JOSEPH ELSOM. As a patriotic citizen, an ex-soldier, and an extensive land owner and grain buyer of Spink county, the gentleman whose name heads this article needs little introduction to the citizens of South Dakota. He took up his residence among them when life in the new country was anything but comfortable, and throughout his career has shown to those among whom he has made his home a spirit of loyalty to every just cause, and has assisted as much as lay in his power in making of that region a district of pleasant surroundings and sound financial status. As a soldier none who risked their life blood for their country's cause did so with more loyalty than he and his service is one of which any soldier may feel justly proud. Bravery, faithfulness, and honesty have been the dominant traits of character of this gentleman, and his home is one of comfort and pleasant surroundings. His home estate is on section 17 in Northville township.

Mr. Elsom was born in Louth, England, December 13, 1841. His father was by trade a shoemaker and followed this until 1853, when he emigrated to St. Andrews, New Brunswick, where he remained for one winter, and he and our subject worked on the railroad. In the spring following they came to Orleans county, New York, and rented a farm on shares, the father remaining there until his death in 1856. Our subject worked near his old home until 1858 when he went to the lumber region of Canada. He returned to Orleans county, in 1860, and the following year, October 15, 1861, enlisted in Company F, Eighth New York Volunteer Cavalry. He was ordered immediately to the front and from Washington to Shenandoah. He saw the battle flag unfurled on fifty hard fought fields, including Winchester, Harper's Ferry Antietam, Barbour's Cross 'Roads, Chancellorsville, Beverly Ford, Gettysburg, Brandy Station, Culpeper Court House, Wilderness, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg. He stayed until December 8, 1864, and was then discharged at Rochester, New York.

Returning to his home in Orleans county, New York, he purchased a small farm, which he worked until the spring of 1881, when he went to Dakota and filed a soldier's declaratory for himself and his mother, comprising the north half of the north half of section 17, in Northville township, Spink county. His family joined in the new home in October of that year. The first year he broke about twenty acres and sowed it to sod corn and oats. He in partnership with his two youngest sons has a farm of one thousand acres under control and has about sixhundred acres of crop annually, and about four hundred acres of pasture. He winters from forty to forty-five head of cattle and fifteen horses, and keeps about eighteen hogs. He is an extensive grain buyer, engaging in this business from his residence in Dakota to the present time. He was snow bound in his office near town in the blizzard of 1 888, and his lunch consisted of cracked and boiled wheat.

Our subject was married August 26, 1860, to Miss Jane Harmer, of Orleans county, New York, who had emigrated from England several years previous. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Elsom, as follows: Nancy Ann, died in 1864; Emma Jane, died in 1865; Thomas Henry, superintendent of Inland Telephone and Telegraph Company of Spokane Falls, Washington; Annie Laurie, now Mrs. Kingsley, living nine miles north of the old homestead; Charles W., proprietor of a fruit store in Northville; Everett John, on the home farm; Wilson J., also at home; Mary Elizabeth; and Eliza Jane, who died when an infant. The last two named were twins. Mr. Elsom is a prominent resident of Spink county, and in the county seat war was a strong advocate of Redfield. Since the Fremont campaign he has been a Republican, and during that time was one of the "black abolitionists" and still believes in "old glory" "floating forever where necessity of war has sent it." He favors high license on the liquor question, and opposes equal suffrage. He is an attendant at all county conventions and many of the state conventions and is an ardent worker for the principles of his party. A portrait of Mr. Elsom is presented on another page.

From the Records in

St. Leonards Church - South Cockerington, England

1. William Elsom

b. 1742 S. Cockerington, England

m. Rabecca [Skipton] b. 1750 S. Cockerington, England.

m. 12 MAY 1768 Alvingham, Lincoln, England

William died 1829.

A Son:

+2. Thomas b. 1792/3, S. Cockerington, Lincolnshire England.

