Tag: New York

Maude and Alfred Waters, Part Three

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Maude and Alfred Waters were travellers – for pleasure, for business and for civic responsibilities (such as the trips Alfred made, mentioned in Part Two, to Portland, Oregon and Kansas City, Missouri as a delegate to the Trans-Mississippi Commercial Congress).  During the nearly twenty years of his first marriage, Alfred and his wife Josie made frequent trips to their hometown in New York, where Alfred as a real estate agent often convinced friends and acquaintances to resettle in Kingsbury County.1  After Maude and Alfred married, their first journey together was reported in the May 1904 news article announcing their marriage.  The article stated that the wedding guests left “the banquet hall only in time to accompany the happy couple to the train to see them started upon a trip to the eastern cities, which is to occupy about two weeks’ time.”2  The depot from which they departed is not the depot that currently stands in the town of De Smet.  The original two-storey building stood on the north side of the railroad tracks.  Nearly a year after the Waters took their wedding trip, that building burned to the ground on Easter Sunday, April 1905.3  A one-storey train station was built in 1906 on the south side of the railroad tracks.  The latter building no longer serves as a train station, it is presently an historical museum, Depot Museum.

Some of Maude and Alfred’s trips which were recorded in the local newspaper include the following:

  • May 30, 1905     A trip to Winona, Minnesota for a short visit with friends.4
  • July 16, 1909     A week visiting the John Hayden family near Wasta, a town in western South Dakota.5  Mrs. Hayden was Alfred’s cousin, nee Ella M. Fairchild.  Alfred’s and Ella’s mothers were sisters.
  • November 1, 1909     A trip to Wisconsin to visit friends.6
  • May 26, 1911     The return from an extended trip to the Pacific coast.7
  • September 16, 1916     A train trip to Chicago, using the Rock Island rail line.8
News item in the Kingsbury County Independent
May 26, 1911

About seven years after the first trip that Maude and Alfred made together, the local newspaper reported that they had begun a trip by auto, rather than by train, on July 17, 1911.9  Alfred had registered a 40-horsepower Buick with a horn and lights on September 15, 1909.10  Those accompanying the Waters on the automobile trip were Mr. and Mrs. George Moody and Miss Bertha Eggleston.  George Moody and his wife Margaret arrived in Kingsbury County about 1882, not long after Alfred had arrived.  For a number of years George worked as a field representative for Alfred’s real estate business.11  During this auto trip, the party drove to Big Stone and stayed for a day or two, then drove to Detroit Lake, where they joined Dr. Coulter, of Winnipeg, and his family, who were vacationing.  Big Stone was on the border of South Dakota and Minnesota, approximately 110 miles northeast of De Smet.  Detroit Lake was another 130 miles northeast in northwestern Minnesota.  Their trip to and from Detroit Lake took about two weeks.

In the summer of 1912, the Waters and a recently graduated high school student, Edith Mitchell, completed “a three-month automobile tour back to Alfred Waters’s boyhood home in Durham, New York.  Driving over roads that much of the way consisted of nothing more than dirt paths and stopping at nearly every town to obtain directions to the next one made the excursion quite an adventure.”12  The Waters were described as Edith Mitchell’s benefactors.  A birthday party for Edith had been held in the Waters home in March 1912 (see a photograph of the guests gathered in the Waters’ home in Part One).  In addition, the Waters enabled Edith to attend university.

Seven years after the Waters made their automobile trip to New York, Maude’s brother Herbert Bevers embarked with his family on an automobile journey from Watertown, South Dakota to Raymondville, Texas. It took 27 days to travel on primarily unpaved auto trails that had been designated during the 1910s. On their first day of travel, they took a transcontinental highway named Meridian Highway to Black and Yellow Trail, a road which passed through De Smet, connecting Chicago with Yellowstone National Park. The Bevers family did not enter De Smet, which was several miles west of the intersection where they arrived at the Black and Yellow Trail, rather they turned east toward Arlington. Herbert’s wife Lena kept a travel log during their trip which can be seen on the Legacy Page entitled: 1919 Lena Huppler Bevers’ Travel Log. To read about re-tracing the approximately 1900-mile journey in 2019, see the blogposts listed on the Legacy Page entitled: 2019 Retracing Lena Bevers’ Travel Log.

An historian of South Dakota and the Midwest has described the setting of the time and place in which the Waters lived as follows:

De Smet itself … stood unknowingly on the brink of a new era. In 1912, the town still retained many of the characteristics of an “island community,” which, according to historian Robert Wiebe, had dominated American society after the Civil War. Local affairs and concerns overshadowed events in distant urban areas. People felt remote from cities, comfortable within the cocoons they spun around themselves. Agriculture constituted the lifeblood of the community as people’s activities moved to the rhythms of seasonal agricultural processes. Citizens could easily assume that what happened in far-off cities and factories bore little relevance for them. The isolation that characterized little towns like De Smet in 1912, however, would soon recede as the national culture began to bear down upon the local.13

The above photograph was probably taken during the Old Settlers’ Day festivities on June 10, 1914. The audience is giving their attention to speakers who are standing on the steps of Waters Land and Loan Building at the intersection of Calumet Avenue (the main street) and Second Street, De Smet. (Photo credit: Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society)

In May 1916, Maude and her sister Gertrude made a trip to Mitchell, South Dakota, to attend the wedding of their sister Ada’s son, W. Arthur Mankey.14  The wedding was held in the home of the bride, Birdella Carhart, and the officiating minister was the bride’s father, Rev. A. E. Carhart.  Also, in attendance were Arthur’s brother G. Floyd Mankey and his cousin Lester Mankey.

