Hand County, SD Biographies

Robert Lee Dean, living at Faulkton, was born at Millersburg, Illinois, December 2, 1877, his parents being James O. and Elida J. (Goddard) Dean. The father was born on the Ohio river, between Virginia and Ohio, but claims the latter state as that of his nativity, the year of his birth being 1846. In early life he followed farming and in 1882 he removed from Illinois to South Dakota, settling at Burdette, seventeen miles east of St. Lawrence, where he built a store and engaged in general merchandising, conducting that business successfully for about twenty years. He then disposed of his stock of goods and afterward turned his attention to farming and stock-raising until 1912, when he took up his abode in Rockham, Faulk county, where he is now engaged in the implement business. He still owns farm lands and his property returns to him a good income. About 1895 he was elected a member of the state legislature in which position he served for two years. He also came within eight votes of being elected register of deeds on the peoples party ticket notwithstanding the fact that Hand is a strong republican county. His wife, who was born at Millersburg, Illinois, May 14, 1853, also survives and they became the parents of eight children, of whom Robert Lee is the third in order of birth and is the eldest of the five yet living.

Robert L. Dean was but five years of age when he accompanied his parents to Burdette, where he pursued a public-school education, completing the work of the eighth grade. He afterward took an examination and secured a teacher's certificate although he did not expect to teach. When about eighteen years of age he took charge of his father's store and on attaining his majority became the owner of that property, which he continued to conduct for about two years and then sold it. He went to Redfield, where he assumed the management of the grocery department in a department store, which he conducted for three years. He then went to Rockham, where he engaged in the hardware and implement business, developing an extensive trade, his annual sales reaching over seventy thousand dollars annually. He continued there from 1905 until 1912, when he was elected to the office of county treasurer. He then sold out an eighteen thousand dollar stock of goods and removed to Faulkton, where he assumed the duties of his present position on the 1st of January, 1913. He is still the owner of two valuable farms in Hand county together with business property at Zell and residence property at Rockham. He now devotes his entire time to the duties of his office although he is still heavily interested in machinery, handling threshers, plow outfits, etc.

On the 24th of October, 1900, Mr. Dean was married to Miss Agnes M. Roach, who was born in or near Ripon, Wisconsin, a daughter of John and Mary (Joyce) Roach, natives of New York and Wisconsin respectively. The father at one time engaged in the livery business and in 1885 came to Dakota territory, settling near Burdette, where he still makes his home. To Mr. and Mrs. Dean have been born two sons: Robert James, born November 20, 1901; and William Louis, whose birth occurred on March 22, 1908. The wife and mother passed away November 5, 1913, at Battle Creek, Michigan, where she had gone for treatment.

Mr. Dean is a Mason, belonging to both the lodge and chapter at Faulkton, and he also has a membership with the United Workmen. In politics he is a democrat and while at Rockham served as a member of the city council and also as chairman of the board of education. He has exerted considerable influence in local political circles and his opinions carry weight in the councils of his party.

from "History of Dakota Territory", George W. Kingsbury, 1915.

