The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1907-04-18

The above is a very good likeness Of
oneofthe pioneer citizens of the county.
Jas. Natesta was born at Clinton, Rock
county, Wisconsin, December 3D., 1850.
lie received his early training in the
public schools Of his home town, and
afterward spent two years at BelOit col
lege, being "A classmate Of II. II. Nat
wick, another Bookings county pio-
neer, now a resident 81 Sioux Falls.
After leaving college Mr., Natesta
clerked in il clothing store for a few
years, but becoming tired OF the mo-
notony of the work he decided to seek
his fortune in the west.
On May 18th, 1878, he landed at
Sioux Falls, which was then "A small
frontier town, bat growing rapidly and
the trading point for a large section OF
the surrounding country. He was not
at all pleased with his new surround
ings and had about made up his mind
10 return east when he met Erie Iryg-
stad, who was at that time driving the
stage running north from Sioux Falls.
Mr.. Trygstad persuaded him to accom-
pany him to Flandreau, or Indian Vii
lage, as it was known ut that time.
The country began TO look better TO
Mr.. Natesta the torther north he came,
and he accompanied Mr.. Trygstad to
his home near Lake Campbell. He
filed on a homestead west Of the lake,
but afterward traded it for "A claim
further north.
BY this time he had come othecon-
clusion that this was a pretty talr sort
OF a country, and he decided to open a
small store or trading post at a point
on the Big Sioux river a couple Of
miles north of the town OF Medary. He
opened up for business in October,
1878, and hauled his entire stock from
Sioux Falls. His customers were
mostly Indians, who traded him their
furs for flour and other supplies. He
continued in this business until the
fall of 1874, when he removed to Me-
Diary, built a store building and put in
a stock of general merchandise. That
fall he WAS elected county treasurer
and probate Judge, and afterwards
served as register OF deeds and county
clerk. In the fall OF 1877 received the
appointment of Clerk OF the District
Court by Judge shannon, which office
he held during the great land boom IN
n .Ix, dave and ~ n CONSEQUENCE a |
large portion of Bookings county land
filings were made by and through MIR.
Natesta. In 1877 he bought out &. ii.
S~tearns, the first merchant OF Medary,
and succeeded him as postmaster, be-
ing the third man to hold that office
in Bookings county.
In those days Medary was the county
seat, and the principal town In TINS
section. The people OF the town conf
IDENTIFY believed that the Northwestern
road, which was then building a line
west from Mankato, would pass through
Medary, and saw prospects of future
greatness. But they were destined to
be disappointed, as the road after it
left Lake Benton, swerved to the north
and passed through the center OF
Brookings county, six miles north OF
the town. This sealed the fate of Me-
dairy, and when Brookings was started
in 1873 most OF the town was moved
here. Mr.. Natesta opened a branch
store here, which was for a time in
charge OF ]. T. Tidball. The building
stood On the site of the building at
present occupied by J.. Clevan & Co.
1t was later moved across the street
north, and is now used as a barber
shop by ]. w. Kelley.
In 1882 he moved his general store
to Bookings from Medary, being tn,
last merchant to quit the town. H,
remained in the general merchandise
business here until 1895, when be sol,