In a previous blogpost about Maude and her sisters, it was noted that Maude’s grandfather, father and sisters were involved in the temperance movement (see Ada, Gertie and Maude). Now we learn that her husband may have had a role to play – or he may not have – in a related public debate, the regulation of liquor sales.  First some background: when the South Dakota constitution was created in 1889, its Article 24 banned individuals and corporations from manufacturing intoxicating liquor and from selling intoxicating liquor as a beverage. It did not address personal possession or consumption.  Only seven years later, in 1896, the voters of South Dakota repealed Article 24.  The following year, in order to regulate alcohol in the state, a local option law was adopted which “prohibited the sale of alcoholic beverages within the limits of an incorporated city, town, or township without a license from the municipal government. Local governments could issue liquor licenses only with the approval of voters at a municipal general election.”15

Nearly twenty years later, the controversy over alcohol use and commerce in South Dakota was still highly debated, as well as in the nation.  The voters in South Dakota were evenly matched, dry voters favoring prohibition of alcohol and wet voters opposing prohibition.16  For the election in November 1916, the voters were asked to consider a referendum regarding a state constitutional amendment, which was referred to as Amendment 7.  “The measure sought to end the ‘sale, manufacture for sale, transportation for sale, importation for sale, and exportation for sale of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes.’  The amendment did not address personal possession and consumption ….”17

In the lead-up to the election, an organization presenting the wet argument and an organization presenting the dry argument vied for the voters’ attention by submitting advertisements to local newspapers.  The wet organization, called South Dakota Local Option League, supported the existing local option law.  S. D. Local Option League “distributed literature in 1916 urging voters to reject state prohibition and leave alcohol regulation a matter of local jurisdiction.”18  An advertisement printed in a county adjacent to Kingsbury County listed A. N. Waters as the president of the Kingsbury County branch of S. D. Local Option League.19  The advertisement claimed that the local option law was a temperance measure, and at its adoption in 1897 the local option law was supported by clergymen and businessmen.  The advertisement also stated that under prohibition prior to 1897 “the illegal sale of liquor was a common practice in nearly every city and town in South Dakota” and the enforcement of the prohibitory law in small towns was impossible “because of the domination of illegal dealers over the law enforcement officials.20

The argument in favor of prohibition was presented by the Anti-Saloon League. “While total prohibition was the organization’s ultimate goal, it preferred to work gradually. As its name indicated, the league focused on eliminating saloons, thereby avoiding the much more divisive issue of regulating personal alcohol consumption.”21

The uncertainty about whether Waters was publicly participating in the debate about alcohol regulation arises because S. D. Local Option League apparently used questionable tactics when declaring who was in support of its argument. The list of the county presidents of S. D. Local Option League was not entirely truthful. An article in the Brookings Register stated:

Some of the men whose names are given as officers of the so-called Local Option League are denying any connection with that organization. Hugo Cook, whose name has been printed in the ads as county president of Turner county, says, in a signed article in the Marion Record: “I want to say most emphatically that I have no connection with this organization in any manner whatsoever, and that the use of my name by them in the manner above mentioned, or in any other manner was and is done without my knowledge or consent and contrary to my wishes, and I have already taken steps, through my attorney, to bring legal action against the parties responsible for this fraud and imposition upon myself and the public. And I wish to state, further, that I am not in sympathy with the campaign methods employed by this organization and they need expect no assistance from me or any of my friends.”22

Amendment 7 passed with 55% of the votes cast.23 The next step was for the state legislature to create a law to regulate alcohol. Even though Amendment 7 was not a strict prohibition referendum, in that it did not prohibit personal possession and consumption of alcohol, in February 1917, the state legislature, which had been pressured by advocates of prohibition, created a law that banned liquor in commercial settings and also prohibited personal possession of liquor. This was followed nationally by both houses of Congress passing an amendment to the United States Constitution in December 1917. The national amendment prohibited manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes, as well as importation and exportation of intoxicating liquor. It was ratified by three-fourths of the states in January 1919. Prohibition of the alcohol industry was outlawed in the United States until 1933. It is the only amendment of U. S. Constitution that has been repealed.

The First World War had broken out in Europe in 1914 and the United States entered the war in April 1917.   Maude’s nephews, Edgar and Clarence Bevers, sons of her brother Herbert, registered for the draft about June 1917.  Edgar served in the military from July 1918 to October 1919.  Clarence also served in the military.  Herbert’s son, Arthur registered for the draft in September 1918, but the war came to an end in November 1918.

On Friday, May 4, 1917, representatives of the Brookings Chapter of Red Cross motored to De Smet in order to address “a mass meeting in the Episcopal Guild hall, called to organize a chapter of Red Cross.  The meeting was well attended and much interest and enthusiasm were shown by both men and women in De Smet.”24  Temporary officers of an organizing committee were chosen at this meeting.  Maude was chosen to be the treasurer.  Later she would hold the office of secretary.25  One month prior to this meeting there was only one chapter of Red Cross in South Dakota.  The following text about the Brookings Chapter provides information about the challenges that the chapter was facing, the De Smet Chapter would have faced the same challenges:

The [Brookings] chapter’s attention has been called to the appeal from headquarters for home knitted woolen socks for our soldiers in training.  The home-made woolen socks are easier on the feet while on the march and wear better.  It seems to be the general impression both among our people and our merchants that sock knitting has become a lost art among the women of our population.  Woolen yarn has advanced so much in price and quotations for the winter have advanced so much over old prices that the Brookings Chapter does not feel warranted at the present time in making any extensive purchase of woolen yarns, without knowing how many women would pledge themselves to do the knitting. …

The efficiency and value of our local chapter will depend upon the means at their command.  The prices of cotton and woolen goods for the hospital and trench supplies are so high it will be necessary to find some means of raising revenue, or the loyal and patriotic women willing to sew and knit and roll bandages will soon run out of materials.26

News item in the Sioux Falls newspaper, Argus-Leader
May 21, 1917

The United States census taken in January 1920 recorded that the Waters’ residence was on “Second Street South Side.”27  Alfred was 64 years old and he was working on his own account in the occupation of real estate.  Maude was 44 years old and did not have an occupation.  She was a naturalized citizen.  Besides Maude and Alfred there was a servant living at their home, named Kirstin Lunde, who was an alien from Norway.  She was 27 years old and single, she could read and write, and she spoke English.

For several years prior to 1921, Maude’s father had suffered from an illness that initially confined him to a wheelchair and later confined him to his bed.28  Eventually, Alfred Bevers was moved to the Waters’ home, and Maude and her sister Gertrude cared for him.  His illness was severe for about a year and he died on Monday, September 19, 1921.  Possibly after her father’s death, Maude took possession of his walking stick and the Bevers Family Bible.  (See more: Bevers Family Bible and Alfred & Mary Bevers Bible.)

