Kimball, South Dakota
Kimball Graphic and Index
August 1905 to January 1906
Prior to 1905, the Kimball Graphic and Kimball Index were two separate newspapers. It is amazing two newspapers could thrive in such a small community. At some point, the Index was sold to CR Tinan, publisher of the Kimball Graphic. Brule County News is a later invention.
The following news items appeared in the Kimball Graphic and Index, and referenced our relatives.
Removing Nuisances in Chamberlain
This news item says Jack Quillin originally paid $25 to haul off the wood and other items, and he was offered $50 by someone else for the same rights of haulage. Jack married Margaret Boney, daughter of John Boney and Mary Ryan.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; September 1, 1905; page 4
The second part of this article described another eyesore which was an old steam boiler Henry Willrodt used in his artesian well. The county paid two guys five bucks to get rid of it.
John Byrne
John Byrne probably is connected to James Byrne of Kimball. James would later marry one of Francis Turgeon's daughters.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; September 1, 1905; page 4
Merida Delire and Mary Turgeon
Mother and daughter drive to Platte in an automobile, probably on a gravel road and at a slow speed rate. What type of car did they drive? We can never be sure but Pete Delire was a reasonably successful businessman and probably drove a car other than Ford.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; September 1, 1905; page 4
Below is a picture of the 1905 Model "B" Buick. It came with a canopied top, and would have been similar to a car owned by the Delires.
Anton Havlik
The Havlik family connects to the Ryan family through Mavis Tarbetz, wife of James Ryan. James Ryan's parents were Francis Silvestre Ryan and Adelaide McGonigle. Anton Havlik headed to Colorado due to consumption. Consumption is an archaic term for pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Before effective treatments were developed, sick patients were encouraged to move west where air was fresher and purer. Short of that patients would be transferred to sanitariums. In 1916 your chances of being alive in five years after diagnosis was 50%.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; September 1, 1905; page 4
Lester Miller in Yankton
Lester Miller got sick when he was at Gayville. Lester was working as a pharmaceutical representative for a Philadelphia Drug Company. This news article says he was stricken with an 'old ailment', but never identified it by name.
Lester made his way back to Yankton, and ended up in the hospital. It is likely Lester was admitted to the Sacred Heart Hospital as it was established in 1897 by the Benedictine Sisters.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; September 1, 1905; page 4
Lulu Jones
Lulu worked as a teacher in the Kimball area. Later she would marry James J. (JJ) Boney, son of John Boney and Mary Ryan. You may recall JJ's maternal uncle was our ancestor, Batty Ryan.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; September 8, 1905; page 4
Maggie Smith and John Meis
These are two separate news items. Batt and Eliza's two boys, Leo and John, married Meis sisters. The 'Mrs. John Meis' mentioned below was probably their mother.
Also, Margaret Smith left for a Sinsiniwa, Wisconsin, where St. Clara's college was located. The previous school term Margaret and Mayme Smith both attended this school.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; September 8,, 1905; page 4
Millers Leave Yankton
Lester was still recovering from his recent bout of illness. His mom brought him back to Kimball.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; September 8, 1905; page 4
Kate Boney Sioux City
Kate was living in Sioux City at this time. It is possible she was attending some sort of school in Sioux City.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; September 15, 1905; page 4
South Dakota Town Populations
Towns were relatively small, Sioux Falls the largest at 12,000 plus people. The greatest bulk of the population still lived in rural areas and farms.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; September 22, 1905; page 4
Grace Hogan
Grace was a good friend of Mary Turgeon. In a few weeks Grace and Mary would travel to their homestead claims in Lyman County. Later this land would be part of a newly created county, Jones.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; September 22, 1905; page 4
John Ryan and Bright's Disease
John suffered from Bright's Disease, a kidney disease, which today is called chronic or acute nephritis. John was an early Brule County pioneer and sheriff. Previously he was an Allamakee Iowa County Treasurer. Several 'John Ryans' homesteaded near Kimball.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; September 22, 1905; page 4
Peter Delire wins China Set
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; September 22, 1905; page 4
Ben Turgeon
Ben Turgeon was sibling to our ancestor, Philias Turgeon. Ben had another brother, Francis Turgeon, living in Kimball. Ben owned a successful ranching operation in Gregory County, which is located in west river South Dakota.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; October 6, 1905; page 4
This article does not say how Ben got to Kimball; however, Ben liked car travel. The picture above was taken in 1905 and shows Ben Turgeon driving his car with the Langdeau family as his passengers.
Death of John Ryan
John Ryan died on September 28, 1905, and is buried in Salem, SD.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; October 6, 1905; page 4
Commissioners Report Seconded by Willrodt
County Commissioner, Henry Willrodt, seconded motion for Duba's mortgage.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; October 6, 1905; page 4
Grace Hogan and Mary Turgeon
Mary Turgeon and Grace Hogan head to their homestead claims west of Chamberlain.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; October 13, 1905; page 4
Race Meeting Premiums
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; October 13, 1905; page 4
Peter Smith judged vegetables, and JJ Boney judges grasses. It was interesting to note who won prizes:
Second Place Wheat - John Smith
First Place Rye - John Smith
Second Place Speltz - John Smith. Interesting to note a 'J. W. Smith' took first place.
