Immigrants to South Dakota from Germany

(Note: Webpage in preparation)

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Richard Sehnert and Anna Grassman were born and raised in Germany. They were married in Erfurt, which is located southwest of Berlin, sometime before the birth of their first child, Elsa, in 1886. After their third child, Freda, was born in 1892, the family immigrated to the U.S. and settled in South Dakota. Their fourth child, Otto, was born there in 1896. The family apparently lived first at Dirkstown, near Reliance, and then in the White River "bottom" (floodplain) a few miles upstream from the confluence with the Missouri River. The family then moved to Presho and opened a cafe and bakery, following family traditions in Germany. 

Richard and Anna had nine children, all but one of whom (Raymond) lived to adulthood. They operated the bakery for many years until Richard's death, when it was taken over first by a son and then by daughter Louise. Richard and Anna and lived out their lives in Presho and are buried in the cemetery there.

Webpage Credits

N

References

Thanks go to Gordon Garnos for assisting with photo identifications.

Richard and Anna (Grassman) Sehnert in front of their cafe in Presho. Photo from Freda Bice album.

Richard Sehnert

Johann Andreas Sehnert (1748 - 9 Apr 1797) & Dorothea Margaretha Schulze (24 Oct 1749 - 28 Apr 1827)

|--1 Johann Karl Andreas Sehnert (31 Mar 1792 - ) & Johanne Maria Magdalena Franke (1 Mar 1801 - )

|--|--2 Johanne Gotthilf Sehnert (11 Feb 1833 - 8 Feb 1915) & Luise Florstedt (8 May 1841 - 12 Dec 1897)

|--|--|--3 Richard Sehnert (1862 - 7 Jan 1924) & Anna Grassman (22 Feb 1865 - 16 Nov 1932).

|--|--|--|--4 Elsa Mae ("Elsie") Sehnert (15 Apr 1886 - 29 Jul 1960) & Raymond Bruce Scott (22 Sep 1884 - 29 Mar 1945)

|--|--|--|--|--5 Raymond G. ("Mike") Scott & Gladys Frederick

|--|--|--|--|--5 Otto Harry ("Pat") Scott* (15 Dec 1917 - ) & Dolores Stertz

|--|--|--|--|--5 Otto Harry ("Pat") Scott* (15 Dec 1917 - ) & Elaine Alice Stertz (13 Aug 1938 - )

|--|--|--|--|--5 Darlene ("Bridgett") Scott (9 Aug 1919 - ) & Frederick Newman ("Newman") Mallett (10 Aug 1913 - 19 Jun 1978)

|--|--|--|--|--5 Glenn Richard ("Slim") Scott (26 Dec 1920 - ) & Loretta Heien (30 Jul 1924 - )

|--|--|--|--|--5 Robert Leroy ("Bob" or "Skeezix") Scott (19 Apr 1922 - ) & Dolores Miller (10 Sep 1929 - )

|--|--|--|--|--5 Walter Lee Scott (Oct 1924 - 27 Mar 1925)

|--|--|--|--4 Paul Sehnert (16 Jan 1888 - 11 Jan 1977) & Wanda Ziegford (4 Jan 1888 - 15 Aug 1973)

|--|--|--|--|--5 Ralph Sehnert (22 Nov 1918 - 3 Aug 1944)

|--|--|--|--|--5 Melvin Sehnert (14 Jul 1920 - ) & Dorothy Muenleisen

|--|--|--|--|--5 Laura Sehnert (7 Apr 1924 - ) & William Gross ( - 12 Jun 1981)

|--|--|--|--4 Freda Elaine Sehnert* (16 Jun 1892 - 4 Jun 1964) & Walter Claude "Claude" Grimshaw (17 Sep 1890 - 7 Feb 1920)

|--|--|--|--|--5 George Grimshaw (27 Mar 1918 - 28 Aug 1971) & Judy Burger (29 Aug 1929 - )

|--|--|--|--|--5 Claude Walter Grimshaw* (5 Oct 1920 - 4 Apr 1983) & Phyllis Lorraine Rogers (9 Jan 1924 - )

|--|--|--|--4 Freda Elaine Sehnert* (16 Jun 1892 - 4 Jun 1964) & Joe Bice

|--|--|--|--|--5 Stanley Bice & Fay Sloat

|--|--|--|--4 Otto Hugo Sehnert (1896 - 1931) & Ruth Wade (18 Dec 1899 - 1944)

|--|--|--|--|--5 Keith Sehnert (26 May 1926 - ) & Colleen Herrboldt (8 Jul 1929 - )

|--|--|--|--4 Richard "Dick" Sehnert* & Vera Moffitt

|--|--|--|--|--5 Bob Sehnert (15 Feb 1924 - 1986) & Lois Unknown

|--|--|--|--|--5 Maurice Sehnert & Norma Unknown

|--|--|--|--|--5 Connie Sehnert (28 Nov 1933 - ) & Tom McNamara (10 Apr 1934 - )

|--|--|--|--4 Richard "Dick" Sehnert* & Opal Harlan

|--|--|--|--|--5 Patricia ("Patty") Sehnert (Circa 1940 - )

|--|--|--|--|--5 Cheryl Sehnert (Circa 1942 - ) & unk Winters

|--|--|--|--4 Louise Anna Sehnert (24 Sep 1899 - 31 Jul 1983) & Carl Garnos (20 Oct 1902 - )