In May 1922, Brookings Register reported: “Tuesday morning a large delegation of P. E. O. members from De Smet stepped off the passenger train and spent the day in Brookings as guests of the local chapter.”29  Maude was among this group of 15 women who were members of Chapter R of the Philanthropic Educational Organization sisterhood, which had been formed in De Smet in November 1920.30  This organization was an international women’s organization of the Methodist Church.  A news article seven years later announced that Maude was vice-president of the chapter and explained:

The De Smet chapter of the P. E. O. is neither a lodge nor a club, … although it has some of the ear-marks of both. … They take a decided interest in educational progress and have a large … educational fund that is constantly growing.  This fund is available to girls meeting certain requirements, at a small rate of interest, to finish their higher education and to date 2,796 girls have received loans of varying amounts. …

The chapter has a number of social events during the year but the one they feature most prominently is their annual Mother’s party in May when they entertain their mothers and others.31

As Waters health declined in the 1920s, he spent more time at home.  “He called it ‘the western office,’ and there he met business callers the latter years of his life. From that living room he directed business, encouraged others and planned for the future looking to the good of the community, politically, morally and financially.”32  One of the transactions he very likely handled at home was an extension of the lease of the post office.  On January 30, 1925, Waters Land and Loan Company, with Waters as President, made a five-year lease with the United States of America.  The consideration was $900.00 per annum for the occupation of the “one story brick premises known as the Waters Building situated in the north side of Second Street between Calumet and Joliet Avenues.”33  The lease was signed by the Post Master General and the Post Office Department seal was attached.  There has also been a report made of another transaction occurring that year: “Waters deeded the property [their home on Second Street] to his second wife Maude Waters on June 8, 1925, in consideration of love and affection.”34

Waters took ill on Thursday morning, August 25, 1927, sleeping peacefully part of the day and dying that afternoon.  His funeral was held at the Waters’ home on Sunday, August 28.  The officiating minister was Reverend Marcus Chase, who was the minister of De Smet Episcopal Methodist Church, the congregation of which Maude was a member.  Philo Hall, a long-time friend of Waters and a former U. S. congressman from South Dakota, gave a tender funeral address.

Some of Waters’ friends and business associates who attended the funeral were:

  • Merle Sasse – a pharmacist in De Smet whose father arrived in the town a year after Waters did
  • Otto Altfillisch – the full-time secretary of Waters Land and Loan and the person who made the funeral arrangements
  • D. A. Crawford – a director of Waters Land and Loan when it was incorporated twenty years earlier
  • Delbert W. Wilmarth – one of the early owners of a merchandise store in De Smet
  • Charles L. Dawley – one of Waters’ partners of Dakota Loan and Investment Company and Kingsbury County Abstract Company, both of which were founded in the 1880s
  • Charles H. Tinkham – the owner of the furniture and houseware store in De Smet, which opened in 1880
  • Frank Schaub – early harness-maker and general merchant of De Smet
  • John H. Hall – a dentist whose office was in the building owned by Waters Land and Loan Company
  • Henry Hinz – owner of a billiard hall in De Smet
  • Carter P. Sherwood – the publisher of a local newspaper since 1885

Attendees from out of town included:

  • Herbert and Lena Bevers – Maude’s brother and his wife who lived in Clear Lake, South Dakota
  • Edgar and Charlotte Bevers – Herbert Bevers’ son and his wife who lived in Watertown, South Dakota
  • Joseph B. Fairchild and wife – A son of a sister (Juliette Newman Fairchild) of Waters’ mother, who lived in Bryant, South Dakota
  • Harry Fairchild –Joseph B. Fairchild’s son, who lived in Watertown, South Dakota
  • John and Jessie Glendenning – who lived in Arlington, South Dakota; Jessie was a granddaughter of Maude’s mother’s brother (James Bridges).
  • Burt Glendenning, an acquaintance who had been a student at South Dakota Agricultural College while Maude attended there; Burt was John Glendenning’s younger brother
Maude and Alfred Waters’ gravestones, De Smet Cemetery
(Photograph taken by M. Wilson, June 28, 2021)

The De Smet News gave Waters a lengthy tribute, recounting his contributions to the county and town since their foundings.

A. N. Waters, Pioneer, Laid to Rest Here Sunday.
Death came suddenly to Mr. Waters after years of ill health; active in development of county and large holder of farm lands.

A. N. Waters died at his home here last Thursday afternoon without warning of a serious condition of health. He had not felt well that morning and a physician had been called. The day was spent in bed, asleep part of the time. Mrs. Waters talked with him during a waking spell in the afternoon and some time later he passed away quietly in his sleep. Death is attributed to heart trouble.

Mr. Waters was laid to rest in the local cemetery Sunday afternoon after services at the home, with the Rev. Marcus Chase officiating. Philo Hall of Brookings delivered a funeral address. The funeral was the occasion for a gathering of friends from many points in this state, and from others.

Death came at the age of 71 years and closed a lifetime spent in this community. Mr. Waters came here a young man, prospered in real estate, served his community in many ways, and even when ill health forced him from active business, he continued his home here. He was a factor for development in Kingsbury County and will be remembered as one of the town’s biggest men.

Alfred N. Waters came to De Smet from the East, born at Cornwallsville, N. Y., November 15, 1855. His mother died when he was but a few weeks old and he was reared by her people, the Newman family. Supreme Court Judge Alfred W. Newman of Wisconsin was his uncle. In a later marriage Mr. Waters’ father had a son and daughter. His childhood chums, however, were his cousins, two of whom, Mrs. John Hayden [nee Ella M. Fairchild] of this city and Joe [Joseph] Fairchild of Bryant, he came to cherish more as sister and brother.

Mr. Waters was graduated from Albany Law School and admitted to the bar, but when he came to Dakota Territory in August, 1880, it was development and not law that attracted him and he devoted himself to real estate.

Life in the pioneer torn appealed to the young lawyer from the East. He spent his first night in the [Amos] Whiting shanty on the farm six miles east of town. Later he boarded with the Arthur Sherwood family, “Sixteen of them in a house sixteen feet square,” he called it. He lived here through the Hard Winter and in the spring of 1881 made his famed hike along the railroad track in company with a brother of Mrs. Arthur Sherwood. The whole country had been snow-bound for months and the two young men struck out for the East, hauling a sled, and in four days reached Tracy, secured a team and floundered thru to Sleepy Eye, where they were again disappointed in train service and Mr. Waters continued on alone to New Ulm.

The trip east was for his marriage, which occurred in April, 1881, to Josie E. Humphrey, who died in 1900. He was married to Miss Maude Bevers of De Smet on May 11, 1904.

In engaging in real estate Mr. Waters first had Will E. Whiting associated with him. Later there was A. A. Anderson, and in 1885 the Dakota Loan and Investment company was formed, with C. L. Dawley and Al Thomas as associates. Two years later the Kingsbury County Abstract Company was formed, with J. C. Gibson, A. W. Mullen, Mr. Dawley, Mr. Thomas and Mr. Waters as members. It was this company that built the brick building occupied by the Peoples State Bank and Waters Land & Loan company today.

The present company was organized in 1905, with John Diamond and D. A. Crawford as associates, Mr. Waters being president. Tom Tandy, George Moody and C.L. Dawley were among those who took stock. D. A. Crawford and I.F. Altfillisch successively served as secretary before Otto Altfillisch became full-time secretary.

