1907 - Kimball, South Dakota
Kimball Graphic & Index
January - May 1907
This period of time contains interesting items about our ancestors. Reading news items allows us to capture glimpses of their lives and what interested them.
Senator John Smith
'Irish' John Smith left for Pierre, South Dakota, on January 5. Interesting to note that John paid for four newspaper subscriptions, something he had been doing for awhile. A subscription probably went to Margaret Smith, who was attending school at Sinsiniwa, Wisconsin. One subscription was for his own household. Who got the other two subscriptions?
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; January 4, 1907; page 4
Peter Delire Renews Subscription
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; January 4, 1907; page 4
James and Josephine Byrne Travel to Wisconsin
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; January 4, 1907; page 4
Charles Delire Weds
Charley Delire's brother was Peter G. Delire Jr. of Kimball. Charley sold insurance for several years, probably with New York Life. We would find him in Kimball, Platte, Webster, Mitchell, and Sioux City. According to this article he is now selling pianos in Minneapolis. His brother, Frank, based in Platte was a jeweler and also sold pianos. We were a little surprised as we thought Charley was already married.
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; January 4, 1907; page 4
Emmett Ryan and Mumps
Emmett's parents were John and Elizabeth Ryan. Emmett's brother was Ben Ryan.
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; January 18, 1907; page 4
Eliza Ryan and Brule County Commissioners
Eliza Hill Ryan husband was Bartholomew ''Batt' Ryan, and she asked for a loan renewal. The motion was carried, but begs the question regarding the loan's purpose.
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; January 25, 1907; page 4
Henry Willrodt, Chairman
Henry Willrodt was elected chairman of the Brule County supervisors. Henry's son, Harold, would one day marry Elizabeth Smith, daughter of 'Irish' John Smith and Susan McPhillips.
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; January 25, 1907; page 4
Peter Delire in Plankinton
Peter Delire married Merida (née Patry) Turgeon. Merida's first husband was Philias 'Phil' Turgeon. Merida and Phil's oldest daughter, Mary, married William P. Smith, son of 'Irish' John Smith and Susan McPhillips.
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; January 25, 1907; page 4
Senator John Smith Comes Back Home
The State Senate was in recess and John came back home to home and hearth.
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; February 1, 1907; page 4
Below is an old painting of the State Capitol building at Pierre. The 10th legislative session approved appropriations to construct this building. John Smith was one of the many legislators approving money for this new structure.
James Byrne, James J. Boney and a Carload of Hogs
Byrne and Boney loaded up their hogs and shipped them out, possibly to Sioux City where the livestock prices were higher. The carload of hogs got stuck in a snowdrift on the way to White Lake.
Both men have a connection to our own family. James Byrne married Josephine Turgeon, daughter of Francis and Henryette Turgeon. Francis's sibling was our ancestor, Philias Turgeon. Byrne went into partnership with a Jim Rooney and bought an elevator at Kimball. James Boney's uncle was our ancestor, Bartholomew 'Batt' Ryan. John Boney married Batt's sister, Mary Ryan.
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; February 8, 1907; page 4
Below is a photograph of an old Kimball, SD, elevator
Senator Smith Votes Against Anti-Treating Bill
Even in 1906 Republicans were identified with corporate interests, monopolies and trusts. Not much has changed although a century has passed. The 10th legislative session was considered one of the most progressive and productive body since the state's founding. One editor noted he saw no difference between Republican or Democratic votes. The Democrats were for trust busting and reigning in corporate abuses. So were the South Dakota Republicans.
This session passed some important temperance legislation; however, a few temperance issues did not pass. One such item was the 'anti-treating' proposal. If passed, this legislation would have prohibited you from buying a round of drinks for friends or family. This did not pass, but it appears the good Kimball publisher might have had some issues with that.
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; February 22, 1907; page 4
John Smith and Anti-Pass Legislation
The local publisher teased Senator Smith about getting a free railroad pass for travel. The 10th session passed legislation which "Prohibits, under drastic penalties, the giving or asking for railroad, telegraph or telephone passes except to certain exempted persons". Rail travel was affordable. The legislature fixed a maximum 2 ½ cent rate for in-state railroad passenger fares.
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; March 15, 1907; page 4
W.P. Smith and Will Chevalier Arrive in Kimball
Will Chevalier eventually married Laura Turgeon, daughter of Philias Turgeon and Merida Patry. Will Smith is John and Susan Smith's boy.