|--|--|--|--|--5 Verle "Bob" Garnos & Patricia Langland

|--|--|--|--|--5 Gordon Garnos & Elizabeth ("Beth") McFarlane

|--|--|--|--4 Rudy Ernest Sehnert (3 Nov 1900 - 21 Feb 1970) & Christine Matz (30 May 1906 - )

|--|--|--|--|--5 Marilyn June Sehnert (15 Jun 1932 - ) & Ernest Eugene Kuhns

|--|--|--|--|--5 Aileen Ella Sehnert (7 Mar 1934 - ) & John Wadsworth Montgomery

|--|--|--|--4 Walter Max Sehnert* (12 Dec 1902 - 31 Aug 1997) & Lenita B Ackerman (12 Jul 1902 - 14 Apr 1969)

|--|--|--|--|--5 Walter Emmett Sehnert (13 Mar 1928 - ) & Jean Kathleen Leisy (17 Jan 1929 - )

|--|--|--|--|--5 Judith Sehnert* & Phillip Olsen

|--|--|--|--|--5 Judith Sehnert* & Frank Sullivan

|--|--|--|--4 Walter Max Sehnert* (12 Dec 1902 - 31 Aug 1997) & Ella Myers (9 Aug 1914 - )

|--|--|--|--4 Raymond Sehnert

|--|--|--3 Otto Sehnert

|--|--|--3 Emil Sehnert

|--|--|--|--4 Ernst Sehnert (1967 - )

|--|--|--3 Paul Sehnert

|--|--|--|--4 Paul Sehnert (1946 - )

|--|--|--|--4 Charlotte Sehnert (1945 - )

|--|--|--3 Hugo Sehnert

|--|--|--|--4 Hugo Sehnert (1963 - )

|--|--|--|--4 Fritz Sehnert

|--|--|--|--4 Lochen Sehnert

|--|--|--3 Oskar Sehnert

|--|--|--|--4 Oskar Sehnert

|--|--|--|--4 Lotte Sehnert

|--|--|--|--4 Gretchen Sehnert

|--|--|--3 Willy Georg Sehnert (8 Sep 1883 - 15 Aug 1956) & Margaretha Selma Fugmann (7 Apr 1887 - 7 Jan 1955)

|--|--|--|--4 Werner Sehnert (15 Apr 1914 - ) & Kathe Janetzky (17 Sep 1915 - )

|--|--|--|--|--5 Gunter Sehnert (23 Jan 1942 - ) & Irene Knoop (20 Nov 1941 - Sep 1984)

|--|--|--|--|--5 Leonore Sehnert* (21 Jan 1952 - ) & unk Unknown

|--|--|--|--|--5 Leonore Sehnert* (21 Jan 1952 - ) & Robert Powell

[In preparation. Need to add family crest and other information from collection.]

Source: Lyman County History [citation needed]

Sehnert, Richard and Anna, Family

Richard and Anna Sehnert were married in Erfurt, Germany, in 1892. They heard of all the free land and wonderful opportunities in the United States so they decided to come with their three children, Elsa, Paul and Freda, to take up a homestead at Dirkstown, Lyman County, S. Dak., where they lived a few years. Here sons Richard and Otto were born.

Due to the scarcity of water and range land, they moved on a farm south of Oacoma at the mouth of White River where they resided until 1906. In the spring of that year, Mr. Sehnert decided that farming was not for him, being a baker by trade. He with his family of eight children moved to Presho and started a bakery which has been in continuous business by members of the family. In those early years the baking business was a difficult one, without machinery or electricity. All the mixing was done by hand and the oven was fired coal or coke which made the shop a very hot and uncomfortable place to work.

For many years, in conjunction with the bakery, Sehnerts served meals ranging in price from 25c to 50c. The cafe was discontinued in 1924 at the time of Mr. Sehnert's death. Mrs. Sehnert continued the bakery with the help of sons and Louise. In 1932, Mrs. Sehnert passed away. Rudy and wife Christine operated the bakery for a time and in 1933 Carl and Louise bought the establishment from the Sehnert estate and have operated since that time.

Mr. and Mrs. Sehnert's eight children were some of the Presho and Lyman County's early settlers and have taken part in many activities of the community.

Elsa (deceased) married Ray Scott. Their five children are Raymond, Pat, Darlene, Glen and Robert.

Freda (deceased) married Claud Grimshaw. Their family consisted of two sons: George and Claud. Claud, Sr., passed away and after a few years Freda married Joseph Bice. One son, Stanley, was born to them.

Paul lives in Clark, S. Dak. He married Wanda Ziegford and they had three children: Ralph. who lost his life in WWII, Melvin who lives near Clark, and Laura Gross who lives at Crandall.

Otto married Ruth Wade. Both have passed on. Their son, Keith, lives in Lincoln, Nebr.

Richard is married and has five children: Robert, Maurice, Connie, Patti and Cheryl.

Rudy married Christine Matz. They have two daughters, Marilyn and Eileen.

Louise married Carl Garnos and they have operated the original Sehnert Bakery for 33 years. They have two sons: Verle Robert married Patricia Langland (they have two daughters, Kristin and Kara, and live in Fremont, Nebr.), and Gordon, who married Beth McFarlane of Chester, England (they have three children, William, Heather and Richard Nels and they live in Watertown, S. Dak.).

Walter married Lenita Ackerman. They have a son, Walter, who is married to Jean Leisy (they have three children). Judith married Philip Olson who passed away in August 1966. Four children were born to them.

Apparently where Richard and Anna Sehnert were married. Between Berlin, Essen, and Frankfurt-am-Main...

