1902, eight years after the death of his wife, who died in 1894. Milton Wallace Butts was the fourth in order of birth in a family of five children and his educational opportunities were those afforded by the schools of Cerro Gordo county, Iowa. When but seventeen years of age he began farming rented land in Iowa, being so occupied until twenty-one, when he removed to St. Onge, South Dakota. He worked for others for a few years upon farms and was then employed in Belle Fourche for a year. Following that he was on the range for two years and then engaged in the transfer business in Belle Fourche until 1896. In that year he was elected sheriff, but after serving for a year joined the rush to the Alaskan gold fields, spending two years at Dawson City and three years at Cape Nome. Although his mining ventures did not prove a financial success, he has never regretted going and can never forget his many experiences in the far north. He went from Dawson City to Cape Nome, a distance by trail of over eighteen hundred miles, with a dog team, leaving the former place on the 16th of February and arriving at Cape Nome on the 2d of April. Upon leaving Alaska Mr. Butts returned to Belle Fourche and engaged in the transfer and livery business. For some time he had from fifteen to twenty-five driving teams but of later years has kept but six driving teams, while he uses from six to eight teams in the transfer business. He also deals in ice, coal and fuel, which is proving a profitable venture. Mr. Butts and his partner own a whole block of valuable city property, including their livery and transfer barns, but the ice houses, storehouses, coal sheds, etc., are located elsewhere. Mr. Butts was married in June, 1904, to Miss Pearl Helm, a native of Mitchell county, Iowa. Her parents, William and Keziah (Davis) Helm, were both born in Wisconsin, whence they removed to Iowa, spending the remainder of their lives in that state. The mother died in 1903 and the father in 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Butts have a son, Wallace, whose natal day was June 20, 1908. Mr. Butts is a democrat and, as before stated, was elected sheriff of Butte county in 1896 but resigned in 1897 to go to Alaska. For three terms he has been a member of the city council of Belle Fourche and casts his vote for many measures that have proved of value to his municipality. He belongs to the Masonic order, holding membership in all of the Scottish Rite bodies from the blue lodge to the consistory and having also crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is likewise identified with the bBenevolent Protective Order of Elks and not only in the organizations named but also in business and social circles is highly respected and esteemed. COCK, FRANK R. Frank R. Cock is a prominent rancher living at Belle Fourche and has made a most creditable record as a state official, serving as a member of the South Dakota live-stock sanitary board. Perhaps no resident of the state is better qualified for this office and none could display greater loyalty in the discharge of duty. He was born in Davenport, Iowa, April 30, 1867. His father, Charles C. Cock, was a native of Ohio, and in 1862 removed westward to Iowa, where he turned his attention to the manufacture of farm implements for a time and later to the sale of implements, remaining actively and successfully in that business until his death, which occurred in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1899. He took an active and helpful interest in local affairs and was for many years a member of the city council of Davenport during his residence there. He married Rebecca Raff, a native of Ohio, who still survives and makes her home in St. Joseph, Missouri. She is of Holland Dutch ancestry, tracing her lineage back to the settlement of New Amsterdam. The ancestors of the Cock family were associates of William Penn in the early settlement of Pennsylvania and were devout adherents of the Quaker faith. Frank R. Cock was the second in a family of four children and spending his youthful days in Davenport, Iowa, he pursued his education in its public schools, passing through consecutive grades to the high school. In 1884 he went to Central City, Nebraska, and there had his first experience in the live-stock business as an employee on his uncle's ranch. At the end of a year he removed to Lincoln county, Nebraska, where he began ranching on his own account and in 1889 he came to South Dakota, settling in Belle Fourche valley, where he has since been largely interested in the conduct of a ranch, meeting with excellent success in his undertakings. At the present time he is operating a ranch of twelve hundred acres in Butte county, employing the latest improved and approved methods in the conduct of his business. He has been for many years a persistent and discriminating student of the diseases of farm animals and their eradication, or better still, their prevention, and his valuable work in that direction made him one of the logical appointees when the state department of live-stock sanitation was created in 1909. He has served continuously since on the live-stock sanitary board, also acting as its secretary. In 1913 when the department was thoroughly reorganized he was the only member reappointed, a fact which is highly complimentary and indicates in no uncertain terms the ability which he displayed and the fidelity with which he discharged the duties devolving upon him. The administration of his duties has been marked by an intelligent, earnest zeal in behalf of the stock-growing interests of the state and his activities have proven a distinct asset to the industry. Largely through his efforts the department has been brought to a high working efficiency and has eliminated the hardship of frequent