The company and Mr. Waters in his personal holdings became the largest holders of real estate in Kingsbury County. Its president was recognized as one of the leaders in promotion of immigration and development of the new state and his company years ago attained the position of the town’s leading institution. Mr. Waters served as vice president of the De Smet National Bank, but never actively engaged in banking.

Mr. Waters served his town as mayor and against considerable opposition he fathered the institution of city gas and water and the parkings along De Smet streets. Later he lent his efforts in the sewer project and improvement of water system. He served the creamery company as president, a community service. In later years he was one of a small group, including Mrs. Waters, who brought about the improvement of the cemetery.

“Judge” was the title applied to Mr. Waters by some friends. He served as probate judge, elected in 1889. A Republican and interested in politics, he had no political aspirations. He was a member of the A. O. U. W. and Elk orders.

The Waters residence was built in 1905 and has been maintained as one of the city’s best homes. In addition to the building that houses his company’s office Mr. Waters built the post-office building, and the excavation fronting on two streets is evidence of his further ambition in building De Smet.

It was to his home that Mr. Waters went a few years ago as his health failed him. He called it “the western office,” and there he met business callers the latter years of his life. From that living room he directed business, encouraged others and planned for the future looking to the good of the community, politically, morally and financially.

It was a life-long friend and admirer, Philo Hall, who paid tribute to Mr. Waters Sunday. The former congressman spoke feelingly of De Smet’s pioneer, as he stood in the home on the sad occasion, surrounded by others who had come to pay respects to the memory of a man with whom they had enjoyed business and social associations.

Active pallbearers Sunday were J. R. Andrews, F. W. Wright, Merle E. Sasse, James McCaskell, Wm. Robinson, Wm. H. Warren. Otto Altfillisch was in charge of funeral arrangements.

Honorary pallbearers were John T. Stafford, A. L. Fisher, Judge Nicholson, Dr. J. B. Egan, Al Johnson, A. H. Cornwell, C. H. Clay, from out of town, and D. A. Crawford, D. W. Wilmarth, C. L. Dawley, C. H. Tinkham, Ed Whalen, Frank Schaub, J. H. Hall, Henry Hinz, C. P. Sherwood, Hod Perry, from De Smet.

Out of town people at the A. N. Waters funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Bevers, of Clear Lake, S.D.,; Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Bevers, Harry Fairchild, Judge John F. Nicholson and wife, and A. H. Cornwell, from Watertown; Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Fairchild, of Bryant; Mr. and Mrs. John Glendenning, Burt Glendenning and Mrs. Hopkins, Arlington; Mrs. A. L. Fisher, Madison, Wis.; Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Brennan, Miss Molly Brennan, Miss Mary Brennan and Waters & Anderson, Attorneys at Law. A. A. Anderson married a sister of Sarah Lyngbye, who married David A. Gilbert, Mrs. Leighton, Lake Preston; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Webb, of Mitchell; Mr. and Mrs. C. H Clay, Karl and Louise Clay, of Bancroft; Mr. Strand, of Clark; Mrs. V. D. Bassart, Brookings; Mrs. Frank Warring, Yankton; John T. Stafford, of Rock Island; and Dr. J. B. Egan and wife, from Dell Rapids.35

The final years of Maude Waters’ life will be the topic of the next blogpost.

1 Nancy S. Cleaveland and Gina Terrana, Waters (2015): http://www.pioneergirl.com/waters_cemetery.pdf.

2 “Waters-Bevers Nuptials,” Kingsbury County (South Dakota) Independent (May 13, 1904), in Nancy S. Cleaveland and Gina Terrana, Waters (2015): http://www.pioneergirl.com/waters_cemetery.pdf.

3 Nancy S. Cleaveland, “depot/station,” Laura Ingalls Wilder A-Z,  http://www.pioneergirl.com/blog/archives/6910.

4 _____, Kingsbury County Independent (De Smet, South Dakota), June 2, 1905, 5, Newspapers.com.

5 _____, Kingsbury County Independent (De Smet, South Dakota), July 16, 1909, 5, Newspapers.com.  

6 _____, Kingsbury County Independent (De Smet, South Dakota), November 5, 1909, 5, Newspapers.com.

7 _____, Kingsbury County Independent (De Smet, South Dakota), May 26, 1911, 5, Newspapers.com.  

8 _____, Argus-Leader (Sioux Falls, South Dakota), September 16, 1916, 3, Newspapers.com.

9 _____, Kingsbury County Independent (De Smet, South Dakota), July 14, 1911, 4, Newspapers.com.  

10 South Dakota State Historical Society, “Motor Vehicle Registration/Automobile Dealer License,” https://history.sd.gov/archives/data/autolicense/85133/Motor%20Vehicle%20Registration%2019051911lastname.pdf.

11 Nancy S. Cleaveland, “James Glover family,” Laura Ingalls Wilder A-Z,  http://www.pioneergirl.com/blog/archives/8403.

12 John E. Miller, “End of an Era: De Smet High School Class of 1912,” South Dakota History Volume 20 Number 3 (South Dakota Historical Society Press, September 26, 1990): 202, https://www.sdhspress.com/journal/south-dakota-history-20-3/end-of-an-era-de-smet-high-school-class-of-1912/vol-20-no-3-end-of-an-era.pdf.

13 Miller, “End of an Era:” 192.

14 _____, “Society,” Mitchell (South Dakota) Capital, May 4, 1916, 5, Newspapers.com.

15 Chuck Vollan, “Bone Dry” (Pierre, South Dakota: South Dakota State Historical Society, 2015): 193-94, https://www.sdhspress.com/journal/south-dakota-history-45-3/bone-dry-south-dakotas-flawed-adoption-of-alcohol-prohibition/4503_bone-dry_vollan.pdf.

16 Chuck Vollan, “Bone Dry:” 190.

17 Chuck Vollan, “Bone Dry:” 197-98.

18 Chuck Vollan, “Bone Dry:” 203.

19 _____, “South Dakota Local Option League,” Brookings (South Dakota) Register, September 7, 1916, 2, Newspapers.com.

20 _____, “South Dakota Local Option League,” September 7, 1916.

21 Chuck Vollan, “Bone Dry:” 205.

22 _____, Brookings (South Dakota) Press, September 28, 1916, 2.

23 Chuck Vollan, “Bone Dry:” 211.

24 _____, “Red Cross Notes,” Brookings (South Dakota) Register, May 10, 1917, 11, Newspapers.com.