Source: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl 

Richard and Anna (Grassman) Sehnert with their children. The identifications are as follows: back row - Richard, Freda, Paul and Otto; middle row - Anna, Richard, and Elsa; front row - Louise, Rudolph, and Walter. (Photo courtesy of Sam Bice. Date of photo is unknown. Identifications from Bob Scott, August 2005)

Unknown, unknown, Elsa, Louise, Freda, Anna, unknown

Walter, Rudy, Richard, Paul and Keith Sehnert

Walter, Paul, Rudy, and Richard Sehnert

 

Carl and Louise Garnos, Christine and Rudy Sehnert

 

Elsa May (Sehnert) Scott and Raymond B Scott ("Father - Ray B Scott - 1943 - Hollywood Calif" on photo). Pictures from Bob Scott, Pierre, SD, August, 2005.

   

Scott Family

By CWO Raymond G. Scott

The Stoney Butte branch of the Scott family first took root near Presho, S. Dak.

Raymond B. Scott (known as Ray B. Scott), the father, was born in Indianola, Iowa, on September 22, 1884, the first son of Bob and Sarah (Smith) Scott who moved to the Presho area when Ray B. was a youngster. Ray had two brothers, Roy and Harry, and two sisters, Ida and Ada, all deceased.

Elsa M. Scott, wife of Ray B., was born in Germany, where her dad had a place of business. Elsa was born on April 15, 1886. Her parents, Richard and Anna Sehnert, came to the United States when Elsa was about five years of age. They settled at first near Reliance where they farmed and raised sheep. The area was not friendly to either farming or sheep raising because of the then and weather and the unfriendly cattlemen; so the father, Richard, decided to go to Presho where he set up a combination restaurant and bakery. This business place became a landmark in that area for many years. Elsa had two sisters, Freda, now deceased, and Louise (Mrs. Carl Garnos, now living in Presho); and four brothers, Paul at Crandall, S. Dak., Dick at Kearney, Nebr., Rudy at Holdrege, Nebr., and Walt at Plainview, Nebr. All the boys, except Paul, followed in the footsteps of their father and became successful bakers. All are now retired.

Elsa M. Sehnert and Ray B. Scott were married in Kimball, S. Dak., in 1916. They spent their first year of married life near Presho where the first son, Raymond G., was born December 1, 1916. The next year they moved to a location approximately nine miles north of Vivian. There five other children were born as follows: Otto Harry (Pat), born in Presho with Ada Mallett and Dr. Newman in attendance, on December 15, 1917; Anna Darline (changed to Darlene Anna), Ida Mallett in attendance, on August 9, 1919; Richard Glenn (changed to Glenn Richard), Dr. Newman and Mrs. Closton in attendance, on December 24, 1920; Robert LeRoy, Ida Mallett and Dr. Newman in attendance, on April 19, 1922; Walter Lee, born at Presho, Grandmother Scott and Dr. Newman in attendance, on October 13, 1924 (died March 27, 1925).

Raymond G. Scott went through grade school, near home, attending high school in Presho, graduating in 1934. He then attended Nettleton Commercial College in Sioux Falls, graduating in 1936. Here he met and married Gladys Frederick, beauty school attendee from Ravinia, S. Dak., and later of Sioux City, Iowa, on December 1, 1939.

Shortly after marriage, he went to work for the John Deere Plow Co. of Sioux Falls, being employed there until enlisting in the Army Air Corps on October 13, 1942, as a private. He made the Service a career and is now stationed at Headquarters Strategic Air Command, an Air Force Command, at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebr. He is, and has been since September of 1958, serving as the Administrative Assistant to the Chief of the Staff at that Headquarters. Raymond and Gladys have two children-Pamela Rae, a graduate nurse, now married to Thomas Swierzb of Inkster, Mich., with two children of her own, and David who will be attending his last year of high school in Papillion next year.

Otto Harry (Pat) attended grade school near home and went to high school in Presho, graduating in 1935. He is currently making his home in Ft. Pierre, S. Dak., with his wife, Elaine, and family where they are active in community affairs. They are also farming and ranching on the home place near Vivian. Pat was initially married to Delores Scott Wells. Six children were born to them: Raymond, Bill, Elaine, Jim, Bob, Patty, who are attending school in Vivian and living with their mother and her husband (Kenneth Wells) near Vivian.

Darlene Anna, after graduation from high school in 1939 (the Scotts made high school history at this time, since Darlene, Glenn and Robert all graduated in the same year), went to Seattle where she worked at the Boeing Airplane Company for several years. She chose Boeing since she felt she would not be alone in this area because Clellan B. Gracey, son of Ada Scott, was in a position of some authority in the Company. He is now vice president in charge of manufacturing in that company and is holding one of the most responsible positions in the country today in the aviation field. While working at Boeing, Darlene met and later married Newman Mallett and now lives in Seattle, Wash., with their two grade school age children, Scott and Gwendlyn. Darlene and Newman are active in community affairs with Newman particularly well known for his many years' work with Boy's Clubs.

Glenn Richard, as with the rest of the family, attended grade school near home and high school at Presho, as previously mentioned. He worked at the home place for a short time before he went into the Service of his country where he served for approximately three years in France and Germany in the field artillery. While in the Service he sent for and married a hometown girl, Loretta Heins. After leaving the Service he returned to the home place, living with his widowed mother for approximately one year before he bought the old McWhirter homestead three miles north of Vivian where he lives today. Four children were born to this marriage: Carolyn, now married to Wayne Aske, a school teacher, with two children of her own; Dennis, now taking training in the Army prepatory to a trip to Vietnam; Jeanette, a recent graduate of Nettleton Commercial College of Omaha, Nebr., now living at home; and Leslie, 13 years of age, living at home and helping his parents with the farm and ranching duties. Glenn and family are active in community affairs. Glenn works with the Legion at Vivian as Commander for 1967-68, and Loretta specializing in church duties.