2. Thomas Elsom

Born: 1792/3 Place: S. Cockerington, Lincolnshire, England

Died: Feb 1873 Place: S. Cockerington, Lincolnshire, England

Buried: 22 Feb 1873 Place: S. Cockerington, Lincolnshire, England

m. Ann ------------ - Born:  1796 Place: England

Died: Apr 1868 S. Cockerington, Lincolnshire, England

Buried: 9 Apr 1868 S. Cockerington, Lincolnshire, England

Children of Thomas and Ann Elsom

+3. Wilson b. 12 January 1816 S. Cockerington, Lincolnshire, England

Christened:  13 Jan 1816 S. C. Barre, Orleans, New York

4. Mary Ellen b. 9 Jun 1818 N. Cockerington, Lincolnshire, England

5. Grace b. 18 Sep 1825 N. Cockerington, Lincolnshire, England

6. Charles b. 21 Dec 1828 N. Cockerington, Lincolnshire, England

7. Jane b. 24 Apr 1832 Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England

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3. Wilson Elsom,

b. January 12, 1816, S. Coockrington, Lincolshire, England. m. 1837, Rebecca Forman, b. March 7, 1817, Ludbore, Lincolnshire, England. They migrated to New Brunswick, Canada, in 1852 and to Orleans County New York, in 1853. Wilson died, February 13, 1856, after suffering a fall, in the town of Barre. He is buried in Mathes Cemetery, East Barre, Orleans County, New York.

Thomas who lived at home, took charge after his fathers death. Working out by the day or month, and by his earning purchased flour, grain-goods and groceries. Thomas also purchased for $75.00, a half acre of land with a small log house on it and gave it to his mother.

On Feb. 4 1861, Rebecca Elsom, age 42, married 2nd; Charles Laiton/Leighton, age 35, of London Twp. Canada West. Soon after the said marriage, Rebecca sold her little log home that had been purchased and paid for in part by her from son Thomas, and they moved to a place near St. Johns, in Canada West. Soon the money gained from the sale of her home was depleted and her husband, Charles Laiton was suspected of being a bigamist. He had a wife and three children that were still in England and he was suspected of having another in Toronto, Canada West. Alarmed by this discovery, Charles Laiton deserted Rebecca, about the 10th or 15th day of October, 1861/62. He left for parts un-known and was never heard from again.

At this time Rebecca did not have good health and she was unable to return to Barre, Orleans Co., New York, and went about 15 miles distant from St. Johns, and lived with her daughter, remaining with her until the spring of 1864, at which time, at the bidding of her son Thomas, she returned to Barre, Orleans Co. New York. Soon after her return Thomas returned from the war very sick. He died at home with his mother April 11, 1865.

In 1881, Rebecca removed with her son Joseph to Dakota Territory, and took up a quarter section of land about two miles south of Northville.

Rebecca "Grandma" Elsom died August 27, 1906 at 2:30 a.m. She had been getting more feeble for the last year, and about three months prior to her death she became utterly helpless. She went into a coma and remained so for 36 hours, and it seemed like a peaceful sleep except for her labored breathing. Her daughter, Mrs. Fannie Foreman, and her son Joseph were at her side when the end came at 89 years, 5 months, and 19 days. Rebecca was buried at Northville Cemetery, South Dakota.

Thirteen children were born in all, however

only four were *surviving at the time of her death.

Children of Wilson and Rebecca (Forman) Elsom:

+8. I. Joseph* b. December 13, 1840

9. II. Thomas b. April 7, 1843 - England; not married - d. April 11, 1865, due to wounds received in Civil War. served in, Co. F. 8th New York Vol. Cav.

+10. III. Fannie (Francis)* b. 1845 - England m. Thomas Foreman

11. IV. Anna b. 1848 - England

+12. V. Henry b. 1849 - England

13. VI. Charlotte b. 1852 - England not in 1855 census

+14. VII. Lydia* b. 1853 – England m. Andrew McMaster

15. IIX. Rebecca b. 1857? - England

+16 . IX. Samuel C.* b. Dec. 22,1861 - Langdon, Canada; London Co.

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1855 Census - Barre, Orleans County, NY

ELSOM, WILSON 45 M ENGLAND D2- 29

REBECCA 38 WIFE ENGLAND

ANNA 6 DAU ENGLAND

LYDIA 2 DAU ENGLAND

HOOD, CYRUS 65 M CONN FARMER D2- 26

POLLY 59 WIFE MASS

ASENETH 21 DAU ORLEANS

ELSOM, JOSEPH 14 LABORER ENGLAND

TILDEN, HARMON 30 M ORLEANS FARMER D2- 28

MARY 25 WIFE ORLEANS

LAURA 6 MO. DAU ORLEANS

ROOT, FREDERICK 23 SERVANT GERMANY

ELSOM, FRANCES 10 SERVANT ENGLAND

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1875 Census - Barre, Orleans County, NY

ELSOM, REBECCA (WILSON) 57 F VERMONT WIDOW EAST 33

SAMUEL 13 SON ORLEANS

1875 Census - Albion, Orleans County, NY

ELSOM, HENRY 26 M ENGLAND BAKER b.1849

MARY 22 WIFE ONONDAGA

HARRY 1 SON ORLEANS

BAKER, LUCY 11 SIS/LAW ONONDAGA

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Following From the Redfield Journal;