25 _____, Argus-Leader (Sioux Falls, South Dakota), May 21, 1917, 10, Newspapers.com.

26 _____, “Red Cross Notes,” Brookings (South Dakota) Register.

27 “United States, Census, 1920”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6JQ-V9W : Wed Jan 15 12:36:57 UTC 2025), Entry for Alfred Waters and Maude Waters, 1920.

28 _____, De Smet (South Dakota) News, September 23, 1921 in Nancy S. Cleaveland and Gina Terrana, Waters (2015): http://www.pioneergirl.com/waters_cemetery.pdf.

29 Brookings (South Dakota) Register, May 11, 1922, 5, Newspapers.com.

30 _____, “PEO” in De Smet Yesterday and Today by Caryl Lynn Meyer Poppen, ed. (De Smet, South Dakota: De Smet Bicentennial Committee, 1976): 379.

31 _____, “De Smet P. E. O. Has Helped School Girls,” Daily Plainsman (Huron, South Dakota), November 23, 1929, 7, Newspapers.com.

32 _____, “A. N. Waters, Pioneer, Laid to Rest Here Sunday,” De Smet (South Dakota) News (September 2, 1927) in Nancy S. Cleaveland and Gina Terrana, Waters (2015): http://www.pioneergirl.com/waters_cemetery.pdf.

33 The Heritage House, LLC, “Abstract of Title,” Transfer Number 32.

34 Mike Siefker, “Hof’s stately home has history as a hospital,” Kingsbury Journal, May 4, 2022, 13.

35 _____, “A. N. Waters, Pioneer, Laid to Rest Here Sunday,” in Waters: http://www.pioneergirl.com/waters_cemetery.pdf.

Maude and Alfred Waters, Part One

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On May 11, 1904, the Syndicate Hotel–which had been enlarged two years earlier, making it one of the largest hotels in South Dakota1–hosted the wedding of two distinguished citizens of De Smet. The groom was the town’s widowed mayor, Alfred Newman Waters, who had lived in De Smet since 1880, the year it was founded. The bride was Maude Bevers, his secretary, according to Bevers family historians.2 She had been hired six years earlier by A. N. Waters to work in his office, following a course in Commercial Science at South Dakota Agricultural College. (For more about Maude’s professional training, see Maude Bevers, Career Woman.) Maude’s sister Gertrude was the bridesmaid at the wedding and C. E. Swanson, who was the county superintendent of schools, was the groomsman. The officiating minister, Rev. Henry Preston, was the minister of De Smet Episcopal Methodist Church.

The local newspaper reported on the event:

Wednesday evening at 7:30 occurred the marriage of two of De Smet’s prominent people, Mr. A. N. Waters and Miss Maude Bevers, at Syndicate Hotel parlors, Rev. Henry Preston officiating. The ceremony was performed in presence of only a few invited guests, together with the bride’s relatives. Miss Gertie Bevers acted as bridesmaid and Mr. C. E. Swanson as groomsman. The bride was becomingly attired in white silk. After the ceremony the wedding party was ushered into the dining room where covers were laid, for thirty and an elaborate banquet of eight courses was served, the party leaving the banquet hall only in time to accompany the happy couple to the train to see them started upon a trip to the eastern cities, which is to occupy about two weeks’ time. Little need be said by us concerning the contracting parties. The groom has been prominent in De Smet circles for many years. He has held many positions of trust and is now serving as mayor of our city for the second term. He has been a leading spirit in all affairs and undertakings, looking toward the upbuilding of our city. Time and money have been freely given by him for this purpose. No one man has done more to advance the interests of De Smet and Kingsbury County than has Mr. A. N. Waters. The bride has been a resident of this city for some seven years past. She has been prominent in social and church circles and is held in high esteem by all acquaintances because of the many fine qualities of character which constitute the true woman. She never failed to command the respect of all, even upon slight acquaintance. The people of De Smet unite in extending to Mr. and Mrs. Waters their best wishes for a long and happy married life.3

Alfred and Maude Waters
(The photographer appears to be located in Chicago)

Only a few days after their wedding, a meeting was held at De Smet City Hall at which Waters was appointed to a committee that was charged with organizing the Old Settler’s Celebration that would be held on June 10, 1904.4  Waters himself was one of the old settlers of the county, having “arrived in De Smet at the age of twenty-four during the summer of 1880, fresh out of law school.”5  On the day of the Old Settler’s Celebration, horse racing was one of the events held.  It was reported that “the free-for-all trotting race on the 10th was won by A. N. Waters’ horse.”6

In the month following the Old Settler’s Celebration, the newlyweds were visited by Waters’ aunts and cousins from Wisconsin and New York: Mrs. Alfred W. Newman, Mrs. Emory E. Newman and Mr. & Mrs. Isaac U. Tripp.  Mrs. A. W. Newman (Celia), who was the widow of Waters’ mother’s brother, came from Madison, Wisconsin, where her husband had been a judge on the state supreme court from 1894 until his death in 1898.  Mrs. E. E. Newman (Cordelia), arriving from Durham, New York, was the widow of another brother of Waters’ mother.  Because Waters’ mother had died when he was only a few weeks old, Waters grew up in his maternal grandparents’ home.7  Waters’ uncle Emory was 19 at the time of Waters’ mother’s death in 1855.  Following the passing of his grandfather, Waters was included in his uncle Emory’s household.8  Mrs. Isaac U. Tripp (Addie) was the daughter of one of Waters’ mother’s sisters, Lucilia (nee Newman) Winchell.

When the South Dakota census was taken in 1905, Maude was 30 years-old and her occupation was housewife.9  The census record for her husband has an incorrect first name, it is written as “Albert” instead of “Alfred.”  Waters was 49 years-old and his occupation was land agent.10  Later that year, Waters’ birthday (November 14, 1855) was noted by the local newspaper:

A. N. Waters celebrated his 50th birthday anniversary Tuesday. Twenty-five years and four months of that time have been spent in the city of De Smet. He has labored all these years for the upbuilding of this city and vicinity and has accomplished much for the community and built up a large business for himself. Here’s hoping that he spends the next fifty years right here in De Smet.11