Robert LeRoy was also born at the home place. He, as well as all the rest of the children, attended a one-room school approximately two and one-half miles from the home place. The children either walked or rode horseback, summer and winter, rain or shine. He went from this country school to Presho High School, graduating in 1939, with his brother Glenn and sister Darlene. Bob operated the home place with his brother Pat for several years, then took over a farm and ranch adjoining the home place, where he lives today. Bob and DeLoris Miller were married in Kennebec, S. Dak. Bob, as did Glenn, took time out from the busy ranch life to spend a year or two in the Army, stationed for the majority of the tour in Japan. It was there that he contacted Japanese Bee Encephalitis which nearly finished him off. He finally recovered after spending several months in hospitals in Pierre and Rochester, Minn. Bob and DeLoris are active in civic and community affairs, particularly in the VFW. He is Commander of the Pierre Post for 1967-68.

Walter Lee, youngest son of the family, died of pneumonia in infancy. He is buried in the Presho Cemetery along with his father and mother, Ray B. and Elsa M. Scott; uncle, Roy Scott; Aunt Ida and Ada; paternal grandparents, . Bob and Sarah Scott; maternal grandparents, Richard and Anna Sehnert; their son and his uncle, Otto Sehnert. The only uncle on the Scott side of the house not buried there was Harry, who died and was buried in a cemetery in Cheyenne, Wyo., where he ran a business for several years. He was married but the family has no record of the wife since that time.

Lyman County Pioneers, 1968 (repr 1974), p. 137

Ralph Sehnert, Killed in World War II during bombing flights over Germany

[See companion webpage on Freda.] 

[See companion webpage on Charles and Rebecca (Richmond) Bice, Joe Bice's grandparents.] 

Freda Elaine Sehnert, who was from Presho, married Walter Claude (who apparently went by "Claude") Grimshaw in April 1917. They subsequently lived in Oacoma where they operated a café and bakery. Their first son, George Richard, was born on March 27, 1918. However, Claude contracted pleurisy in early 1920 and died in February. It is unlikely that he knew that a second child "was on the way;" son Walter Claude (who changed his name to Claude Walter as an adult) was born on October 5, 1920 in Lesterville, South Dakota. Walter Claude (Senior) is buried near his parents in Presho.

Freda subsequently remarried, to Joseph Ornan Bice, and they had one additional child, Stanley. The three boys were raised together in Oacoma and attended public schools there. Photos of Walter Claude, Freda with the two Grimshaw boys, and Freda with her parents and siblings are shown below. Freda and Joe are buried together in the Chamberlain cemetery.

Walter Claude Grimshaw (probable) and his wife, Freda Sehnert (probable). Photos from album of Freda and Joe Bice. Thanks go to Fay Bice for making the album available.

Walter Claude Grimshaw. (Photo from album of Freda (Sehnert) Grimshaw Bice; now in the possession of website author. Date of photo is unknown.)

Photo of W.C. Grimshaw picking flowers in 1916. Date probably written by his wife, Freda. Photo from album of Freda and Joe Bice. Thanks go to Fay Bice for making the album available.

Freda (Sehnert) Grimshaw and son George

Freda (Sehnert) Grimshaw with Her Two Sons by Walter Claude, George (the Older Boy) and Claude Walter. (Photo courtesy of Al Hodgin. Date of photo is unknown.)

Aris (Ladd) Grimshaw with Her Grandchildren, Claude Walter and George Grimshaw (Sons of Walter and Freda Grimshaw). (Photo courtesy of Al Hodgin. Date of photo is unknown.)

Second Marriage of Freda to Joe Bice

Freda and Joe Bice

Freda in Later Years with Second Husband, Joseph O. Bice. (Photo courtesy of Phyllis Grimshaw. Date of photo is in the 1950s.) 

Claude Walter Grimshaw

"Otto Sehnert" and Otto with unknown friend. From Bice Album 1. Cropped to include Freda or Joe Bice handwriting.

Carl and Louise Garnos

 

 

 

Carl Garnos with cakes. Carl and Louise ran the previous Sehnert bakery in Presho for 35 years.

 

Verle Robert ("Bob"), Carl, Louise, and Gordon Garnos

[citation needed]

GARNOS, Nels

(picture)

Mr. and Mrs. Nels Garnos- 1896

Nels Garnos was born Oct. 29, 1859, at Hal?gdal, Norway. At the age of nine years, his mother brought him to Fillmore County, Minn., his father having died prior to this time in Norway.

As a young man he resided in North Dakota, then moved to Brule County, S. D. In 1890 he came to Lyman County and filed on land five miles east of Presho. While still in Brule County, he married Carrie Brakke and to this union three children were born: Mabel, Kam and Oscar. The latter two died in infancy and Mrs. Garnos in 1893.

Thora Ovregaard came to South Dakota in 1893 from Lardal, Norway. In 1896 she married Nels Garnos and they lived on the original homestead the remainder of their lives and were active members of what is now the American Lutheran Church.

To this union four children were born, Margaret, Oscar, Carl and Noble, Mr. Garnos died Jan. 1.6, 1920, and Mrs. Garnos on Nov. 23, 1946.