Thursday, May 13, 1926~ Northville, South Dakota

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

JOSEPH ELSOM, THOUGH BORN IN ENGLAND,

FOUGHT TO SAVE THE UNION IN '61

8. Joseph Elsom

Born in South Lincolnshire, England, on December 13, 1840, the son of Wilson and Rebecca (Forman) Elsom, who brought their family to America in 1852. They located in New Brunswick one winter, then went to New York State, where the father died two years later, due to a fall, in the town of Barre. Joseph Elsom was thirteen years old, the oldest boy of eight children at his fathers death.

He was married to Miss Jane Harmer, born in 1841, Norfolk, England, coming to America in 1853. They were married in Kendell, New York. on August 26, 1860.

Joseph Elsom enlisted in the Union Army, on October 13, 1861, in Company F, 8th New York Calvary, and served in the Army of the Potomac.

Mr. Elsom was with his command when it cut its way out from Harper's Ferry, and thereafter was an active participant in the battles of Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, and Beverly Ford, where his commander, Colonel B. F. Davis was killed. He continued as a member of the Army of the Potomac and in active service for three years and two months, making a record as a faithful and valiant soldier and taking part in forty-nine of the fifty-four engagements in which his regiment was in action, receiving his honorable discharge on December 8, 1864.

He returned to New York State, Orleans Co. P.O. Carlton, & Ridgeway; where he remained until 1880 when he brought his family to the territory, now state of South Dakota, taking up a Homestead two miles south of Northville, where he resided until 1904, when he moved to his home in town.

Mr. Elsom was one of the progressive and highly honored business men and popular citizens of this county with whose annuals his name has been linked for the past forty-five years. He was our first postmaster, as well as the first clerk of Gair school township, and took the first school census. He was a member of the state legislature one term. He was a progressive farmer and grain dealer, and he has always been active in community affairs holding many positions of trust, always with credit to himself and his community; a man of sterling qualities and rugged honesty. During his active life he has handled thousands of dollars of public and other moneys without loss and was always exact in rendering of his accounts and stewardship. He was a man of strong convictions and nothing could severe him from what he thought was right. He was a true patriot and no one ever doubted his love for his country and his country's flag.

To Mr. and Mrs. Elsom were born nine children; six of whom survived their father:

Thomas H. of Spokane, Washington; Annie L. Kingsley, Mansfield, S.D.; Charles W., of Tacoma, Washington; Everett J., Wilson J., and Mary E. LeMay of Northville, South Dakota.

Jos. Elsom, who had been sick for some time, passed away at Northville, S.D. 7:00 Tuesday, morning May 4, 1926. To morn his loss is his beloved wife, one sister, six children, twenty-seven grandchildren, and seventeen great grand children.<>

Jane Harmer was born in Norfolk, England, on December 1, 1841, Co., New York. On August 20, 1860, she married Joseph Elsom. In 1880 they moved to Dakota Territory and homesteaded two miles south of Northville, Spink Co. They lived there until in 1904 when they moved to town. Jane d. July 15, 1932, ae, 91 years, 7 months, and 14 days.

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1855 Census - Barre, Orleans County, NY

HARMER, WILLIAM 40 M ENGLAND FARMER D2-161

ELIZA 38 WIFE ENGLAND

JANE 13 DAU ENGLAND

S. M. [Charlotte ] 4 DAU ENGLAND

E. [Eliza A. ] 1 DAU ORLEANS

HIBBARD, ERASTUS 23 M ORLEANS FARMER D3-161

ARMENIA 23 WIFE OTSEGO

HARMER, WILLIAM 17 M ENGLAND LABORER

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1865 ORLEANS COUNTY New York STATE CENSUS

Town of Ridgeway

HARMER

William 52 M England Farmer 118-D1

Eliza 47 Wife #2 England

William 28 Son England Farmer

Charlotte 14 Daughter England

Eliza A. 11 Daughter Orleans NY 

Mary A. 8 Daughter Orleans NY

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ELSOM

Joseph 24 M England Farmer 70-D1

Jane 23 Wife England

Emma J. 2y 11m Daughter Orleans NY

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1880 Census - District 1 And 3, Ridgeway, Orleans, New York

