An email received from Bill Dolezal on 1 Jan 2007 contained this information:
Mrs. Donna Presuhn, a Bridgewater historian, has been researching the involvement of the Henrich's with early telephone company in SE South Dakota, especially if there was one invovling Bridgewater. Mrs. Preshun noted that J.J. Henrich was a partner with G. W. (Kit) Laing in bringing the first telephone lines to Bridgewater. In going through some of my family documents, I happen to come across some letterhead. It is for the Bridgewater Union Telephone Co., listing G.W. Laing as President and my grandfather, J. J. Henrich, as Secy-Tres-Mgr.
Thank you Bill!