Their children's families are as follows:

Mable married Martin Howe in 1909 and their children are Noble, Burton, Mildred, Selma and Fern, all graduates of Presho High School. Two other girls died in early childhood.

Margaret Garnos married Sander Sletto of Vivian and they both taught school in the Presho and Vivian communities for several years and also engaged in farming south of Presho. There are three Sletto children, Twyla, Arlo and Sharon, all Presho High School graduates. Margaret is deceased.

Twyla is a graduate of Augustana College and taught school for several years. She is married to John Blegen, Minneapolis. They have three children, Richard, Eric and Karen.

Dr. Arlo Sletto, also an Augustana College graduate, is now an instructor at the University of New Mexico.

Sharon also has her degree from Augustana College, Taught school for several years and is married to Jerry LaRoche, a Presho native. They live in Storm Lake, la.

Oscar Garnos married Vera Gilman of Kennebec and resides along Medicine Creek east of Presho. They have two sons, Owen and Veran, graduates of Presho High School.

Owen graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell, is married to Sally Perry, and they have three children, Gretchen, Quintin and Cooper. Owen is engaged in farming and ranching with his father.

Veran received his degree from Augustana College, Sioux Falls, served in the Vietnam War with the U.S. Navy. While attending Schiller College in Germany he met and later married Judy Kutler of Palmyra, Pa. They taught school at Bogota, Columbia, three -years, and Veran is now engaged in farming and ranching with his father and brother. His wife teaches German at Lyman County High School.

Carl Garnos married Louise Sehnert and they were in the bakery business in Presho for 35 years. They have two sons, Verle and Gordon.

Verle, better known as Bob, is married to Patricia. Langland, Aberdeen, and they have two daughters, Kristin and Kara. Bob is a graduate of Alexian Bros. School of Nursing and Anesthesiology, Chicago, Ill., and is an anesthetist at Dodge County Hospital, Fremont, Nebr.

Gordon graduated from the University of South Dakota, Vermillion and married Beth McFarlane, Chester, Engand,, while in the service of the U.S. Air Force. He now holds the position of news editor of the Public Opinion, Watertown, S. D. They have three children, William, Heather and Richard. Christopher is deceased.

Noble Garnos, a graduate of Luther College, Decorah, la., taught school for several years. He married Mollie Brozik of, Winner and they have two sons, Mike, who teaches at Buffalo Lake, Minn., and Gary of Perris, Calif. He is in the oil business.

Rudy and Christine Sehnert

 

 

Walter and Lenita Sehnert. Labeled "Walters" in Bice Album.

  \

Sehnert Bakery? Richard and Lenita? Sehnert (may be in Nebraska, not Presho)

Unknown Sehnert Boys?

Anna (Grassman) Sehnert and Grandchildren: Claude and George Grimshaw and Stanley Bice in middle.

Anna Grassman Sehnert and Grandchildren:

Sehnert Grandchildren:

 

Pat Scott, unknown, George Grimshaw, Claude Grimshaw, Keith Sehnert, unknown, Stanley Bice, Bob Scott, Darlene Scott, Anna Sehnert

 

Sehnert Grandchildren: Pat Scott, __ Scott, George Grimshaw?, (Walter) Claude Grimshaw, Keith Sehnert (front), Stanley Bice, Bob Scott. Photo taken at same time as above picture.

 

Grandfather Sehnert and unknown boy. Johanne was identified by the notation on the back of the photo, shown below the photo. The boy should be identifable, but has not been yet.

Source: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lymancosd/presho.htm 

[Note: two mentions of Sehnerts, shown in bold]

THE HISTORY OF PRESHO

COMPILED BY THE

1926 FOURTH YEAR ENGLISH CLASS

PRESHO HIGH SCHOOL

Transcribed by Dianna Diehm, April 2001

08/25/2002

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FORWARD

The 1926 Fourth Year English Class of Presho High School presents to the public the result of its attempt at writing the history of Presho. The material has been complied from talks given to the class by five pioneers, interviews with many old settlers, and early publications. Much material has been gathered in order to gain accuracy, and it has been hard to determine what events should have a place in history. Perhaps many things could be added and others left out; but on the whole, the class feels that it has included the main events.

It feels that the experiment has been very worthwhile, for it has been very interesting, and it has given each student a more sympathetic appreciation for his home town and a deeper feeling regarding the hardships and sacrifices that their parents went through to make the town what it is. The class wishes to thank especially Mr. Wederath, Mr. Jost, Dr. Newman, Mr. Stevens, and Mr. West for their assistance; Mr. Griffith, who sent material from Sioux City; Mr. Sedgwick; the State Department of History, and the City Council, who gave the pictures and made publication possible.

The first mention of “Presho” dates back to 1872-3 when Presho and Lyman counties were created by the government. Contrary to the belief of many that the name “Presho” is of Indian origin is the fact that the town was named for J. S. Presho, an early trader and the operator of a ferry at Yankton. In 1897 Presho County became part of Lyman County.

It was not until 1890 that a proclamation was issued by President Harrison that said that this section of country west of the Missouri River was fit for white men to live in, but at that time large tracts were reserved for the Indians. When the Great Sioux Reservation was opened in 1893, it was immediately filed on by incoming settlers and speculators, and soon small towns and post offices sprang up. The first town site was Gladstone, located on the west bank of the Missouri River, a short distance south of where Oacoma is now located. It was the seat of Lyman County and was burned by cattle rustlers who thought that law and order would be their ruin. Oacoma then became the county seat.