Since his arrival in De Smet, Waters was very active as a real estate broker, and he partnered with other businessmen in land development businesses.  “During the early days, lawyers tended to involve themselves as much in the business of land as in the law, and Waters reaped a small fortune from shrewd land investments, eventually becoming one of the largest landholders in [Kingsbury County].”12  One of the businesses with which Waters was associated was Kingsbury Abstract Company, whose members in addition to Waters were J. C. Gibson, A. W. Miller, C. L. Dawley and Al Thomas.13  The abstract company built a two-story building in 1888-89 on the northeast corner of the intersection of Calumet Avenue (the main street) and Second Street. The construction costs were seven to ten thousand dollars.14 “This building had the historical importance of being a place where the pioneers would come to stake their claims.”15  About four years prior to the construction of the abstract company’s building, Charles P. Ingalls, the father of Laura Ingalls Wilder who wrote Little Town on the Prairie, a novel set in De Smet, owned the property on the southeast corner of the same intersection.16

... [The two-story building] was solid brick with white stone trimmings. The front office was 22×33 feet, connected to an office in the rear 15×16 feet, with another room not connected to the front part of the building, it being 19×22 feet. Upstairs was a lodge hall and meeting room, accessed via exterior stairs at the rear of the building. The front office downstairs housed the Dakota Loan and Investment Company; the middle part housed the Abstract Company. The separate room to the east – with an entrance on Second Street – became the De Smet Post Office.17

From 1904 to 1906, several business dealings were made by Waters, which resulted in the transfer of the Calumet building to Waters Land and Loan Company.  These dealings included:

  • April 1904 – A couple of weeks before Maude and Alfred married, for $2,500 Alfred purchased from one of the members of the Kingsbury Abstract Company (C. L. Dawley) and his wife: “An Undivided one half interest in Lot Numbered 8, Block Numbered 2.”18 This was the lot on which the abstract company had built the two-story building.
  • November 1905 – Waters and two associates incorporated the Waters Land and Loan Company. The purpose of the corporation was to transact a general real estate, brokerage and loan business. “The amount of the capital stock of this Corporation shall be and is Fifty Thousand ($50,000) Dollars divided into Five Hundred (500) shares of the par value of One Hundred (100.) dollars each.”19
  • December 1905 – Waters was given title to the entire lot (Lot Numbered 8, Block Numbered 2) for consideration of “$1.00 and other val.” from Kingsbury County Abstract Company.20
  • February 1906 – The city lot with the two-story building was sold by Waters and his wife Maude to Waters Land and Loan for $10,000.21
Postcard photograph of the building of Waters Land and Loan Company

Through the years the building has housed many offices, including the Germania State Bank, Peoples State Bank, a doctors office and dental office.  The building exchanged hands again in 1997, and after three years of extensive restoration, was opened as The Heritage House Bed and Breakfast.22

Heritage Bed and Breakfast, photographed by the author, April 2025

It appears that simultaneously to his business dealings involving the Calumet property above, Waters was involved in another project, which was the construction of his and Maude’s personal residence.  In 1905, a large home was built on Second Street,23 two and a half blocks west of Waters’ building at Calumet.  The house has been described as “the most elegant in town.”24

[It] was a gathering place for many of the town’s social elite.  The Waters hosted many dinners, parties and get-togethers in the large house.  It featured a full basement and an attic with enough headroom, it could be converted to another level.  There were plenty of rooms on the first and second floor which had all the modern amenities for its time.25

Postcard photograph of Waters’ residence, 1912

More than a century after the Waters’ home was built, a descendant of Maude’s brother Herbert and his wife were in De Smet and stopped at the house. Upon striking up a conversation with the owner at that time, they were given permission to take a look inside.  Subsequently, the wife described their brief tour:

As you walk in there is a visiting room with a big brick fireplace to the left.  To the right are a couple small bedrooms.  At the end is the kitchen.  Behind the fireplace was a hall way with 2 or three small rooms.  They were where the vet had his office and other items.  Long stairway going upstairs ….26

Maude and Alfred’s home in De Smet, South Dakota, photographed by the author, June 2021

Another of Herbert’s descendants visited De Smet in June 2021.  Seeing the large wrap-around front porch, she recalled playing on that porch as a young child.  She and the group with her were also invited to enter the home to look around.  Below is a picture of the tiled front entry.

Front entry of Waters’ home (this partial view is from the side of the entryway, not the front), photographed by the author, June 2021

Some of the furnishings of the Waters’ home are still in the possession of Herbert’s descendants.

An antique chair, dated 1825
Close-up of the engraving
A “Verona” model clock manufactured by Waterbury Clock Company; approximate date, 1910
This dresser with beveled mirror had a darker finish when it was owned by Maude’s nephew Arthur Bevers and his wife Elsie. One of their sons had it re-finished to this natural red oak finish. The photograph sitting on the dresser is of the Arthur Bevers, Sr. family taken about 1943.

Several news items in the Kingsbury County Independent highlight the hospitality and generosity of Maude and Alfred Waters. On August 17, 1906, the newspaper reported, “Mrs. A. N. Waters entertained a number of young ladies in honor of her guest, Miss Eggleson Friday last.”27 The same edition of the newspaper reported that on the following day, a former resident of De Smet, Mrs. James T. Cooley, had arrived from New York City and was a guest at the Waters’ residence. In June 1909, the wedding of Dr. John H. Hall and Tillie Nelson was held at the Waters’ home. Hall was a dentist whose office was in the building owned by Waters Land and Loan Company. (On the postcard above, one of Hall’s office windows is demarked with the words “Dental Parlor.”) Hall was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, singing in the choir for many years as tenor.28 His bride had been living with the Waters. The write-up about the wedding follows:

At the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. N. Waters in this city Monday evening, June 14th, occured the marriage of Miss Tillie Nelson to Dr. J. H. Hall, both of this city, Rev. J. E. Booth officiating.  The ceremony was performed in the presence of a few relatives of the bride and a small number of mutual friends of the contracting parties.  After the ceremony an elaborate wedding dinner was served by Mrs. Waters.  The happy couple took the evening train east for points in Wisconsin where they will visit for two weeks.

