FARM HOME OF MRS. GUSTAV BUECHNER
Topography—This piece of land is gently rolling, has quite a number of sloughs, but nearly all of them have dried up and are under cultivation. There may be three or four that still have water in them.
This township was not surveyed until July, 1881, and was not open for filing until late in the fall, so that homesteaders had to actually live on the land to hold their rights; which gave them the first right for filing, for sixty days, after it came into the market. This town was pretty nearly all settled upon during the years 1880-81.
There are five of the original homesteaders now on their land, as follows:, Mrs. Gust Buescher, Hans T. Hoven, J. A. Johnson, Gus Sauer and Mrs. Christ Sauer.
The first child born here, Chas J. Mattson, was born September 1, 1881, to Mr. and Mrs. Matt. Mattson.
The first death was that of J. Faucher, October 15, 1882, in the D. B. Compton building on main street. The remains were sent east.
The first marriage was that of Charles T. Ecker and Nettie Moore, October 10, 1881.
The largest family was born to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Speiring, six sons and five daughters, all living.
This township was named after Webster, the present county seat of the county.
Dates of settlement of homesteaders:
1880—E. R. and W. S. Ruggles and J. C. Bush. These squatted on what is now the city of Webster.
1881—Ed. and Chauncey Warner, Christ and Chas. Ecker, O. D. Messenger and Chas. Kreiter. These
people all squatted adjoining the townsite of the town of Webster. Mathias Johnson, Math. Mattson, Carl
Aug. Johnson, John, Christ and Gust Sauer, Eric Forsane, Robert Laird, G. W. and Phillip Barrenger, R. J.
Philbrook, A. N. Haines, J. W. McElderry, H. D. Root, Dr. Gust Beuschner, J. A. Lee, F. J. A. Krause.
1882—Alonzo Ahlers, J. R. Phillips, J. A. Johnson, C. E. Wheeler, Thos., John, Josephine and Annie
M. Cloyd, Josh Roberts, John McMahon, Al. Farnsworth, A. J. Farrand, Mrs. Diantha Clark, J. E. McFadden,
Tom McKennet, F. F. Baker, Joseph Becht, Miss L. W. Long, A. Burch, Geo. Brewer, S. W. Stoddard, P.
Cowan, J. V. Neidenfuher, W. G. Dickenson, Ole and Chas. Hanson.
1883—Fred Rich, R. Howland, Ed. Olson, Fred Larson, A. Sunberg, W. H. Hilton, Fred Quimby, Nels P.
and Olof Lev, Thos. Douglas, John Winter, J. C. Bates, Joe Kiderwoski, Riley and C. W. VanDusen, Gust
Fromburg.
1884-86—Hans T. Hoven, Wm. Holts, L. Mietz, Harry LeVoy.
Mr. Buechner settled two miles west of Webster, October, 1881. The township had not been surveyed at that time and so land was not on the market for filing. He was married to Miss Josephine Becht, April 15, 1884. To this union were born six children, two sons and two daughters still living in Day county.
Before coming to this country, Mr. Buechner had received a rather thorough medical education in Germany. He proved to be of valuable service to the needy settlers of those early days. Mr. Buechner never charged for his medical services, but accepted remuneration for whatever medicine he left with his patients. Mr. Buechner passed to his reward October 4, 1897.
Since the father's death, Mrs. Buechner and her son, Joe have continued to manage the farm. They have increased the original homestead to include 320 additional acres, 160 of this Mrs. Buechner received from her father's estate.
Phone and R. F. D., Webster, S. D.
Mr. Hans T. Hoven came to America from Norway in 1880, at the age of twenty-five years. When he landed in New York City all that he possessed consisted of three dry biscuits, a ticket to Goodhue county, Minnesota, and two cents. For four years he worked on farms in Goodhue county and at the end of that period had saved $700.00. With this he came to the township where he bought a relinquishment for which he paid $200.00. He then built his shanty and opened bachelor's quarters. By the time he was ready for the breaking of his land his cash had all been invested.
He was married to Miss Maria Bjugan, May 20, 1888, and to them was born one son, Hjelmer. Later they adopted a little girl.
Mr. Hoven practiced diversified farming, having gained his experience on a small farm in Norway. He milks eight to ten cows, markets from twenty to thirty hogs and some poultry, annually. He claims that poultry is his best paying business. Phone and R. F. D., Webster, S. D.
The McFadden Plant Breeding Station located seven miles northwest of Webster was established in 1920 by Professor E. S. McFadden, a former plant breeder and plant pathologist of the United States Department of Agriculture. It has as its object, the development of drouth resistant and disease resistant crops adapted to northwestern conditions, and claims the distinction of being the only privately owned institution of its kind in the northwest.
Although still in its infancy, the accomplishments of this institution are already attracting international attention. Numerous comments on its achievements have recently appeared in publications of such national and international scientific bodies as The United States Department of Agriculture, The American Genetic Association, The American Association for the Advancement of Science, The American Phytopathological Association, and The International Institute of Agriculture located at Rome, Italy.
Among recent plant creations of economic importance may be mentioned a rust proof, smut proof, hail resistant wheat; rust resistant oats ; hull-less, beardless and smooth bearded barleys ; beardless emmer, or speltz ; a hardy perennial tomato; and several new varieties of field crops that are highly resistant to drouth.
Phone and R. F. D., Webster, S. D.