federal quarantines characteristic of the earlier days. Mr. Cock was married April 17, 1895, to Miss Louise C. Teall, a daughter of B. F. and Julia Phelps (Van Cleef) Teall, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. They have had two children but the son, Charles C., is deceased. The only living child is Dorothy G. G. The family attend the Congregational church and Mr. Cock holds membership in the Masonic fraternity. In politics he has always been a stalwart republican but not an office seeker in the usually accepted sense of the term. He served for a number of years as a member of the Belle Fourche school board and for several years was its president, wisely directing the interests of the schools along the lines of progress, making the system one of thorough preparation for life's practical and responsible duties. He finds his recreation in big game hunting and has secured various trophies of the chase. DUBA, FRANK E. As cashier of the Belle Fourche State Bank, Frank E. Duba occupies an important position for one of his years. He has just completed his third decade, his birth occurring in Brule county, South Dakota, December 16, 1884. His parents, John A. and Annie (Vasicek) Duba, were both natives of Bohemia, where they were reared and married. The father in early manhood followed general farming but after removing to Sioux City, Iowa, was in the employ of the street railway company for about six years. In the winter of 1896 he returned to his farm, where he still remains, although he leaves its operation to others. He has three hundred and twenty acres in the home place and is also the owner of other valuable land in South Dakota. Frank E. Duba is the fourth in order of birth in a family of five children and attended both the Sioux City schools and the country schools near the homestead, walking five miles each way. He did not think that a hardship, however, and maintains that he received more benefit from the district schools than from any other. He also attended the Kimball high school. When not yet sixteen years of age he found employment as messenger boy in a bank conducted by A. C. Whitbeck. He soon demonstrated his ability to do more important work and was given a chance to help in the bookkeeping. As his knowledge increased he was given more and more responsibility and in a comparatively short time had charge of the books of the bank. Later he was made bookkeeper in another bank opened by Mr. Whitbeck, with which institution he remained for about four years. In that time he had won still further promotion and by the time that he left the bank he held the position of assistant cashier. He next entered the Chamberlain State Bank as assistant cashier and a year later purchased stock in the Bank of Bijou Hills and became its cashier. When he assumed charge of its affairs the deposits were thirty-eight hundred dollars and in 1910, when he severed his connection with the institution, the deposits had grown to the sum of sixty-four thousand dollars, which increase is the best proof of his capability as cashier and manager. He had also bought more stock until at the time of leaving he owned a controlling interest which, however, he sold. His next removal was to Belle Fourche and in connection with his brother-in-law, C. A. Quarnberg, he established the Belle Fourche State Bank, of which he became cashier. Mr. Duba still holds that position and the solidity of the institution and the confidence that the people of the surrounding country have in it is largely to be ascribed to his knowledge of banking and his wise management. He is also a stockholder in the Alfalfa Mill and owns one hundred and sixty acres of well improved irrigated land near Vale, South Dakota, which he rents. His own time is completely taken up as cashier and he allows nothing to interfere with the discharge of his duties. Mr. Duba was married on the 1st of May, 1907, to Miss Lillian Quarnberg, who was born at Centerville, South Dakota, a daughter of Hans and Minnie Quarnberg, both of whom were natives of Sweden, where their marriage occurred. Mr. Quarnberg is engaged at present in the milling business at Belle Fourche, to which place he removed in 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Duba have four children: Maurice, who was born in February, 1908; Dorothy, whose birth occurred in December, 1909; Rex, born in September, 1911; and John, born in April, 1914. Mr. Duba is a democrat and has been content to perform his citizens, duties in a private capacity, leaving to others the holding of office. He is a loyal member of the Masonic order and belongs to the blue lodge, chapter and consistory and to the Eastern Star. He is also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. He is a young man of marked ability and is distinguished by scrupulous honesty and a willingness to subordinate private interests to community welfare. FASSERM ALEXANDER O., M.D. Although Dr. Alexander O. Fasser, of Belle Fourche, engages to some extent in the general practice of medicine he gives the greater part of his attention to surgery and is already recognized as one of the leading surgeons of his part of the state. His birth occurred at Karlsruhe, Baden, Germany, October 9, 1878. His parents, Leonard and Mary Fasser, were both born in the same country, where the father was employed as an engineer in a gas works upon reaching years of maturity. In 1880 Mr. and Mrs. Fasser came with their family to America and settled at NewHaven, Connecticut, where the father was a stationary engineer until 1913, when be retired. Both he and his wife still live in that city. He served with distinction in the Franco-Prussian war and while at the front was wounded in the leg by a cannon ball. However, he fought throughout the whole war and displayed