BIOGRAPHIES OF SIOUX COUNTY
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WILLIAM J. PAMPLIN

William was born in West Virginia on 19 July 1844. On 12 January 1865 he entered, as a Private, Company C, 4th Regiment, U. S. Voluntary Infantry. As a result of the close of war that year he was released, as a Private, on 2 July 1865 at Leavenworth, Kansas. After the war, William resided in the Selfridge area for many years. He started receiving his pension on 8 December 1916. Pamplin Hills and Pamplin Township were named after him. William entered the Battle Mountain Sanitarium in Hot Springs, South Dakota and died there on 27 October 1931. He is buried at the Hot Springs National Cemetery. Burial, Tombstone Picture. More William Pamplin biographical information can be found in the Selfridge Golden Jubilee Book.

Click for Larger Photo


HENRY SYDNEY PARKIN

In his younger years he went by Sydney. He was born on 19 August 1846 in Allegheny, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania to England natives George and Anne Broughall Parkin. His siblings included, at least, Anna, George, Elizabeth (~1839 Pennsylvania), Clara, Charles, Alice, and Walter who also settled in North Dakota.
By 1960 the family relocated to Portage County, Ohio. He enlisted in Company K 115th Ohio Infantry on 2 March 1865 then on 29 June 1865 went into Company B 188th Ohio Infantry. He started drawing his pension on 15 December 1891 and his wife started drawing a widow's pension on 13 February 1911.
After the war Henry went west. In 1870 he is in Point of Rocks, Wyoming Territory. In 1880 he was living at the Standing Rock Reservation.
On 19 January 1879 he married into a very interesting and highly documented family. Alma Jane Parkin became his wife and she is briefly documented in following paragraphs. Henry went on to being active in politics as well as a very successful businessman along with his wife Alma. Henry was designated the first Fort Yates Postmaster on 7 May 1870. Alma was designated the Cannon Ball Postmaster on 27 September 1902, a position she held until her death.
Henry died on 11 June 1895 in Morton County. There are two locations mentioned for his burial. FindAGrave has him in Parkin Family-Cannonball Ranch Cemetery north of Cannonball River. In a walk through inventory and records study conducted in 2004, the James River Genealogy Club has documented that Henry, Alma, and adopted son Charles are buried at Saint Peters Catholic Church Cemetery. Alma died at Cannon Ball on 7 May 1913.
Alma Jane Galpin was born to Charles Galpin and Eagle Woman. As with Henry above, there are two places for Charles' burial, Parkin Family and Saint Peters cemeteries. There is a great deal of information on Alma's parents and there are some well documented links provided below. Alma was born on 20 August 1856 in Fort Pierre which at the time was located in Nebraska Territory with the Missouri River being the boundary and Fort Pierre located on the west side of the river. Most documents show where Fort Pierre eventually became a community in South Dakota.
Alma's siblings included, at least, Samuel, Robert (~1853), Richard (~1858), and Annie. Alma's mother was earlier married to Honore Picotte. Her two half-sisters lived and are buried in Sioux County; Zoe Lulu Picotte Harmon and Maria Louisa Picotte Van Solen. In 1870, Alma was attending the Academy of the Sacred Heart in St. Louis, Missouri.
In 1884 Henry and Alma adopted Chaske. Born Charles Louis Kennedy to Alma's sister Annie and her husband John E. Kennedy. John died unexpectedly on 13 December 1883 and then on 18 June 1884 Annie died of tuberculosis.
Henry's Burial
Alma's Burial, Picture
Henry's Obituary
Another of Henry's Obituary
Alma's Obituary
Very Informative Article on Eagle Woman with Pictures by John S. Gray. It also provides more ancestral information on Alma's mother Eagle Woman.
Another Eagle Woman Article with Pictures by John S. Gray.


EBEN W. PHILPUT

From the Selfridge Golden Jubilee History, 1911-1961:
Mr. and Mrs. Eben W. Philput came to Selfridge as early as 1911. He started the first store here. On May 20th, 1912, he was appointed the first postmaster, at which time Sioux County was a part of Morton County. Mr. and Mrs. Philput were here but a short time when Mrs. Philput passed away. She was buried east of town in the Gayton cemetery. In 1913 after Mr. Philput's store burned, he returned to New York.

