Instructions

Kimball Graphic & Index
January 1906 to July 1906

There is a world of information about our ancestors hidden in old records and documents.  One way to find stuff about our relatives is looking at old census records.  While such records are useful in placing our ancestors in certain locations, it does not tell us much about their daily lives or about their accomplishments.  One way we can gather such insight is by looking at old newspapers.

The newspaper had more relevance in the old days because there were precious few ways for the average person to learn about current events.  In small towns it was a good way for your neighbors to learn what you were doing.  The social news section was one of the more popular pages in any newspaper.  Our ancestors readily contacted the newspaper publisher/editor to report their last week's activities.

Emmett Ryan returns

Emmett E. Ryan worked as an assistant railroad agent, and his brother was Ben Ryan.  A little later you will read a news article which describes Emmett's immediate family.  His parents were John P. and Elizabeth Ryan.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, January 12, 1906

 

James Boney Attends Mitchell Livestock Show

James Boney was Batt Ryan's nephew, son of John and Mary Boney.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, January 12, 1906

Peter Delire on Jury List

While the good editor would publish a quarterly list of jurors, you rarely saw any court news.  It is possible most cases were inconsequential involving small misdemeanors or property disputes.  Peter Delire's name appears on the list below.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, February 16, 1906

O'Flaherty Family

Father Colman O'Flaherty leaned his sister was seriously ill and was confined to her Lyman County homestead.  We know Father O'Flaherty had at least one sister named Mary, who never married.

Father Colman O'Flaherty was well known and liked in our Smith family.  During The Great War (WWI) Father Colman was killed by an exploding shell while tending a wounded soldier.  Our family maintained copies of old letters which extolled the virtues of this priest, as well as the events surrounding his death.  One letter was addressed to his sister, Mary O'Flaherty, of Mitchell.  The O'Flaherty family was not related to our own families.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, March 9, 1906

Bloody Fracas in Brule County

Neighbor disputes are nothing new, and this news item has been relegated to the dustbin of history.  One neighbor wandered into Kimball with three large gashes on his forehead.  Our cousin, James Boney, filed a complaint and his brother-in-law, Jack Quillin, investigated.  Jack married Margaret Boney.  Dr. Frank Stewart sutured his wounds and checked him into a local hotel.  Dr. Stewart married Catherine Miller.  Her brother was Lester Miller.  Lester married 'Irish' John's daughter, Margaret Smith. 

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, March 16, 1906

Will Smith placed in Charge of Stickney Bank

How long did Grandpa Bill work at the Plankinton Bank?  Family lore says Will (or Bill) rolled into Stickney on a bobsled because there was so much snow on the ground.  At least we know which bank employed him - Case & Lathrop.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, March 30, 1906

 

Delires Sell House

Earlier Peter Delire bought a house in Mitchell, and people thought he would soon move away.  However, we learn from this news article that Peter was selling his Mitchell house and keep his house in Kimball.  Eventually the Delire family would move to Mitchell.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, March 30, 1906

James Boney's New Horse

James ambled into the Kimball Graphic's office bragging about his new foal sired by the black Percheron stallion he bought several years earlier.  Percheron horses are well built plow horses.  Horses fell out of favor once mechanized tractors became more prominent.  However, in the earliest part of the Twentieth Century horses were still popular.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, March 30, 1906

 

Stickney, South Dakota

This hamlet was named for John B. Stickney, an executive working for the old Milwaukee Road Railroad. John Stickney was born in New Hampshire and moved frequently while employed with the railroad.  His last position was station agent in Mazomanie, Dane County, Wisconsin.  Wisconsin's state Capitol, Madison, is located in Dane County.   Stickney was incorporated in 1905 and its post office was built in November 1905.  An old 1910 Gazette described Stickney as a prosperous community populated by 250 souls. 

W.T. Lathrop was President of the Stickney State Bank, and Will Smith was the Cashier.  In today's world Will's position would be listed as Branch Manager.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, April 6, 1906

 

Assorted Miller Articles

There were two separate news items about the Miller family.  Lester, his sister (Kate) and Clate all went to Mitchell.  Kate would marry Dr. Frank Stewart in a couple of months.  Perhaps their trip was related to her pending nuptials.  Kate appears to have stayed overnight.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, April 6, 1906

John Ryan Family Moves to Kimball
Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, April 6, 1906

For months now the Kimball Graphic & Index reported John Ryan's reputed move back to Kimball.  John and his wife, Elizabeth, pined away for old friends and family living in Brule County.  This article tells us several things.  First, it verifies their two sons lived in Kimball - Ben and Emmett.  Second, we discover John Ryan bought the old Stuver place.