such marked gallantry that he was awarded the iron cross and also bronze, silver and gold medals. As a further testimonial to his bravery he has an autographed letter from Emperor William I. To him and his wife were born seven children, of whom the subject of this review is the fourth in order of birth. Dr. Andrew O. Fasser attended the public schools of New Haven, Connecticut, and after being engaged as a pharmacist there for eight years he prepared for Yale University at the Hopkins grammar school and later entered Yale Medical School, from which he was graduated with the degree of M.D. in 1905. His connection with the drug business began when he was fifteen years of age, when he found employment in a drug store in connection with the New Haven Hospital. He learned the business thoroughly and at the age of eighteen was licensed as a pharmacist in Connecticut. He left the New Haven Hospital at that time and for three or four years worked in the wholesale drug house of the C. W. Wittlesey Company, a New Haven concern. He then entered the employ of William Hull, a retail druggist of New Haven, and remained with him for four years, after which he again entered school, as before stated. After graduating from Yale Medical School in 1905 he was appointed house surgeon of the New Haven Hospital and served in that capacity for twenty-two months and then was for six months connected with the Lying-In Hospital of New York and subsequently was house officer for two seasons at the Boston Floating Hospital. He then returned to New Haven and practiced medicine for six months, at the end of which time he was seized with the western fever and removed to the Black Hills, practicing for two years in Sturgis. At the end of that time he settled in Vale, where he remained for two years and then removed to Belle Fourche, arriving there in 1909. In the years that have since come and gone he has built up an enviable reputation, especially as a surgeon. He is intensely interested in the development of modern surgery and the wonderful discoveries along that line which are constantly being made and which open up new possibilities in the restoration of health and the saving of life. He not only keeps in touch with the results of the experiments of investigators in the field of surgery but is also scrupulously conscientious in the care of his patients, giving them the benefit of his closest attention and best knowledge. Dr. Fasser has thoroughly identified himself with the Black Hills country and owns a stock ranch five miles south of Vale, which he devotes to the raising of sheep and hogs. It comprises three hundred and twenty acres and is well irrigated. Dr. Fasser was married on the 1st of June, 1911, to Miss Inez Goddard, who was born near Hot Springs, this state, a daughter of Lon and Inez (Moses) Goddard, both natives of Texas. They were among the early settlers in Dakota territory and the father served in the first territorial legislature and also held various other offices of trust and responsibility. He passed away at Hot Springs following an operation for appendicitis and his widow now resides with Dr. and Mrs. Fasser. The Doctor is independent politically, his religious affiliation is that of the Protestant Episcopal church and he is a member of the Masonic order. Along professional lines he belongs to the Black Hills Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He is a man of that progressive and energetic type that is so rapidly building up the state of South Dakota along all lines and is recognized as one of the valued and useful citizens of Belle Fourche. FELLOWS, RUSH OTTO Rush Otto Fellows is postmaster of Belle Fourche and is also interested with Bart L. Kirkham in the ownership and publication of the Northwest Post. He was born in Flowerfield, Michigan, August 23, 1852, a son of Milo and Chloe Delight (Brush) Fellows. He is of Revolutionary ancestry and his grandfather, Abiel Fellows, was a colonel in the War of 1812, while his grandmother, Dorcas (Hopkins) Fellows, was a granddaughter of Stephen Hopkins, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Milo Fellows was born on the Susquehanna river, in Pennsylvania, in 1822 and devoted practically all of his life to farming. He served as postmaster of Plattsmouth, Nebraska, during the period of the Civil war and also at one time acted as postmaster in Michigan. In the year 1858, attracted by the gold discoveries in Colorado, he made his way to Pike's Peak and engaged in freighting between Plattsmouth, Nebraska, Pike's Peak, Denver, and other points. He died near Hastings, Iowa, in 1897, having for many years survived his wife, who was born in Ohio in 1823 and passed away in 1856. He afterward married again and his widow remained in Iowa, where her death occurred. Rush O. Fellows attended the rural schools of Wisconsin and Michigan and for one term was a student in a seminary at Schoolcraft, Michigan, while in the school of experience he has learned many valuable lessons of life. He turned his attention to the printer's trade in 1868 at Three Rivers, Michigan, and later worked at his trade at Schoolcraft, that state, for about three years. In 1873 he went to Plattsmouth, Nebraska, in which city he engaged in newspaper work for seven years. In 1880 he became the owner of a paper, The Post, at Auburn, Nebraska, which he conducted until the fall of 1895, when he sold out and was afterward in the employ of others at Denver for eight months. In January, 1897, he took charge of a printing plant of the Western Envelope Company at Omaha, continuing there for eight months, and in March, 1898, he began the publication of The Daily Post at Plattsmouth, Nebraska, where he continued until October, 1902. At that time he removed his plant to the Black Hills, locating at Belle