Joseph ELSOM   Self  M   Male  W   39   ENG Farmer ENG ENG 

 Jane ELSOM  Wife M   Female W   38   ENG Keeping House ENG ENG 

 Thomas H. ELSOM   Son  S   Male  W   14   NY Works On Farm ENG ENG 

 Annie L. ELSOM   Dau  S   Female W   12   NY At School ENG ENG 

 Charles W. ELSOM   Son  S   Male  W   10   NY At School ENG ENG 

 Everett J. ELSOM   Son  S   Male  W  8   NY ENG ENG 

 Wilson J. ELSOM   Son  S   Male  W   4   NY ENG 

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History of Spink Co., South Dakota

JOSEPH ELSOM, one of the representative business men and land owners of Spink county, is a native of England, having been born in Lincohlshire, on the 13th of December, 1840, and being a son of Wilson Elsom, who came with his family to America in 1853, passing the first winter in the province of New Brunswick, Canada, and then locating-in the state of New York, where his death occurred two years later. The subject of this sketch was the second eldest of the eight children and was but thirteen years of age at the time of his father's death, so that he was thus early thrown to a large degree upon his own resources, also contributing to the support of the other members of the family. He had attended the schools of his native county in England, and also continued his studies when opportunity presented after coming to America. He was engaged in various occupations in the state of New York until the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion, when he gave significant evidence of his loyalty to the land of his adoption by enlisting, on the 13th of October, 1861, as a private in Company F, Eighth New York Volunteer Cavalry, which was commanded by Colonel Crooks and assigned to the Army of the Potomac. The subject was with his command when it cut its way out from Harper's Ferry, and thereafter was an active participant in the battles of Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, second battle of Bull Run, Antietam and Beverly Ford, where Colonel B. F. Davis, commander, was killed. Mr. Elsom continued as a member of the Army of the Potomac and in active service for three years and four months, making a record as a faithful and valiant soldier and taking part in forty-nine of the fifty- four engagements in which his regiment was in action. He received his honorable discharge on the 15th of December, 1864. His brother, Thomas, was a member of the same regiment, and was wounded in the engagement at Berksdale Junction, Virginia, in the Wilson raid, his death resulting from his injury some time later while on furlough.

After the close of his military career Mr. Elsom returned to the state of New York, where he remained until 1880, when he came to the present state of South Dakota and located on a tract of government land two miles south of Northville, Spink county, where he engaged in farming and also in the buying and shipping of grain, with which lines of industrial enterprise he has ever since been identified. To his original claim he has added until he now has a finely improved farm of eight hundred acres, his youngest son having the general management of the place, while the subject devoted the major portion of his, attention to his grain business, until January 1, 1904. He is one of the progressive and highly honored business men and popular citizens of the county with whose annals his name has been linked for nearly a quarter of a century. He is a stalwart Republican in politics, and has served with ability and discrimination in the various township offices, while fraternally he is affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

In August, 1860, Mr. Elsom was married to Miss Jane Harmer, who was born in Norfolk, England, and of their children we enter the following brief record: Nancy N. is deceased; Emma Jane, deceased; Thomas H. is superintendent of construction for the Inland Telephone and Telegraph Company, with headquarters in the beautiful city of Spokane, Washington; Annie Laurie is the wife of Francis Kingsley, of Mansfield, Brown county, SD; Charles W. is engaged in business in Northville; Evert J. is residing in New York state; Wilson J. has charge of the old homestead, and Eliza J., deceased, and Mary E., twins, the latter the wife of John H. LeMay, editor of the Northville Journal.

