FARM HOME OF JOHN W. HAWKINSON
Topography—This township is quite rolling in the north half, with quite a few sloughs in the whole township.
The soil is very productive and has produced crops every year since its first settlement. The eastern half was practically all settled by Swedes, and is commonly called New Sweden. The town of Holmquist is located in section 35, and was named in honor of one of the pioneers, Hon. Peter Holmquist, who was state representative one term. His widow and daughter have a fine home here; they have charge of the U. S. Postoffice, and telehpone exchange.
This town consists of one hardware store, one general store, one bank, a feed mill, two grain elevators, both owned by the farmers, one lumber yard, and several residences.
Those of the original homesteaders still on their land are as follows: D. C. Kidder, Geo. Kennedy, J. W. Hawkinson, H. N. Sharp, Mrs. Con. Reagen, and P. M. Lundeen.
The first child was born here October, 1882, to Mr. and Mrs. F. Zegenhagen.
The first death was that of Betsy Bjerke, August, 1880, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Emil K. Bjerke. Mr. Bjerke was working on the railroad grade at the time. The child was buried one mile east of Holmquist, near the grade and the grave has never been located.
The first marriage was that of H. N. Sharp and Miss Mathilda Anderson, November 13, 1886.
The largest family was born to Mr. and Mrs. John Johnson who are the parents of six sons and six daughters. Eleven are now living.
The first school was taught by Miss White, daughter of Mrs. Irene G. White. School was taught in Lincoln Harris claim shanty, in 1883. Miss White later became Mrs. A. E. Barker, who was at one time county superintendent. Mrs. Irene G. White became Mrs. J. C. Adams, and is now living in Florida.
This township was named after one of the first settlers, D. C. Kidder, by the county commissioners at the first organization of townships.
Dates of settlement of homesteaders:
1880-81—Samuel Farrington, Conn Regan, Miss Martha Crain, Steven Nye, G. E. Bushnell, Frank
Zeigenhagen.
1882—D. C. Kidder, W. P. McIntyre, Peter Holmqust, Johanas Hawkinson, Elof, Frank and Chas.
Hawkinson, C. A. and A. E. Johnson, Peter Mattson, Geo. and Will Kennedy, Emil Werner, Mary Lilja,
Eric Gustafson, P. J. Carlson.
1883—Fred Harris, Lincoln Harris, F. H. Crawford, Sofia A. Carlson, John Calbarg, Chas. and Hiram
Downing, Wm. Moore, J. E. Cooper, John W., Thos., and Denny Perkins, Thos. Coyne, J. and E. E. Williams,
Mrs. Irene G. White, Eric Larson, John Johnson, Aug. Carlson, Lars Johnson, J. Carlson, Nels Nelson,
M. P. Lundeen, (see Scotland township) John M. Lundeen.
1884-85—J. H. Casey, Jonas and Lars Johnson, L. Fromburg, C. O. Bjorkblat, Nick Bury, Nels T.
Swanson, Ole Milbeck, H. N. Sharp, Wm. Bury, Sr., Peter J. Lilja, C. W. Bjorkblat, Henry Page.
(Note)-Miss Ida Holmquist has a fine collection of pre-historic specimens, and among them a bow and arrow that Sitting Bull had in the Custer Massacre. She also has some of the earliest issues of U. S. coins, gold, silver and copper, and paper script. Anyone interested may visit Miss Holmquist's home where she will be pleased to show and explain same, any day after six P. M., or on Sundays.
Mr. John W. Hawkinson came to Webster with his parents from Smolland, Sweden, July, 1882. He, his father and four brothers each filed on a homestead and tree claim in the township. A number of their countrymen came the same year. They built a church and school and called the community New Sweden. To his original filings he has since added 920 acres in Kidder and Webster townships. In May, 1900, he was married to Miss Hanna Anderson and to them were born five daughters and three sons, all of them living.
Mr. Hawkinson has always practiced diversified farming; milks about ten cows, markets a bunch of fat steers, thirty to forty hogs and a good bunch of poultry, annually. He still farms a half section, while a married son farms 540 acres. The remainder is rented on shares. Mr. Hawkinson is a close figurer, but says that he made no profit from his farm since 1920. His previous surplus which he had invested in liberty bonds and war savings stamps has been used to keep even. A heavy hail storm in which he suffered a total loss without insurance accounts for a part of this falling off. He still looks forward for improvement in the near future as the farm is free of encumbrance. All of the buildings are equipped with electricity from a home plant.
Phone and R. F. D., Holmquist, S. D.
Mr. George A. Kennedy was born February 27, 1862, at Red Wing, Minnesota. When thirteen years of age his parents moved to Howard county, Iowa. In the spring of 1883 he came to Day county and filed on his present homestead. To this homestead he has since added 160 acres. He was married to Miss Hester E. Lounsberry, March 8, 1893, and to them were born four sons and four daughters, all living.
Mr. Kennedy has always practiced diversified farming; milking about ten cows, turning off twenty-five hogs, and a good bunch of poultry. He makes a specialty of raising pigeons. He has always been very careful in all business affairs and since the war has managed to keep well in the clear, so that his farm is without incumbrance. The farm is located a half mile east of Holmquist with the Yellow Stone Trail passing his door.
Phone and Post Office, Holmquist, S. D.