This is interesting for our own family.  John died first and then his wife.  Ben was living in that old house when he sold it to our grandparents, Frank and Adelaide (McGonigle) Ryan.  This is the house where our grandparents raised their children, and the house visited by their grandchildren.  It is the house which the present owners claim Adelaide's ghost can be seen in the kitchen.

 

James Boney's Fine Horse

Last year James Boney bought a black Percheron stallion named Bastien.  Bastien is short for Sebastien.  James was really proud of this breed of plow horse.  Percherons were imported to America by the thousands prior to World War I. The following photograph show the stallion Bastien.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, March 30, 1906

 

Ben Ryan, City Assessor

Ben Ryan held a number of public service jobs.  One of his last jobs was Kimball's Postmaster, a post he held prior to our grandfather, Frank Ryan, being appointed to that position.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, April 13, 1906

Flora Turgeon

Flora's parents were Philias Turgeon and Merida Delire.  Her step-father was Peter Delire.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, April 13, 1906

Charley Delire Resides in Webster

Charley moved around a lot, and not quite sure if he continued selling insurance.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, April 13, 1906

Ben Ryan Travels to Chamberlain

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, April 27, 1906

James Byrne Travels to Sioux City

That must have been a lot of sheep!  James married one of Francis Turgeon's daughters, Josephine.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, April 27, 1906

 

Peter Delire travels East

The purpose of Pete's travel is unknown, but I suspect it had something to with New York Life business.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, April 27, 1906

Memorial Day Program

Our ancestor Merida (Patry-Turgeon) Delire was appointed to the Flowers and Decorations Committee .  The Grand Army of the Republic post sponsored the Memorial Day program.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, May 11, 1906

Dr. Frank Stewart - Kathryn Miller Nuptials

Dr. Stewart married Kathryn Miller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F.E. Miller, in Kimball.  Kathryn's brother was Lester Miller.  Lester would one day marry Margaret Smith, daughter of 'Irish' John Smith and Susan McPhillips.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, May 18, 1906

 

Lester Miller Visits Parents

Lester must have been in town for his sister's wedding.  At this time he was working as a traveling sales representative for a Philadelphia Drug Company.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, May 18, 1906

Democratic Convention at Pukwana

The Brule County Democrats met in Pukwana and elected their delegates to the state convention which was held in Yankton.  Two relatives were selected as delegates - 'Irish' John Smith and H.L. Willrodt.  Ben Ryan and John Meis were selected as alternates.  Thirteen delegates altogether were selected.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, May 25, 1906

Kittie and Maggie Smith Honored as Teachers

This is an interesting news account since it tells us two of John and Susan Smith's daughters worked as teachers. 

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, June 1 , 1906

Democratic Convention in Yankton

Thirteen Brule County delegates left Kimball for Yankton where they would participate at the state Democratic convention.  A week previous to their departure they met in their County caucus at Pukwana.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, June 8 1906, page 4

Charley Delire is now Located in Platte

Charles Delire's brother, Peter, lived in Kimball.  Both worked for New York Life as insurance agents.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, June 8, 1906, page 4

The Miller and Stewart Families Have a Picnic

CR Tinan ran an item in the Society Section about the soggy Miller family picnic.  At least the fish were biting.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, June 15, 1906

Jack Quillin

Jack was married to Margaret Boney, daughter of John Boney and Mary Ryan.  We knew two of their sons, Joe and Phil, lived in Kennebec which is in west river South Dakota.  It was intriguing that Jack Quillin also spent time out west river.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, June 15, 1906

Ben Ryan and Dogs

The publisher decried all the unlicensed dogs running amok.  I agree with that thinking too.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, June 22, 1906

Turgeon's Leave for Canada

The following Turgeons left for Canada:  Francis Turgeon and his wife, Henryette Turgeon, and their daughter Josephine.  Also traveling with the Turgeons was our ancestor, Merida Patry Delire.  Merida's first husband was Philias Turgeon.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, June 29, 1906

Dogs Kill Mrs. John Ryan's Chickens

A few weeks previous the Kimball publisher condemned dogs running loose in Kimball.  Publisher Tinan asked why Assessor, Ben Ryan, was not licensing more dogs.  Tinan probably relished adding this news item about dogs killing chickens in Ben Ryan's property.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, July 6, 1906

Peter Delire Visits Mary Turgeon in Lyman County

Pete decided to visit his step-daughter, Mary Turgeon, in Lyman County while his wife was in Canada.  The accompanying photograph show our grandmother, Mary Turgeon, sitting on her horse.  So who is the other woman?  We know Mary traveled with a White Lake gal, Grace Hogan.  Gracie's claim was south and adjacent to Mary's.  so we think the other woman was Grace.

Kimball Graphic & Index, Kimball SD, July 20 , 1906