How Pheasants Came to South Dakota

The following is an excerpt from a letter written by Sister Eleanor Joyce after a family reunion.  She tells of her brother, Father Jim, who held Mass at the reunion, and how much it reminded her of the old days back in South Dakota and Mass being held by Father George MacConnachie.  Father MacConnachie was a Scottish immigrant who served St. Bernard's Church for his whole working life, as far as I know, and baptized, married and buried many generations of the Joyce family.  For more information on Father MacConnachie, click here.

Image courtesy of 24HourMoon, license

Sister Eleanor writes:

Fr. Jim celebrated Mass on the Saturday eve at which a large crowd was present on the lawn fronting the Viking Motel where everyone was staying.  Prior to the Mass, which could have reminded one of the parish at Burdette with all the relatives – Fallons, Joyces, Roaches – back in the 1920’s with Fr. MacConnachie, he told how the ring-neck pheasants came to be in South Dakota.  

Fr. Mac had brought pheasant eggs to these families who had them hatched via setting hens or incubators; appointed himself the chief game warden and the men of these families were deputy wardens.  Father had his own private hunting grounds and a parish unknown to Bp. O’Gorman!  Later railroad men scattered the pheasants over the country.  This year we have millions of them for excellent hunting in Hand, Spink, Brown counties and far beyond.

Then and Now - the Home of the Dr. Henry Seeman Family in Rockham, South Dakota

 

The home of Dr. Henry Seeman in Rockham was a grand house indeed.  But time has taken its toll.  Then: Between 1900 and 1920.  Now: 1998.

Corkins Auto Co. Garage - Rockham, SD - Then and Now

 

Corkins Garage in Rockham, South Dakota.  Then and Now. 

The Family of Laust (Lars) and Elsie Christensen of Denmark

 

Laust (Lars) Christensen and Elsie Kirstine Pedersen

This couple are the parents of my great-grandfather, Peter Christian Christensen, a Danish immigrant who founded the Bell Bakery in Huron, South Dakota.  That their story is complete to this extent shows the benefit of collaboration and thanks to everyone sharing their own family photos and research, we now have a much better understanding of their lives.

Laust (sometimes referred to as Lars) Christian Christensen was born 12 July 1856 at Døstrup, Hindsted Herred, Ålborg county of Denmark.  He was the only child of Christen Pedersen and Gjertrud Christensdatter, who both died young.

Elsie Kirstine Pedersen, daughter of Peder Christian Larsen and Jacobine Sørensdatter, was born 04 June 1859 in Hostruphúse, Hindsted Herred,  Ålborg county.

Laust and Elsie had twelve children, the first one born three months prior to their marriage, which took place on 27 November 1880 in Døstrup.  At this time, Laust was a lieutenant in the Danish army, but took a job as a "land post," the Danish equivalent to a mail man.  Elsie is described by her daughter Caroline as a "beautiful, proud woman," but also "hard" and not very affectionate toward her children.  Laust had tuberculosis and during the years he was sick Elsie did most of his work.  Laust succumbed to this disease on 31 March, 1901 at Døstrup.

Elsie struggled to care for her children.  The boys were sent to work as farmhands for other people, and the girls as household servants.  One by one, the older children (including my great-grandfather, Peter) came to the United States and worked to pay passage for their other siblings.  Eventually, Elsie and her second husband, Jens Eriksen, also immigrated and settled in the Omaha, Nebraska area.  From their, the children spread throughout the midwest, and several to California.  Elsie and Jens died in Omaha in the 1930s.