Nine children were born, six of whom were living in 1932

Children of Joseph and Jane (Harmer) Elsom

17. I. Nancy J. b. April 11, 1861 d. October 8, 1864

*buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, near Medina, New York

18. II. Emma Jane b. July, 15, 1862 - d. August 23, 1865*

19. III. Thomas H. b. August 11, 1865 Carlton, New York

m. Ellen Mary Pratt, October 17, 1891; d. December 15, 1953

Lived in Spokane, Washington 1932

20. IV. Annie Laurie b. January 5, 1867, Carlton New York.

m. Frank Richard Kingsley, November 28, 1889

Lived at Northville S.D., 1932. d. August 30, 1959

21. V. Charles William b. August 20, 1869, Ridgeway, New York.

m. Martha Frances Arns, b. Carlton New York.? 1877; in1893

lived in Tacoma, Wash; d. January 21, 1947

Issue before 1900 - Perle Jane Elsom, b. Nov. 7, 1893, Spink co., SD

listed in 1905 census of Spink Co., as Merchant

P.O. Northville. 1 child, male: L. H. - b. 1898 Kansas

22. VI. Everett John b. February 1, 1872, Ridgeway, NY - m. Alice --------- 1947

+23. VII. Wilson J. b. Nov. 22,1875, Ridgeway, New York

Twins b. Northville, SD

24. IIX. Elizabeth J. b. January 22, 1884 d. February 22, 1884

25. IX. Mary Elizabeth b. January 22, 1884 m. John LeMay, Lived at New Underwood, SD, 1932

10. Francis Elsom,

b. 1845 - England m. Thomas Foreman / living in Elma, WA in 1906

1880 Census - Burlington, Lapeer, Michigan

Thomas FOREMAN  Self   M   Male W   38   ENG Farmer ENG ENG 

 Francis FOREMAN   Wife   M   Female W   35   ENG Keeping House ENG ENG 

 26. Richard W. FOREMAN Son   S Male W   15 NY Working On Farm ENG ENG 

 27. George K. FOREMAN  Son   S Male W   13   NY Working On Farm ENG ENG 

 28. Maggie FOREMAN   Dau   S   Female W   10   MI ENG ENG 

 29. Thomas FOREMAN   Son   S   Male  W   6   MI ENG ENG 

 30. Rhody M. FOREMAN  Dau   S   Female W   3   MI ENG ENG 

 31. Martha FOREMAN   Dau   S   Female W  3M   MI ENG ENG 

12. Henry Elsom,

b. 1849 - England - m. Mary Baker

1875 Census - Albion, Orleans County, NY

ELSOM, HENRY 26 M ENGLAND BAKER b.1849

MARY 22 WIFE ONONDAGA

32. HARRY 1 SON ORLEANS

BAKER, LUCY 11 SIS/LAW ONONDAGA

14. Lydia Elsom,

b. 1853 - England - m. Andrew McMaster - lived at Holly, New York 1906

1880 Census - Albion, Orleans, New York

 Andrew MCMASTER   Self   M   Male  W   37   CAN Farm Laborer IRE IRE 

 Lidie MCMASTER   Wife   M   Female W   27   ENG Keeping House ENG ENG 

 33. Ester MCMASTER   Dau   S   Female W   6   NY CAN ENG 

 34. Wilson MCMASTER   Son   S   Male  W   2   NY CAN ENG 

16. Samuel C. Elsom,

b. 1861 Langdon, Canada West; London County - m. Amelina Grimm. Retired from Medical Corp as sergeant, June 12, 1908. Samual was stationed in the Philippines and upon retirement, there was a great need there for doctors and those familiar with medical aid; He decided to stay in the Philippines and took a wife; Agatona Amasola. Samuel died in 1926, and is buried in Municipal Cemetery, Batangas, Philippine Islands.

Amalina was born in Orleans Co.? in 1862, dau. of Christian and Katherine Grimm, b. Germany. Amalina married secondly; George Stafford, b. 1851 Palmyra, New York. d. in 1940; buried at Boxwood Cemetery, Medina, New York.

1880 Census Albion, Orleans, New York

Samuel ELSOM   Self  M   Male   W   18   CAN Farm Laborer ENG ENG 

 Amelia ELSOM   Wife   M   Female   W   17   NY   Keeping House GER GER 

 Christie GRIMM   BroL   S   Male   W   7   NY GER GER 

1880 Census Barre, Orleans, New York

 Christain GRIMM   Self  M   Male   W   52   GER Laborer GER GER 

 Katherine GRIMM  Wife   M   Female   W   43   GER Keeping House GER GER 

 Louise GRIMM   Dau   S   Female   W   18   GER At Home GER GER 

 Mary GRIMM  Dau   S   Female   W   17   NY   At Home GER GER 

 Charles GRIMM   Son   S   Male   W   10   NY   At School GER GER 

 William GRIMM   Son   S   Male   W   9   NY GER GER 

 Christain GRIMM   Son   S   Male   W   6   NY GER GER 

 Minnie GRIMM   Dau   S   Female   W   3   NY GER GER 

Children of Samual and Amalina (Grimm) Elsom

+35. I. William Henry b. Jan. 12,1881 d. Oct. 25, 1968

+36. II. Edward b. Aug. 9, 1883 d. April 20, 1969

Children of George and Amalina Stafford

I. Lillian b. 1888 m. Douglas Jackson d. 1948

II. Kadie b. 1896, Oct. 12 m. Norman Bacon d. Aug. 1970

III. Florance b. 1900, June m. Leo Oderkirk d. 7-2-1976

IV. Charles b. 1904, March 3 (m. Helen Hagerman b. 7-5-190?)