Many other post offices, such as Hotch City, South Earling (now Vernon’s farm), Lund, McClure, and Presho were established in hopes that the railroad would some day run through them, but most of these were abandoned on account of lack of water on the tableland. Water was only one problem of the early settlers. With these rolling prairies covered with long grass that has never felt the sickle edge, prairie fires were very common. In 1900 an unusually big fire started five miles east of what is now Presho and swept as far west as the town site of Murdo. A girl and two small children lost their lives. All feed was destroyed, and so the homesteaders banded together, drove their stock up near Kadoka and erected sod shelters for the winter. Rustlers were also a menace, and the pioneers could not borrow money with horses and cattle for security because they were apt to be stolen.

The present city of Presho has had four plattings. Before the extension of the railroad from Chamberlain, four blocks known as East Presho were platted out on Matson’s place, north of the Fair Grounds. It consisted of a post office, a hotel, saloon, land office, and a general store. Another platting was North Presho, a block platted by Mr. Rice, who moved the building, which is now Mrs. Mullen’s home from South Earling and established a hotel and general store. A cheese factory, now Abdnor’s store, was hauled overland from Brookings and did business for four years. Cheese was hauled to Chamberlain by wagon for market. The fourth platting was made several years after the other three plattings and was called Greater Presho. It is located on the hill south of the main part of town.

The third platting, which begins the history of Presho proper, was made by the Milwaukee Land Company. On June 2, 1905, this land company bought the section from Sidney F. Hockersmith, who in 1894 had been given the right by the government to homestead the land on which the main part of the city of Presho now stands. Mr. Hockersmith was the first to receive a title from the government, but 1890, before the land was surveyed and open for filing, Mrs. Sophia Van Horn squatted on it and had her shack about where the Anderson Lumber Company now is. When her mother, Mrs. Helleckson, died, she went to live with her father in the old Mullen residence, and thereby lost the land to Mr. Hockersmith who came in with a government lease. Mrs. Van Horn buried her mother on the slope, which decided the location of the present cemetery. The Milwaukee Land Company platted out sixteen blocks and on November 9, 1905, brought a professional auctioneer from Chicago and had the lot sale, the anniversary of which is celebrated as Presho’s birthday. A special train that brought the bidders stayed in Presho over a day.

The first lot sold was that on which the Farmers and Merchants Bank now stands. Peter B. Dirks and E. M. Sedgwick bought it for $500.00, $480.00 more than the list price. The building that Mrs. Mitchell now occupies for her confectionery store was on wheels where the Van Horn pool hall now stands; and as son as Mr. Sedgwick and Mr. Dirks bought the lot, they moved the building there and started to do business within eight minutes after the sale of the lot was announced. Nels Garnos made the first deposit while the bank was on its way to its permanent location. There were no fixtures in the bank at all, but it had the $5000 capital necessary to start a bank at that time. Two barrels and a plank served for a counter. When the cashier, Mr. Clowe, went to dinner he took with him all the money in a little satchel and carried a six-shooter for protection. He was never robbed. Mr. Montgomery was president and Mr. Sedgwick, vice president. One-third interest was held by Mr. Topper. For two years the bank did not close day or night.

Presho was the end of the railroad in 1905 with the “Y” south of the track opposite the campgrounds. As newcomers would go as far west as they could get, Presho drew an enormous population after the lot sale. As many as 240 cars of immigrants were unloaded in one month; and, until they could get their claims, they occupied every space of ground just north of the tracks on the creek banks. Some put up tents, some had covered wagons, and some built temporary huts of sod. During the first six months the sound of the hammer could be heard almost any jour of the day or night. Settlers hauled lumber from the railroad yards and built their 8 x 10 shanties, the average cost of which was $40. Knutson’s and Sedgwick’s residences were the first real houses here.

Very early Presho had a population of over 2000, and to accommodate these transients, many bunkhouses were built and every place of business had cots up stairs to rent. Mr. Morris built “The Arcade”, the first hotel erected south of the tracks. At this time the town could accommodate about 350 strangers with sleeping room.

Any newly settled country or town has many interesting characters when it has a large floating population, and Presho was no exception. Rattlesnake Bill, Beefsteak Bob, and Fitzmorris were a few of the eccentric people who added local color to the west. Rattlesnake Bill was a cowboy who loafed around and told stories about snakes. He claimed that he picked up rattlesnakes by the tails and cracked their heads off. Beefsteak Bob was a dope fiend who painted for his living. Fitzmorris was an aristocratic duke who wouldn’t work and pretended to be a preacher.

In the spring of 1906 the railroad was extended to Rapid City to which place there had formerly been a stage. Supply yards for the extension were located near the present campgrounds; and, as it rained nineteen days that May, work progressed very slowly. There was no depot in town, and A. L. Walker, the first depot agent, had his office in a box car. He shipped the first car of coal into Presho and B. R. Stevens was the first to buy a load.

The post office was one of the early institutions of service. It was located in the building, which is now Clute’s harness shop, and Isaac Helleckson was the first postmaster. Later it was moved to the building now occupied by the Hilligoss show repair shop and finally to its present location. At first there were no mailboxes. Many interesting pictures may be seen of the line of people from the post office door straight across the street patiently waiting for their mail, which had to be separately looked for from large bundles. The line was the same no matter what the weather was.

Presho had a newspaper in 1905. E. L. Senn, present prohibition officer established the “Presho Post,” which later became the “Lyman County Herald.” Mr. Senn owned sixteen other papers in Lyman County at that time. They were called “proof sheets” and were used to advertise the ownership of claims.