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; March 15, 1907; page 4
Lester Miller Visits Shenandoah, Iowa
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; March 15, 1907; page 4
Smith & Ryan Advertisement
This business had an interesting motto: "Where There is Not a Bill of Trash At Any Price". Partners in this venture were Ben Ryan and J.E. Smith. This Smith does not connect to our own family line.
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; April 5, 1907; page 4
As a business proposition does it pay to patronize the Omaha peddlers when you can buy better goods for less money. We compare prices with them, taken from one of their invoices and ask you to decide for yourself.
Omaha Peddler's Prices. Smith & Ryan Prices
Terms Cash. Pay at the Bank
30 lbs. Coffee. $8.70 30 lbs. Miller's Coffee. $6.00
5 Packages Tobacco. .80 5 Full lbs. Tobacco. .80
1 lb. Cocoanut. .45 1 lb. Cocoanut. .25
2 lbs. Tea. .00 2 lbs. Best Tea. 1.00
25 lbs. Sugar. 1.00 25 lbs. Sugar 1.65
Freight. .50
Total. 11.45 Total 9.70
The prices quoted by us are our regular retail prices while the peddlers offer sugar for less than cost and throw in some cheap tea in order to sell 30 pounds of coffee at ten cents more than it is worth and get almost two prices for their cocoanut. Does it pay? Well, it pays them.
Will Smith Visits Kimball
Will was a frequent visitor to Kimball. Something sure made Will come back home.
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; March 29, 1907; page 4
Plankinton meant something to us as youngsters. That was the place they sent bad boys who ran afoul of the law. Plankinton was home to the State Training School, which we imagined much like the place Charles Dickens' young Oliver endured.
Smith & Ryan's Strawberries
Lester Miller Returns From Iowa
I have been separating similar unlike news items; however, I added it here to illustrate how the publisher mingled news with ads. In one case, the publisher reports a local store received a strawberry shipment. Also, we learn Lester Miller was out of town.
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; March 29, 1907; page 4
James Boney Puts His Percheron Up For Stud
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; April 19, 1907; page 4
Emmett Ryan in Sioux Falls
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; April 19, 1907; page 4
Smith & Ryan Advertisement
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; April 26, 1907; page 4
Henry a Willrodt on Jury List
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; May 3, 1907; page1
James Byrne in Court
This article by itself leaves one scratching his or her head. The surname in this article is spelled 'Byrnes' so one might think this article references someone other than James Byrne. Late 1905 James Byrne was inspecting his unfinished new home when he spotted someone either near or in the nearly built house. James Byrne chased this fellow down with a loaded shotgun; however, it is unclear whether he shot the other man. Was the other man stealing, or was there just bad blood between the two? Unknown, at some point Byrne was arrested and charged with assault. The jury appears to have disagreed with the Police Department's assessment.
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; May 10, 1907; page 4
Will Smith Drives Back to Kimball to See Grandpa McPhillips
Michael 'Mick' McPhillips suffered a stroke. It must have been pretty serious as many family members traveled to Kimball to see our Great-ancestor.
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; May 10, 1907; page 4
Mary Turgeon Returns From Trip to Chamberlain
Interesting how our grandmother's surname is always spelled 'Torgeon'. The Kimball publisher spelled her uncles' surname as 'Turgeon'.
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; May 10, 1907; page 4
McPhillips Stroke
Part of the news article is unreadable, so it has been transcribed: 'Michael McPhillips, father of Mrs. John Smith, was stricken with paralysis a week ago today and has been in a precarious condition since, due to his advanced age, which is eight-five years. His right side is paralyzed. His son, Pat McPhillips of Bear Valley Wis., arrived Tuesday night'.
Michael had two children living in Brule County - Owen McPhillips and Susan McPhillips Smith. Son, John, lived in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Strokes run in our family. Michael McPhillips had at least one stroke. His grandson, Will Smith, had a stroke later in his life. Will's son, John W. Smith, had a stroke in middle age.
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; May 10, 1907; page 4
Will Smith Visits Again
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; May 17, 1907; page 4
Lulu Way Jones
Lulu Way Jones married James J. Boney, son of John Boney and Mary Ryan. Lulu taught school in one of the rural districts in Brule County.
Kimball Graphic & Index; Kimball, SD; May 17, 1907; page 4
