Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1901-11-01
HARRISBURG.
The Lively Little Town
North Of Canton is Grow
ing and Prospering.

A visit to the thriving little town of
Harrisburg last Friday in company
with Thos. Thorson, furnished quite a
surprise to one who had not been there
for some time. When Thos. Thorson
plated the town site nearly ten years
ago, many predicted failure and the
usual amount of adverse criticism was
INDUCED in by the knowing ones, but
in the face of this there were men who
had the requisite courage and faith to
take up the burden of building q new
town out on the prairie halfway be.
tween Sioux Falls and Canton. In 1892
Jake Kehm. representing the firm Of
Meinzer & Kehm, went to Harrisburg
and made preparation to open lum-
ber yard, and establish hardware
store, and arrange for the purchase of
grain. This much was accomplished
quickly through the united efforts of
the pioneers. Mr.. Meinzer soon join.
ed his partner and the establishment Of
business relations with the outside
world commenced with depot and
side tracks. From that time until
the present Messrs. Meinzer & Kehm
have been the ruling spirits of the
town, and they are the class of men
who succeed in any country. Both are
careful and energetic business men,
courteous and obliging, and ever ready
to accommodate those in need Of as
sistance, and they have prospered, and
they deserve prosperity. The town has
grown and will continue to grow, be-
cause western men are at the helm.
Stores were built and hotel was open
ed and elevators were built, and black
smiths came, and one after the other
added to the size and Importance of
the town. Then a bank was establish
ed, an important event in the history of
all new towns, and the bankers are
men of sterling character with plenty
of means The Bank Of Harrisburg"
is the title of the institution. and the
proprietors are John Wasem president,
w. H. Wasem cashier. These gentle
men in connection with H. Baxter, are
largely engaged in land business. and
it is needless to say, owing to the boom
in real estate this year, that the real
estate firm of Wasem & Baxter is doing
a profitable and safe business. Among
the other solid men in Harrisburg, we
found our old friend William OCon-
nor, an extensive dealer in live stock,
grain. fuel, machinery. wagons, bug
gies and harness. Mr.. O'Conner is
mighty busy man, and has the able
assistance of his son John. Joe Copler,
who has been running a billiard hall
successfully, has just sold his building,
and contemplates other business. Geo.
Sabin runs dray line and deals in ice,
but George was absent and we didn't
see the big hearted old veteran. DR..
Sleenson looks after the health of the
people and conducts neat drug store.
Thompson Bros, deal in general mer-
chandise. Dan Cheney runs good
hotel and sets fine table. There are
two good blacksmith and machine
shops, one operated by Alfred Haywood
and the other by G. R. Keith. The
Redfeld dry goods and grocery house
is doing a fine business. Mrs. Red.
dingus also runs hotel, and D. T.
Vernon conducts barber shop. L. H.
Nettle,on sells farm machinery and
Walter Chrisler looks afer the livery
business. Edgar Wardwell, the old
time Dayton Hall farmer, is manag.
ing the Hunting elevator, Nels Ever
son the Terwilliger & Dwight elevator,
and Jim Stoneback is looking after the
Walter Bros elevator and grain inter.
ests. Three good elevators and three
good men in charge Of them. Andrew
Messner, formerly one Of the big farm.
ers west of Harrisburg, has moved TO
town and is dealing extensively in real
estate, and owns the townsite Of Ken.
meth up in Minnesota. Andrew was
successful as a farmer and has been
very successful in his real estate specu-
lations " hile visiting around among
the old timers we met Ed. Moscrip, one
of the successful farmers near Harris
burg. He is pioneer settler in that
sect, n, having located there thirty |
wears ago. He is veteran of the civil
war and very genial companionable
gentleman. He was one of the sold.
iers who did his duty faithfully,
earnestly, and we'll, and is we'll pre-.
served and vigorous. He owns some
nice lots in Harrisburg, and will build
a home in town before long. Len Red
field, another war veteran with fine
record, lives opposite the depot, and
enjoys life and all its blessings in q
marked degree. !
The town has nice public hall and
two school houses, and is in the hands
of thoroughly active pushing men. It's
always a pleasure to meet the old
timers, and we enjoyed very pleasant
visit with Edgar Wardwell, one of the
founders of the LEADER, but we failed |
to see Stoneback or Everson. Sabin |
and Messner were gone, but Joe Cop.
Ter was on deck, lust as big, happy, |
and contented as when he used to be |
a mine mile" boomer, when water
was needed along the creek. Joe is
doing we'll and we are glad of it. Mr..
Thorson is selling town lots right along |