Fourche, where he established the Northwest Post, of which he is still one of the owners, his partner in the enterprise being Bart L. Kirkham. The Post has won for itself a liberal patronage and because of its large circulation proves an excellent advertising medium. In addition to his interest in the newspaper plant Mr. Fellows is the owner of city property in Belle Fourche. On the 13th of March, 1883, at Pekin, Illinois, Mr. Fellows was united in marriage to Miss Eunice M. Sage, who was born in Whiteside county, Illinois, a daughter of Henry and Angeline Delight (Upson) Sage. The father's birth occurred in New York in 1819 and he passed away in 1896, while the mother, who was born in Connecticut in 1833, died in 1883. Mr. Sage was an architect and builder and for many years lived in Pekin, Illinois, but after the death of his wife, which occurred in that city, he made his home with Mr. and Mrs. Fellows. His death occurred, however, in Denver, Colorado. Mr. and Mrs. Fellows have one child, Laura Delight, now the wife of William G. Chase, of Newell, South Dakota, who is manager for a mercantile store at that place. Their son, born January 20, 1914, is named for his grandfather, Rush Fellows Chase.  Mr. Fellows is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge and is a democrat in politics, in which connection he has done active and effective work for the party and has been rewarded by election or appointment to several offices. in Auburn, Nebraska, he served as postmaster for four years and since coming to Belle Fourche has filled the position of city auditor for five years, while at the present time he is postmaster, having assumed the duties of this position on the 1st of July, 1913. He is conscientious in meeting his responsibilities in this connection, is prompt and thoroughly reliable and so directs his efforts that substantial results accrue for the benefit of the community.   FRUTH, HENRY Henry Fruth is the popular and enterprising proprietor of the Fruth Hotel in Sturgis and has other business interests and valuable property holdings in the town. He is an energetic man, belonging to that class of citizens who while advancing individual success also contribute largely to the general good and public prosperity. He is a native of Saxony, Germany, born July 20, 1861, his parents being Christ and Dorothy (Kruger) Fruth, who were likewise natives of the fatherland, where the former was a shepherd. They never came to the new world and both have passed away. Henry Fruth attended school in Germany to the age of fifteen years, when he began working as a farm hand and he was also employed in a shoe shop for a number of years. In 1883 he came to the United States, thinking to find better business opportunities on this side of the Atlantic than he could secure in the old world. At that time he could not speak English, which was a handicap to him in his business career, but with resolute spirit he set to work to acquire a knowledge of the language and of the methods of the people. He made his way direct to Deadwood, where he was first employed in a sawmill for about two months. He then removed to Sturgis, where he secured a situation in what was known as the Charles Hotel, which then stood upon the present site of the Fruth Hotel. He spent a few months there, after which he learned the carpenter's trade with William Grams of Sturgis and continued in that line of business until 1899. He afterward went to Klondike, where he engaged in mining gold until 1902, when he returned to Sturgis and purchased an interest in a saloon, engaging in that business until February, 1908. He then sold out and purchased the Charles Hotel, which at that time contained but eleven rooms. He began improving and adding to the hostelry until he now has a large hotel containing fifty-two rooms for transients besides his own commodious and comfortable quarters. He has made this a most popular hostelry and it is liberally patronized. He also owns two other buildings, one containing six rooms and the other eight. He also erected what is known as the Hotel Barn in 1910 and conducts a livery business in connection with the hotel. He likewise operates a bus line and hearse and he is an extensive owner of Sturgis property. On the 30th of October, 1894, Mr. Fruth was married to Miss Anna Keffeler, who was born in Carroll county, Iowa, a daughter of John P. and Catherine (Promensehenkel) Keffeler, both of whom were natives of the province of Luxembourg, Germany. The father was a farmer by occupation and in early life eame to the new world, living in Iowa for a number of years, after which he removed with his family to Minnesota and in the year 1878 arrived in South Dakota, settling in Bear Butte valley, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising, becoming one of the pioneers in the development of that district. Both he and his wife there passed away. Mrs. Fruth was the fifth in order of birth in a family of seven children and was but a little maiden when brought by her parents to South Dakota. To Mr. and Mrs. Fruth have been born four children: Marie Dorothy Catherine, who is a graduate of the Rapid City Business College; Alice Frances Gertrude; Gladys Louise; and Esther Agnes. Mr. Fruth belongs to the Lutheran church while Mrs. Fruth and the children are members of the Catholic church. In polities he is a democrat with independent tendencies and for three terms he served as a member of the city council of Sturgis, exercising his official prerogatives in support of various plans and measures to improve municipal conditions and advance the welfare of the town.

Source: History of Dakota Territory Volume IV, by George W. Kingsbury,
Edited by George Martin Smith, B.A., A.M.

Transcribed by Lynn Diemer-Mathews and uploaded May 26, 2025.