Mary Arends Goyke
This biography was generously shared by John and Judy McCain <cactuspoint@escapees.com>; Mary Arends Goyke is her great-grandmother. The biography was contained in the Goyke Family Bible.
Mary Esther Arends Goyke (1858-1932)
Mary Esther Arends Goyke was not notorious but was successful in raising a family of seven children, four girls and three boys. She was also successful in making good in a new country in spite of many hardships.
She was born in Emden, Hanover, Germany on January 17th, 1858. The scenery was beautiful around Hanover, Germany. The little city of Emden was situated on the banks of the Tames River. Where she was born was not far from the Holland border.
Mary Esther Arends at the age of eleven, with her mother, father, four brothers and one sister, came over to America to live. They brought their furniture and personal property with them. She attended school in Germany. She was the oldest child of the family. It took them from six to seven weeks to come from Germany to America. The name of the ship D.H. Watjen or (Watzen). They came directly to Rochelle, Illinois, Ogle County, just in harvest time, seeing the first harvester they had ever seen. One man drove the team of horses that pulled the harvester and another man raked the bundles off.
Mr. Arends was a shoemaker, having learned the trade in Germany. He took up the same work after coming to America. Mrs. Arends died after many years of illness when Mary was seventeen years old, so she had to take care of the house and the younger children as she was the oldest of the children. Mary attended public school in Illinois. When twenty years old, she was married to Michael Lawrence Goyke who was a close
neighbor. He formerly came from Danzig, Germany. They remained in Illinois, in her former home for a few
years. In 1882, Mr. Goyke went to the territory of South Dakota and filled on a homestead. There he built a large one room house, barn, and other buildings. He then returned to Illinois to his home for the winter. The following Spring, he shipped their household goods and other domestic things, as horses, cattle and pigs. As soon as things were ready, Mrs. Goyke came with her three children, the youngest child was six weeks old, a
baby girl whose name was Ruth Naomi. The two other children were Catherine Lois and Herbert Reed.
The prairies of South Dakota were vast, the land was level, one could see for many miles as there were neither hills or trees enough to obscure the view. There were not many rivers in South Dakota, but many little creeks
winding around across the country. Some of these creeks had water in the year around and some only in the spring. Many trees were planted by the early settlers. At the time the early settlement began, people came in
great numbers from many different states, among these were some of Mrs. Goyke's girlhood friends.
Mrs. Goyke's home on the farm in South Dakota was very interesting. The nearest post office and railroad center were about twelve miles. This was also the nearest store where she did her trading. For a year or two there was not even a school house or church near, but later a school was built three fourths of a mile from her home which was known as the Goyke School. A church was soon built about three and a half miles from her home which she attended whenever there were services. Many Indians traveled through the country and many times they would stop at the Goyke farm for water for their horses and other minor things. These Indians were usually friendly but the children would run and hide when they saw the Indians coming, as they had heard such terrible stories about the Indians.
For several years, rains were plentiful and the Goykes were prosperous in their new land, but a drought came accompanied by hot winds. The crops were burned and were almost a total failure. Hail storms also did much damage. This meant years of real hardships. Many people became discouraged and left the country. There was no sale for land or stock. The Goyke's had no other home so they were among those who stayed. There
were now seven children in the family. The one room house had been enlarged from time to time until
it now had six rooms and two large barns and a granary. Better times returned and so the Goykes prospered.
In the year 1911, the Goyke's rented their farm and moved to the little town of St. Lawrence, South Dakota. At this time, the children were all married but the younger two, who attended the St. Lawrence High School and graduated from this high school.
They built a nine room house in St. Lawrence where they lived until December 1932 when Mrs. Goyke passed away. Their house in St. Lawrence is on the main highway, four or five blocks from the main part of town.
Mrs. Goyke raised all seven of her children to manhood and womanhood. When the children were small, she did all of their sewing and in later years she spent many hours piecing quilts and many hours among her flowers which she loved very much. She had 20 grand children and 8 great grand children.

Henry Miller

Henry Miller was born April 11, 1825 in Ohio, living there until age 11, when his family moved to Iowa. In 1850, he and his wife Nancy lived at Center twp. of Cedar county, Iowa, where he operated a mill, possibly belonging to his father; later he moved to Sugar Creek twp. By 1863 he had relocated to a farm near Blairstown, in St. Clair county, where he farmed and raised livestock, owning 320 acres of land. He also owned a grain warehouse and lumberyard in town. During the Civil War bought horses for the United States Government.

He purchased 5000 acres of land in Texas, with the intentions of starting a community there, but was unable to accomplish his goal, so he sold the land.
On July 1, 1881, he first visited what was to become Miller, in Dakota Territory. He again planned to start a settlement, and this time was successful. In 1885 he started Miller Roller Mills, and several of his sons also found their livelihoods in Miller.
On Feb. 15, 1897, Henry J. Miller died suddenly, while shoveling snow. He was 61 years of age.
The children of Henry and Nancy Miller were:
Benton, born 1851 in Iowa
William H., born about 1853 in Iowa
Eudell J., born about 1860 in Iowa
John Douglass, born about 1862 in Iowa
Charles, born 1863 about in Iowa
Homer M., born 1865 about in Iowa
Carrie A., born 1867 about in Iowa
Edwin L., born 1869 about in Iowa

facts taken from "They Pioneered for Us" compiled and edited by Myrna Cotton; U.S. Census 1850-1880