Besides real estate offices and restaurants, several stores were started. Argo and Sweeney ran a general store in the building now occupied by B. B. Stevens, and Martin and Kenobbie had a big general store in the building now occupied by Reuland & Deisch. There were dance halls above these stores, and it is said that the buildings shook with the square dances of twenty years ago as they would now with the Charleston of 1926. People came as far as twenty miles or more on horseback to these dances. Entertainment was a treat to the people who came as far from their friends and social life to this unsettled, lonesome prairie land.

Argo and Sweeney owned the first automobile. It was manufactured by the International Harvester Company and modeled after a high-wheeled buggy. Its chief fault was that it wouldn’t run up hill. The Sheldon Brothers owned a large livery stable where the Entsminger Lumber yard now is. A large “Blue Front” livery stable owned by C. S. Hubbard also helped supply the homesteaders with teams to haul their lumber to their claims. This stable has been torn down and replaced by a filling station.

Another bank was started almost as soon as the Sedgwick bank. W. H. Pratt was the president, and he located in the building, which is now Robert’s Drug Store. He also had a land office in the back. Later Mr. Dixson bought out Pratt and operated the First State Bank until it was closed two years ago.

Besides those mentioned, others to engage in business when the town was very new were: Herman Jost, who owned a jewelry store; F. M. Newman, druggist and physician; Richard Sehnert, who established a bakery and ran a hotel; White & Parrick, real estate; Mitchell & Chamberland, real estate; Helleckson & Horton, mercantile business; Ed McKim, implement business; John Hansen, saloon; F. C. Wederath, lawyer; Bezanson and Stevens, hardware; M. E. Griffith, real estate; John Conley, real estate; C. H. West, real estate; J. W. Jordan, postmaster in 1906; Sheffer and Wilson, grocery store, and R. J. Clute who had a harness shop. During the first 6 months after the lot sale, a very creditable looking town was erected, with both sides of main street built solid for about two and half blocks, with some places of business on side streets.

In April 1906 the town was incorporated and North Presho, East Presho, and South Presho became Presho, a third class city. The first governing body consisted of Isaac Helleckson, the postmaster; Mr. Pratt, the banker; and Mr. Church, the drayman. Mr. Helleckson, as chairman of this council, acted a mayor. Ed Christenson was justice of the peace. One of the first improvements that the new city undertook was that of sidewalks. Planks had been used, but with frequent rains such as there were that spring, the mud in the streets was often ankle deep. Each night storekeepers would scoop it out of their stores with a shovel. An election was held that declared liquor traffic legal, and four saloons were established. They operated until the 18th amendment was passed, and present records show that the town has improved 70 per cent since the saloons were abolished.

For the first year or more people associated in mass, there being no class distinction; and they rallied to the support of any worthy cause to aid in sickness or distress, and to provide funds for the erection of churches and other public buildings. The first celebration in Presho showed a good example of cooperation. Two citizens solicited the town and in four hours time $1200 was raised to finance the Fourth of July celebration in 1906. A framework was erected on both sides of Main Street and boughs were cut and hauled to form a shady bower. A racetrack and grandstand were built opposite Medicine creek to the northwest of the present tourist camp. Probably the first auto race ever held west of the Missouri river took place on that day. The cars were each two-cylinder cars; one a Buick and the other a Reo. Harry Pontius was the driver of the Reo and he won the race. It was estimated that at least five thousand people attended the celebration. Many traveled seventy-five to a hundred miles overland, camping on the way.

The water supply for the town was taken from the creek and from the artesian well drilled by the Chicago & Milwaukee railroad company in December 1905. The overflow formed what was called the “lake” and a bathhouse and plunge was operated by Mr. Clausen and owned by C. S. Hubbard. It cost the people twenty-five cents to take a bath, and every Saturday night the bathhouse and plunge were kept very busy. C. S. Hubbard owned five boats, which he kept for rent. They were interesting because they were named for the new brides of Presho—Alice Ohlson, Mildred Hubbard, Grace Miller, Sophia Edinger, and Marion Sweeney. In 1906 the city drilled the well on the hill west of town.

Edward “Buster” Kenobbie, born April 3, 1906, was the first baby born in Presho. He was born to Frederick Martin and Mabel (Clark) Kenobbie.

As the Norwegians were the first people to settle here, theirs was the first church. In 1890 the Medicine Valley Lutheran Church was organized by the Rev. M.O. Waldahl of Pukwana. This was the church north of the tracks and it is now the house of Dale Beale on his farm south of Presho. Another Lutheran church, called the Presho Norwegian Evangelical church, was organized in 1892 and was the beginning of the present church, built in 1907. In 1917 these two Lutheran churches united under the name, “The Norwegian Lutheran Church of America” with the Rev. C. O. Rolfsen as pastor. He served until 1920 when the Rev. G. N. Isolany came to Presho.

The Methodist church was built in 1906, and the Rev. J. R. Payne was the first pastor. Until the time of the present pastor, the Rev. Ralph E. Rich, there have been thirteen other pastors. Before their church was built in 1907 the Catholics used to go to Sweeney to church. Father J. B. Kelly was the first resident priest here, and between his term of service and that of the present Father Frei, there have been six priests. A Christian church once stood where the Norwegian Lutheran parsonage now is, but it was later moved to Hilmoe where it is used with the Presho minister as pastor.