The bride is a young lady who has made her home with the Waters family for some time and is well known and highly esteemed by our people.  The groom is so well known that no words of introduction are needed.  He has been engaged in the practice of dentistry in this city for about fourteen years and is regarded as one of our leading citizens.  Everyone has a good word for John Hall.  The happy couple have a host of friends in and about De Smet who unite in wishing them a happy married life.29

Before movies and cinema theaters became popular, “Parties and informal gatherings in people’s homes constituted most of the social swirl for high-school students in De Smet.”30  One such example was reported in the local news: a gathering held at the Waters’ home on Friday night, March 1, 1912, starting at 8:00 pm.  The guests included all the members of the senior class of the high school and their instructors, and their purpose was to celebrate the birthday of Edith Mitchell; the news report concluded: “A most delightful evening was spent and the occasion will long be remembered by all.  An elaborate lunch was served at midnight.”31  Two of the members of the senior class, Edith Mitchell and Evelyn Keating, were noted to have been attendees of the Epworth League, a young people’s group which met at the Methodist Episcopal Church on Sunday evenings.32

De Smet High School Class of 1912
Celebrating Edith Mitchell’s birthday at the Waters’ home, March 191233

Edith Mitchell’s “family, who lived in a house north of the railroad tracks, had gone through some difficult times, and the Waterses had taken her in to live with them.”34  In addition, they would make it possible for Edith to attend college, the only girl in her class to do so.  She started out at South Dakota State College in Brookings, which is the college that Maude had attended, and later she transferred to the University of Minnesota.35 In the summer of 1912, prior to going off to college, Edith “accompanied her benefactors, the Waterses, on a three-month automobile tour back to Alfred Waters’s boyhood home in Durham, New York.  Driving over roads that much of the way consisted of nothing more than dirt paths and stopping at nearly every town to obtain directions to the next one made the excursion quite an adventure.”36 

The Brookings Register announced the marriage of Edith in June 1917: “Another former State College student has joined the ranks of the ‘Newly Weds.’  Miss Edith Mitchell was united in marriage at De Smet, last Wednesday, to Randle Toland, by the Rev. Paul Roberts.  The ceremony occured at the home of Judge and Mrs. A. N. Waters and a large company was assembled, with many out of town guests present.  After a trip east the couple will reside in De Smet, where Mr. Toland is in the real estate business.”37

Highlights of Maude and Alfred Waters’ social and civic lives will continue in the next blogpost.

1 Nancy S. Cleaveland, “Syndicate Hotel,” Laura Ingalls Wilder A-Z, http://www.pioneergirl.com/blog/archives/9165.

2 K. and M. Bevers, notes attached to Agnes Maude Bevers in Ancestral Quest program file dated June 29, 2022.

3 “Waters-Bevers Nuptials,” Kingsbury County (South Dakota) Independent (May 13, 1904), in Nancy S. Cleaveland and Gina Terrana, Waters (2015): http://www.pioneergirl.com/waters_cemetery.pdf.

4 _____, “June 10th Celebration,” Kingsbury County Independent (De Smet, South Dakota), May 20, 1904, 6, Newspapers.com.

5 John E. Miller, “End of an Era: De Smet High School Class of 1912,” South Dakota History Volume 20 Number 3 (South Dakota Historical Society Press, September 26, 1990): 190, https://www.sdhspress.com/journal/south-dakota-history-20-3/end-of-an-era-de-smet-high-school-class-of-1912/vol-20-no-3-end-of-an-era.pdf.

6 _____, Kingsbury County Independent (De Smet, South Dakota), June 17, 1904, 1, Newspapers.com.  

7 _____, “A. N. Waters, Pioneer, Laid to Rest Here Sunday,” De Smet (South Dakota) News (September 2, 1927) in Nancy S. Cleaveland and Gina Terrana, Waters (2015): http://www.pioneergirl.com/waters_cemetery.pdf.

8 “New York, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYBK-KDN?view=explore : Jul 26, 2025), image 447 of 706; United States. National Archives and Records Administration.  Image Group Number: 005161473

9 “South Dakota, State Census, 1905”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMH3-NNS : Sat Mar 09 19:18:13 UTC 2024), Entry for Maud Waters.

10 “South Dakota, State Census, 1905”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMH3-NXC : Sun Jul 20 06:06:04 UTC 2025), Entry for Alfred N.

11 _____, Kingsbury County (South Dakota) Independent, (November 17, 1905), in Nancy S. Cleaveland and Gina Terrana, Waters, (2015): http://www.pioneergirl.com/waters_cemetery.pdf.

12 Miller, “End of an Era:” 190-91.

13 _____, Historical sign posted on the outside wall of Heritage House Bed and Breakfast, De Smet, South Dakota.

14 Nancy S. Cleaveland, “post office/post-office,” Laura Ingalls Wilder A-Z, http://www.pioneergirl.com/blog/archives/13454.

15 _______, Heritage House Bed and Breakfast, https://heritagehousesd.com.

16 Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society, Inc., Heritage Plat of De Smet (De Smet, South Dakota, 1994).

17 Cleaveland, “post office/post-office.”

18 The Heritage House, LLC, “Abstract of Title,” Transfer Number 26.

19 State of South Dakota, Articles of Incorporation of the Waters Land and Loan Company, November 15, 1905.

20 The Heritage House, LLC, “Abstract of Title,” Transfer Number 27.

21 The Heritage House, LLC, “Abstract of Title,” Transfer Number 28.

22 Historical sign posted on the outside wall of Heritage House Bed and Breakfast, De Smet, South Dakota.

23 “A. N. Waters, Pioneer, Laid to Rest Here Sunday,” in Cleaveland and Terrana, Waters: http://www.pioneergirl.com/waters_cemetery.pdf.

24 Miller, “End of an Era:” 185.

25 Mike Siefker, “Hof’s stately home has history as a hospital,” Kingsbury Journal (May 4, 2022): 13.

26 S. Bevers, Facebook post of Bevers Family and Reunions private group, July 8, 2023.

27 _____, “Local News,” Kingsbury County (South Dakota) Independent (August 17, 1906): 5, Newspapers.com.

28 Caryl Lynn Meyer Poppen, ed., “A History of the Methodist Church,” De Smet Yesterday and Today (De Smet, South Dakota: De Smet News, printer, 1976): 144.

29 _____, “Nelson—Hall,” Kingsbury County (South Dakota) Independent (June 18, 1909): 4, Newspapers.com.

30 Miller, “End of an Era”: 185.

31 _____, De Smet (South Dakota) News (March 8, 1912), in MIller, “End of an Era”: 185.

32 First Methodist Church, “A History of the Church,” Consecration Service of the Remodeled First Methodist Church (De Smet, South Dakota: First Methodist Church, September 26, 1965).