First Place Corn - J. W. Smith
Second Place Potatoes - Mrs. Timothy Farrell
First Place Cabbage - J. W. Smith
Second Place Cabbage - Mrs. Timothy Farrell
Second Place Turnips - Peter Smith
First Place Mangles - J. W. Smith
Biggest Catholic Parish in South Dakota
Kimball always had a large Catholic population, and at one time the parish was actually the largest in South Dakota. At one time the Bishop consolidated nine churches into one administrative unit based out of Kimball.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; November 3, 1905; page 4
Will smith visits again
Grandpa Bill Smith frequently visited Kimball.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; November 3, 1905; page 4
Byrnes and Turgeons visit
Francis Turgeon, sibling of Philias and Louis, visits Louis in Kimball. James Byrne will later marry one of Francis Turgeon's daughters.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; November 3, 1905; page 4
Batt Ryan
Our great grandfather, Batt Ryan, told Publisher Tinan he had harvested 65 acres of corn.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; November 3, 1905; page 4
John Smith pays for subscriptions
'Irish' John paid 4 newspaper subscriptions.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; November 3, 1905; page 4
Flora Turgeon
Flora's parents were Philias Turgeon and Merida Patry. She was born in Charles Mix County like the rest of her siblings. Flora later married J. U. Steichen.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; November 17, 1905; page 4
Delire and Knights of Columbus
Peter Delire joined the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; November 24, 1905; page 4
Batt Ryan visits Mitchell
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; December 1, 1905; page 4
Richard Farrell Weds
Richard's parents were Timothy and Ellen Farrell, who were 'Irish' John Smith's next door neighbor. The Farrell family originally came from Pine Bluff, Dane County, Wisconsin.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; December 1, 1905; page 4
James Byrne Visits Mitchell
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; December 15, 1905; page 4
Peter and Merida Delire Visit Mitchell
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; December 15, 1905; page 4
Will Smith Visits Home Again
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; December 22, 1905; page 4
Mary Turgeon Home for the Holidays
Mary started working her claim a few months before this news item appeared in the newspaper. She did not make it back for Thanksgiving but was home for Christmas.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; December 22, 1905; page 4
BW Ryan Visits LeMars, Iowa
This was a 'head scratcher' until it dawned on me this article was discussing Ben Ryan's visit. We do not believe our ancestor, Bartholomew 'Batty' Ryan, had a middle name. Batt's real name may have been Maurice, at least that is the name which appears on his wedding document.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; December 29, 1905; page 4
Richard Farrell
This article says Richard and Miss Mary Farrell left for Sioux City. Richard recently married Mary Lawler. Where was Richard's spouse?
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; December 29, 1905; page 4
Found Dead on the Prairie
This article is about an old fellow names Vencel Nedwed who was found dead near a school in Eagle Township. Vencel has no relationship to our family. However, after the body was discovered the good people of that area contacted Coroner, Dr. Frank Stewart, to investigate. Frank brought his brother-in-law, Lester Miller, for assistance. Frank married Catherine Miller. The Stewarts had a daughter named Josephine. One of the photographs Frank Smith kept for many years was a young Josephine Stewart. It was probably part of a photo collection kept by Margaret (Smith) and Lester Miller.
Identification was made by looking at the decedent's clothing. Obviously the body was in a heavy state of decomposition. This was time where DNA tests did not exist, and dental records (if existed at all) were not useful.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; January 5, 1906; page 4
Will Smith Visits Kimball for New Years
Are we to believe Will would spend a stuffy New Years' celebration with his family, or did he have other plans? How long did he court Mary Turgeon before marrying her in June of 1908?
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; January 5, 1906; page 4
Laura Turgeon Visits Chamberlain
Laura's parents were Merida Patry and Philias 'Phil' Turgeon. Phil died in 1895 and Merida married Peter G. Delire before the turn of the nineteenth century. The Turgeon children all lived with Merida and her new husband, Pete.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; January 5, 1906; page 4
Emmett Ryan
The 1900 US Census show an 'Emmett L. Ryan' living in Waldro Township, Brule County. His parents were John P. and Elizabeth Ryan. The 1905 census above shows Emmett living in Kimball and working as an assistant rail agent. Emmett's sister was named Stella, and his brother was named Ben. By 1904 John and Elizabeth Ryan had moved to LeMars, Iowa. It is possible Emmett was born in Waukon, Iowa, and lived close by our own Allamakee Iowa ancestors.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; January 5, 1906; page 4
Pete and Merida's New Years Bash
The Delire family invited 25 friends over for a New Years' party and celebrated like it was 1899! Unfortunately we do not have a list of attendees but I am sure a good time was had by all.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; January 5, 1906; page 4
John Ryan Letter
This man was Emmett Ryan's father and they planned on moving back to Kimball.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; January 5, 1906; page 4
Mary Turgeon Heads West
Our grandmother, Mary Turgeon, headed back to her claim after the holidays. This news item does not mention Mary traveling with anyone else.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; January 5, 1906; page 4
Emmett Ryan Returns from LeMars
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; January 12, 1906; page 4
County Committees
H.L. Willrodt served on a number of Brule County Committees. Elizabeth Smith, daughter of "Irish John Smith and Susan McPhillips, married H.L.'s son, Harold Willrodt.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; January 19, 1906; page 4
Lester Miller Visits Mitchell
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; January 19, 1906; page 4
Turtle Chop Tea
Now that I have your attention, this tea was sold at Smith & Ryan's store in downtown Kimball. Ben Ryan was one the partners. Another partner appears to be a fellow named J.E. Smith. This Smith does not appear to be related to our line of Smiths.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; January 19, 1906; page 4
James Boney Buys a Pig
The publisher congratulated Boney on his purchase of Goldie, a registered Poland China sow.
Kimball graphic & Index, Kimball SD; February 5, 1906; page 4