Before 1909 the Rev. Engel, who lived at Chamberlain, came out every two to three weeks to preach to the German Lutheran congregation. Then the Rev. G. Steffen became minister at Draper where he had filed on a claim, and he preached at Presho, Murdo, Draper, and Hilmoe. 1913 the Rev. Labrence had his residence in Presho, and after him came the Rev. Mr. Ehlers, the Rev. Mr. Pautsch, the Rev. Mr. Jenson, and then the present Rev. T. H. Joeckel.

It was about this time too that the lodges were organized. The Workman lodge was the first one, in 1906, and the I.O.O.F., the Masonic, the Woodman, the Royal Neighbors, the Rebekah, and the Eastern Star were formed just a few years later.

School was first held in the old Lutheran church, which stood near the present Campbell residence. Miss Lola Campbell was the first public school teacher. She was a homesteader, who lived several miles south of town and who walked in or rode horseback each morning. In 1907 bonds for $7000 were issued for the public school house for which W. B. Hight was contractor. The site for it caused a controversy between two political parties, which centered around the two banks. One party wanted the present site, which was owned by the Milwaukee Land Company, and the other party chose a site in Greater Presho. The bonds for this building are due next year. The first 4-year class to be graduated was in 1915. There were eight seniors then—Maella McKim (Mrs. Mairose), Holis Andis, Donald Crawford, Maclin Walters, Pearl Fahrenwald, Elsie Beale, Edmund Harrington and Kenneth West. In 1920 the school was consolidated with several outlying districts, but consolidation failed the next year by a 60 per cent vote of the people after the case had been taken to the Supreme Court. The high school was also accredited in 1920.

The first county fair was held in Presho in 1907. It was a success in every way, and the next September another took place. The feature about this fair that people remember was the airplane, which was made by Harry Pontius out of bicycles and canvas. He attempted to fly it, but it hit a corner of the grandstand and was wrecked. Another successful fair was held the next year, but in 1910 the occasion was spoiled with rain. On account of dry years and the war, no fairs were held from 1911 to 1922, but since the fair was revived in 1922 three very successful ones have been held.

In 1900 there was one telephone in Presho, in the Rice building north of the tracks. The line ran from Chamberlain to Rapid City. The second line was built by Mr. Blunck and Mr. Sedgwick between here and White River out of ash trees from the Blunck ranch near the river. The next line was from Chamberlain to Pierre, the present line, owned by the Bell Telephone Company and built n 1910.

The first electric light plant was installed by O. E. Helgerson in the back of his garage in 1910-11. He wired his own buildings and then the Arcade Hotel next door. He later put in a larger plant and supplied the residence district. The city bought Mr. Helgerson’s plant in 1922 and built the present building. The city sold to the Northern Power & Light Co. in 1925.

When the war came in 1917, there were hardly any young men left in Presho, but all of them came back except three. Edward Butrick was killed in France and it is for him that the local Post of the American Legion is named. William Mang and Kenneth West also lost their lives. Following is a list of Presho boys who went to war: Andrew Clausen, Roy Scott, Harry Scott, Thomas Huffman, Russell Mullen, L. K. Lewis, James Ely, Otto Sehnert, Richard Sehnert, Carl Kuhrt, C. J. Boe, Thorwald Boe, Orville Ellefson, Wallace Lonie, Roy Fry, Floyd Payne, Clarence Gross, Clarence Husman, Don Crawford, Walter Dittman, Paul Thompson, Jim Herman, Leo Etherton, Albert Hulce, Roy Winchell, Jim Waller, William Fahrenwald, Rudy Nerk, William Lang, Floyd O’Toole, Charles O’Toole, Jack Foley, Frank Mullen, Clinton Bartow, Hans Libner, Henry Kuhrt, Leo and Garner Salisbury, Jacob Manhalter, Mathew Jenson, Gunerus Olson, Ole Howe, Dale Beale, Henry Boe, Enoch Tjornsland, Oscar Alkire, James Alkire, John Halgrimson, Clarence Jost, Henry Halgrimson, Louis Fosness and John Kinney.

It was during the war, too, that Presho became noted as a hay-shipping center. In 1914 there was a heavy rainfall, which produced an immense hay crop. Contracts were made with the government for prairie hay and about 900 cars were shipped at eighteen dollars a ton. The annual shipment increased to 1000 cars, this making Presho the second largest shipping center for prairie hay in the United States. In 1918 there was a very heavy hay crop. It rained almost continuously for a month, and most of the crops were destroyed, but it was very favorable for the growth of grass. In the last few years, there has been a falling off in the shipment of hay on account of less rainfall and continuous harvesting, but at the lowest over 500 cars have been shipped.

Several fires in recent years have damaged the business section of town. On the night of June 5, 1922, five buildings were entirely burned: Helgerson’s hardware store and theater, pool hall, Stanley’s real estate office, and Robert’s drug store. In 1924 a fire broke out in Campbell’s meat market and burned the market, Newman’s drug store, and telephone office. Campbell’s market and Newman’s drug store have since been replaced by two fine brick buildings. In December the Catholic Church burned, but plans are being made to erect a modern building in its place.

Thus in twenty years Presho has grown into the largest town between Chamberlain and Rapid City.

All family members born in Grossoerner, Saxony, Preussen

Richard's grandfather, Johann Carl Andreas had three siblings: 

Richard's father had five siblings; Johann was the middle child.

Presho Cemetery: Richard and Anna Sehnert; Carl and Louise Garnos; Walter Claude Grimshaw (son-in-law)

Riverview Cemetery, Chamberlain: Freda and Joe Bice

¹Author

²Author

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Webpage posted June 2008.