Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1897-06-11
MISSION HILL.
Abe Van0sdel, John Stranage and a
Cat Fish...Some Early Day
Trials.


by Father Nichols, pastor of the Con.
gregational church at that place. A
short distance east is a Norwegian church
built in the early 70s. The townsite is
owned by Hon. A. L. VanOsdel, who
located about three miles south on the
banks of the historic Jim river in 1864.
Mr.. VanOsdel was member Of the First
Minnesota Rangers and served with the
late Judge Edgerton. He came to
Yankton county in 1864, in company
with Clark West, his brother-in-law.
Both of these gentlemen still occupy
their original homesteads. Mr.. Van.
Osdel has been honored time and again
by an election to both branches OF the
legislature, and has received the nomin'
alton for governor and lieutenant COVER
nor. HIS sterling honesty and recognized
ability as business man has made him
one of the strongest men in Yankton
county with the people. He built large
double store at Mission Hill three years
ago. which he now occupies and carries
about $12, 900 stock Of general merchan-
disc He gave the Congregational church
five acres north OF the store on which the
church and parsonage are built. He
gave ground for blacksmith shop, and
has just donated ground for big cream
ery. Mr.. VanOsdel owns 1886 acres Of
prairie and timber land, and some Of the
timber land Is the best along the Missouri
bottom. HIS old 1864 homestead is now
known as Calamity farm" After the
flood of 81. he wrote letter to the Press
and Dakotan describing the condition Of
his surroundings, and the description was
sure enough desolation and calamity.
People along the flooded Missouri bot
tom, after the flood, were anxious to sell
and Abe was just as anxious to buy. He
loaded up with flooded real estate which
is very valuable today. Mr.. VanOsdel
has three sons, all grown and are very
industrious young gentlemen. Louis
runs the farm, Mark the elevator and
creamery, and Frank the store, and Abe
just before leaving Mr.. VanOsdels, Jas.
Stanage drove up to do some trading,
and this called to memory al interesting
event in the early settlement of Yankton
county. James is son of John Stanage.
who lives about mile south of Mission
HILL The writer was very sorry that he
didn't see the 'old settler" himself.
John Stanage was in Capt. ]. B. s.
Todds company of the 9th U. S. Infan-
try, commanded by Col. Sully, and the
command was under Gen. Harney. The
troops left the Platte in 1855 and marched
over to where Fort Randall now stands.
The fort was built by the troops. John
Stanage and Henry Bradley. now Of
Yankton, were discharged, If the writer
remembers correctly, in 1858. Stanage
came down the river and located on the
land where he lives today. Some time
during the summer Of 1859. Mr.. Stanage
and wife thought they would 90 to Yank-
ton and make call on Mr.. and Mrs. II.
G. Ash, who had just erected q small
hotel on the corner where the merchants
hotel now stands. Mrs. Stanage was the
first white woman to call on Mrs. Ash,
and the event was OF considerable i'm
portance. Mr.. Ash was absent when
John and his wife marched in and Mrs.
Ash was delighted to see them, and no
grander woman ever lived in Yankton
county than Mrs. Ash. She was glad to
see her company but discouraged at the
outlook to provide entertainment. There
was nothing in the house but some sugar,
flour and tea. No meat and no neigh.
bors to borrow from. Mr. Ash was down
at the river at the foot Of Broadway. He
was after cat fish. He had five lines out,
but didn't have bite that fateful morn
ing He returned to the house and was
about to come in, when his wife saw him.
mo fish, said she. mary bite, !" said
he. "My lord, Ash, what are we going
to do? John Stanage and wife are here
and no meat in the house. Go back to
the river and try the lines again." He
four lines but nary fish; but as he
began to pull on the fifth line. he found
he had something. land, ".said he, years
after, ''my heart seemed to stop bump
ing until got my fingers in the gills of
the cuss, and I never let go until l
landed the fish in the house. We had
royal feast and the Stanages went home
happy" Mr.. Stanage has a fine farm
and has prospered like all the old settlers.
NJ. r. Odell. the Hudson druggist, car
ries complete line OF pure drugs. patent
medicines, wall paper. paints, oils, WIN
dow shades. jeweiry, musical instruments
and notions. Mr.. Odell invites the pub.
lie to give him call.