From the Courier and Freeman. (Potsdam, N.Y.) 1861-1989, September 3, 1930, newspaper:
EBEN W. PHILPOT - Eben W. Philpot passed away Aug, 21 after an illness of several weeks, at the home of Chas. Rainboth, Watertown, N. Y. He was born April 13, 1860 at Morley.
He was visting at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Harland Keener of Parishville, about four weeks ago.
Oct. 4, 1883 he was united in marriage with Rose Grant of West Posdam, who died May 20, 1912 in Selfridge, North Dakota. July 8, 1914, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Ida Crysler Merrill. He was a member of West Parishville Grange for a time, but on account of failing health, withdrew.
The funeral was held at the home of his daughter, Rev. Hamilton officiating. Burial was in West Stockholm cemetery.
He is survived by his widow and daughter and several grand children.
Among those attending the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Beckstead, Mrs. and Mrs. Hill and Mr. Becker from Williamsburg, Ont.; Mr. and Mrs. Grant Cuyler and Mrs. Chas. McBride from Rennselaer Falls; Mr, and Mrs. William Cuyler from Fulton; Mrs. John Young and daughter, Marion and Mr. Frank Bickell of Black River; Mr; and Mrs. A. Forest and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rainboth of Watertown.

Burial, Tombstone Photo


SOPHIA PLEETS

Sioux County Pioneer - June 1915
The death of Mrs. Sophie Whitesell occurred Thursday of last week [25 June 1915] at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Pleets, who live south of Fort Yates. Mrs. Whitesell was 19 years old and had been married about two years. She leaves a daughter about a year old and her husband to grieve over her early departure. Death was due to tuberculosis from which she had been suffering for some time. Funeral services were held Saturday, and interment, was made in tiie Catholic cemetery with Rev. Fr. Viucent officiating.


JOHN POWERS

John was born in Illinois on 12 March 1846. On 28 September 1861 he entered, as a Private, Company B, 64th Illinois Infantry Regiment. He was released on 11 June 1865 in Louisville. Later he also served in Company I, 7th U. S. Infantry and also Company I, 36th U. S. Infantry. In 1890 he was living as a civilian at Fort Yates; 1900 in Fort Yates as a farmer, and in 1910 in the Porcupine area. He started receiving his pension on 8 July 1892. He was married to Annie and had children John, Thomas, Nellie, Mary, and Albert. John died on 1 February 1920 and is buried in Saint Peters Catholic Cemetery.
Burial.


JOSEPH LEO PRETENDS EAGLE

The birth year for Joseph varies in records between 1892 and 1894. Joseph was born to Wanblikunza (Martin) Pretends Eagle and Josephine (Tamaka, Earth) Standing Kinajinwin. Along with Joseph they had, at least, these children: Leo (1875), Kill In Woods (1880), and Barney (Kill In Lodge) (1889).
Joseph married Benedicta A. Buffalo Boy (1894) and they had (at least) in addition to Joseph these children: Alice (1918), Josephine (1922), Bernard (1927), James Martin (1929), Leo Dan (1931), Herbert (1933), Magdalena (1934), Celena (1936), and Clara (1937).
From the Roster of the Men and Women Who Served in the Army or Naval Service: "EAGLE, JOSEPH PRETENDS [sic]. Army number 502,338;registrant, Sioux county; born, Fort Yates, N. Dak., July 30, 1892, of American parents; occupation, farmer; inducted at Fort Yates on March 6, 1918; sent to Fort Logan, Colo.; served in Coast Artillery Corps, to discharge. Discharged at San Francisco, Calif., on Aug. 5, 1918 as a Private, Surgeon‘s Certificate of Disability, 75%." In 2008 the government recognized the service of the World War Code Talkers of which Joseph was one of them.
Joseph died on 21 October 1961. Burial.