BUSHFIELD, Harlan John (1882—1948)
Senate Years of Service: 1943-1948 Republican

Harlan John Bushfield, (husband of Vera C. Bushfield), a Senator from South Dakota; born in Atlantic, Cass County, Iowa, August 6, 1882; moved with his parents to South Dakota in 1883; attended the public schools in Miller, S.Dak., and Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell, S.Dak. 1899-1901; graduated from the Minnesota University Law School at Minneapolis in 1904; admitted to the bar the same year and commenced practice in Miller, S.Dak.; Governor of South Dakota 1939-1942; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 1942 and served from January 3, 1943, until his death in Miller, S.Dak., September 27, 1948; interment in the G.A.R. Cemetery.
Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present; contributed by A. Newell.

BUSHFIELD, Vera Cahalan (1889—1976)
Senate Years of Service: 1948-1948 Republican

Vera Cahalan Bushfield, (wife of Harlan J. Bushfield), a Senator from South Dakota; born in Miller, Hand County, S.Dak., August 9, 1889; attended the public schools; graduated from Stout Institute, Menominee, Wis., in 1912; also attended Dakota Wesleyan University and the University of Minnesota; appointed on October 6, 1948, as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of her husband, Harlan J. Bushfield, and served from October 6, 1948, until her resignation on December 26, 1948; died in Fort Collins, Colo., April 16, 1976; interment in the G.A.R. Cemetery, Miller, S.Dak.
Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present; contributed by A. Newell.

The Biographical Directory of the Railway Officials of America

T. Addison Busbey, 1906

Smith, Daniel Howard, Member South Dakota Railroad Commission. Office Sioux Falls, S. D. Residence Miller, S. D.

Born Dec. 18, 1864, in Marquette County, Wisconsin. Educated in the common schools. Was raised and lived on a farm until the fall of 1883, when he moved to South Dakota. In 1884 he accepted a position with a grain company at Harold, S. D., and continued in that business at Harold and Miller, S. D., until the spring of 1890. He was then engaged in the grocery business at Miller in connection with the grain business until Jan. 1, 1895, when he resigned to accept a position as lease clerk in the Department of School and Public Lands of South Dakota. This position he held until he became a member of the railroad commission on Jan. 1, 1903. While residing at Miller he held several minor offices, such as school treasurer, city treasurer, assessor and member of the township board.

History of Dakota Territory, George W. Kingsbury, Vol. 4, 1915

GEORGE W. WRIGHT.

Among those who have achieved prominence as men of marked ability and substantial worth is numbered Senator George W. Wright, of Huron, who has served for two terms as a member of the South Dakota senate. He is moreover connected with business interests of the city as a real-estate dealer and has large interests along this line, the successful conductor which indicates his keen sagacity and unfaltering enterprise. Senator Wright was born in Illinois in 1872 and is a son of S. F. and Nancy E. Wright, who moved from Illinois to Beadle county, South Dakota, in 1882. The father took up government land and resided upon it until 1896, when he moved to Nebraska. In that state his death occurred and there his wife still resides.

George W. Wright acquired a public-school education and later attended college in Huron. He engaged in fanning for some time but at length disposed of his interests and moved into Huron, where he turned his attention to the general merchandise business. Later he spent some years as a traveling salesman. He is now concentrating his energies upon the real-estate business, in which he has been engaged for a number of years, and he has won a gratifying degree of success along this line. He is an expert judge of land values and all of his investments are proving profitable, a fact which indicates his sound judgment and clear business discrimination.

In 1901 Mr. Wright was united in marriage to Miss Luella Biddle, a native of Miller, South Dakota, and they have become the parents of two children, George W., Jr., and Evelyn. Mr. Wright is a member of the Presbyterian church, is a trustee in Huron College and is connected fraternally with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Elks and the Woodmen. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has at all times stood high in its councils, being an active worker in the support of progressive measures and projects. He was elected a member of the council at Huron in 1908 and two years later was named a member of the state senate, serving by reelection from that time until January, 1915. He has accomplished a great deal of constructive and important work as a member of that body. He was instrumental in securing an appropriation for the state fair held at Huron, was also active in the passage of the public utility bill and during the last session of the legislature was chairman of the railway committee. His activities in public affairs have proven of great value to the community at large and in business he has won a gratifying measure of prosperity. He stands today among the honored and eminent residents of Huron.