33 From Evelyn Keating’s class book, School-Girl Days: A Memory Book in Miller, “End of an Era:” 186-87.

34 Miller, “End of an Era:” 190.

35 Miller, “End of an Era:”: 202.

36 Miller, “End of an Era:” 202.

37 J. F. Brooke, ed., “Local and Personal,” Brookings (South Dakota) Register (June 28, 1917): 7, Newspapers.com.

The Huppelers’ Arrival in the USA

MRW4 Comments

On an early spring day in 1874, the R. M. S. City of Paris arrived at the Port of New York.  This ship had been serving as a passenger liner since 18661 and its record as a fast ship along with the records of the other four or five ships in its fleet contributed to its owners being granted a contract to transport mail by the British Post Office Government.2  Thus it holds the prefix “R. M. S.” which means Royal Mail Steamship.3  It was an iron-hulled, screw-propelled steamship, but it was fitted with sails also in order to navigate in unpredictable weather.  (Initially, steamships were propelled by paddlewheel.  The first screw-propelled steamship was built in 1840.4  Screw-propellers became the standard mode of propelling steamships until they were replaced by steam turbines in the early 1900s.  The transition from wood hulls to iron hulls began about 1850.5)  “After four years of service, City of Paris was lengthened to 397 feet (121 meters) and re-engined with compounds ….  This raised her tonnage to 3100 and her capacity to 150 cabin and 400 steerage.”6

City of Paris passenger liner, 1866 (Public Domain)7

On April 9, 1874, Henry Tibbits, the Master of the R. M. S. City of Paris, submitted a ship manifest to the Collector of the Customs of the Collection District of New York.  Listed on this ship manifest as one of the families who traveled in steerage is the Huppeler family, which included:

#185      Joh Huppeler, age 42, male, laborer

#186      Anna Huppeler, age 40, female, wife

#187      Christ Huppeler, age 9, male, child

#188      Rosetta (sp) Huppeler, age 7, female, child

#189      Anna Huppeler, age 6, female, child

#190      Joh Huppeler, age 4, male, child

#191      Friedr Huppeler, age 3, male, child

#192      Lena Huppeler, age 2, female, child

A section of the manifest of the R. M. S. City of Paris, dated April 9, 18748

On this manifest, the country recorded to which the Huppelers belonged was Germany, and decades later the son John Huppler reported on his petition for naturalization that he had emigrated from Hamburg, Germany.9 Yet the naturalization documents of Christian, Anna, John and Lena Huppler indicate that they had been subjects of Switzerland.10  The R. M. S. City of Paris picked up passengers in Liverpool, England and Queenstown, Ireland.  At this point, it is not known exactly how long this specific voyage across the Atlantic Ocean was, but it is recorded that “In a famous February 1868 race, City of Paris and Russia sailed from New York within an hour of each other. The Inman liner [City of Paris] claimed 8 days, 19 hours, 23 minutes to Queenstown, while the Cunarder [Russia] required 42 minutes longer using a slightly different course.”11

The ship manifest also records that the Huppeler family intended to become inhabitants of the United States of America.  When they disembarked from the ship they would have been processed as immigrants at Castle Gardens, New York City.

“Prior to 1890, individual states (rather than the federal government) regulated immigration into the United States.  These regulation efforts were varied and inconsistent.  …

“On August 1, 1855, the [state of] New York opened the first official immigrant receiving station in New York City.  It functioned as an immigrant processing center and was the first of its kind in the United States.  Castle Gardens operated as an Emigrant Landing Depot until April 18, 1890, when the United States government assumed control of immigrant processing.  In total, the center processed approximately 8 million immigrants (mostly from northern and western Europe).

“When immigrants disembarked at Castle Garden, they had to register with their name, birth place, and destination.  A clerk at the Railway Agency would then purchase a railway ticket for the immigrant to travel to that destination.  The immigrant’s baggage would be weighed and checked to his destination.  Exchange brokers for immigrants to exchange foreign currency and a restaurant were also located at the center.  A station for [letter] writing was also available, in which an immigrant could send a letter free of charge to inform family or friends of their arrival.  The Ward’s Island and medicinal department was an important bureau at Castle Garden.  There, immigrants without the means to support themselves would be cared for until assistance came from friends or the immigrants would be disposed of as laborers.  A large blackboard with the names of ships who were or would shortly be at port was kept for friends of the immigrants to know when they arrived and locate them.  The Labor Exchange was where immigrants, and others, could apply for and generally find employment.  Immigrants could also find boarding houses to rest for one or two days before heading out to their destinations.

“Castle Gardens was a very busy and important immigrant receiving station.  To illustrate, in 1869, 2884 letters written from immigrants to their friends were forwarded, over $41,000 was sent from these friends in return.  Also in 1869, 4393 telegraph messages were forwarded and 1351 answers were received.  Also, 504 steamers and 209 sailing vessels arrived carrying passengers.”12

Five years earlier than when John Huppeler’s family arrived at New York City, another Huppeler family had immigrated to the United States – the family of John’s brother.  The ship manifest of the S. S. William Penn (“S. S.” means single-screw steamship13) lists the following members:

#259      Jacob Huppeler, age 42, male

#260      Catherine Huppeler, age 52, female

#261      Anna Lise Huppeler, age 11, female

#262      Catharine Huppeler, age 9, female

This steamship had picked up passengers in London, England and in Havre, France.  This Huppeler family had traveled in steerage, the country to which they belonged was recorded as Switzerland and they intended to become inhabitants of the United States.  Of the 613 passengers listed on the ship manifest, 158 of them were from Switzerland.

A section of the manifest of the S. S. William Penn, dated April 2, 186914

Notes:

  1. “SS City of Paris (1865)” (November 16, 2019), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_City_of_Paris_(1865).
  2. “SS City of Paris (1865)” (November 16, 2019), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_City_of_Paris_(1865).
  3. “Steamship” (December 17, 2019), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steamship#Name_prefix.
  4. “Steamship” (December 17, 2019), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steamship#First_ocean-going_steamships.
  5. “Inman Line” (November 18, 2019), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inman_Line#1850–66.
  6. “SS City of Paris (1865)” (November 16, 2019), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_City_of_Paris_(1865).
  7. “File:City of Paris (1866).jpg” (September 7, 2009, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SS_City_of_Paris_1866.jpg.
  8. “New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1891,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK97-V815 : 11 March 2018), John Huppeler, 1874; citing Immigration, New York City, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication M237 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 175,744.
  9. United States of America, “Petition for Naturalization: Monroe County, Wisconsin,” February 26, 1892 (NAT reel 8, p. 63).
  10. Microfilm images of naturalization papers of Christian Huppler, Anna E. Huppler, John Huppler and Lena Huppler, South Dakota State Historical Society, Pierre, South Dakota.
  11. “SS City of Paris (1865)” (November 16, 2019), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_City_of_Paris_(1865).
  12. Becca Curtis, “US Immigration History” (August 17, 2018), https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/US_Immigration_History.
  13. “Steamship” (December 17, 2019), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steamship#Name_prefix.
  14. “New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1891,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV3Q-S25K : 11 March 2018), Jacob Huppelar, 1869; citing Immigration, New York City, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication M237 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 175,664.