Adkins, Mattas, Mize Family History

Nellie's Story

Part 3: Life in Town

In the 1920’s, Parkston, South Dakota was a bustling community. It boasted 1,230 citizens, eight churches, several bars, two hardware stores, a creamery, a “Roller Mill," two auto companies, furniture stores, a meat market, a drug store, an established bank, doctors’ offices, the classic St. Charles Hotel, and the Royal Theater which showed moving pictures!


Nellie Adkins and her family were part of that community. This is a continuation of her story and of Parkston's.


For nearly 18 years Helen Maude Leach Adkins (Nellie) lived on a farm near Milltown, South Dakota. She birthed all her 15 children there. Though as beautiful as the land around the farm was, it was still isolated. At forty-three years old, with her husband Zina, his ailing brother Marcus and 10 of the remaining children at home, Nellie and her family moved to this bustling community!

Picture of Parkston, South Dakota from the Adkins Family archives.

The home they moved into was grand for the time! There were 5 bedrooms upstairs, one with a screened porch. A bedroom downstairs came with sliding oak doors and a dining room with ones that folded. A large living area featuring a stained-glass window. There was a kitchen and pantry. A special feature was the “back” kitchen with a cistern easily accessible to the kitchen and a place for the laundry tubs. Electricity was brought in. The family had arrived in style! Helen was jubilant, her daily chores became so much easier. 

Daughter Adeline and Zina Adkins, at the Adkins Home. Circa, 1920's

Nellie had a strong faith, and her new home could not have been better situated for that. Walking a short distance down the hill, crossing a wooden bridge that spanned Pony Creek on their property, she could enter her Presbyterian Church. She and the children became involved in all its activities. There were Sunday School and pageants for the children. Nellie was a member of the Presbyterian Ladies' Aid. 

Handwritten reminder of Nellie's faith.

Handwritten notes for a lesson prepared for the Ladies' Aid Society. Circa, 1920's

First Presbyterian Church,  from family archives.

l-r: Daughter Vina, granddaughter Dorthea Thompson, daughter Margie dressed in their  Easter Sunday finery. Circa, 1924

When the family lived on the farm, the Adkins-Stainbrook school was a good mile or so away. In Parkston, the Public School was just down the hill! Children, Vina, Margie, Hiram, Horace, Steve, Lottie, Dottie, Joyce and Adeline all attended. First it was at the “old” school, then in 1923 a brand new one welcomed the children.

Background picture, Parkston Public School. Circa, 1900's

Margie Adkins pictured middle row, 2nd from the right with her 6th grade classmates. Circa, 1926

Horace (Pete) Adkins pictured very top row on the right with his 8th grade classmates. Circa, 1926

The family was financially secure, and Nellie had the luxury of choosing to buy her groceries at several places in town to feed her family of 13. By the 1920’s she was able to phone in her order and have her groceries delivered. The Adkins number was 69R, the number for Wipf’s was 21.


A story that has been passed down:

Daughter Margie and son Hiram would fight like all children do. During one of these fights, Hiram escaped out the back door. Margie climbed on the sewing machine next to the door, waiting for Hiram, with the intent of a surprise attack when he returned. Margie heard the door opened, crouched, and sprang. It was not Hiram; it was the grocery boy! Canned goods flew in the air, milk splattered. Margie was found on top of the poor boy by her mother, Nellie. The commotion was not left without punishment.

Advertisements from the "Parkston Advance" newspaper. Circa, 1920's

Entertainment for the family was readily available in Parkston in the 1920’s. 

The Circus would come to town, to the delight of the young Adkins children.

l-r: Margie, Steve holding Vina, Hiram and Horace (Pete). Circa, 1920

My father, Pete was enamored with circuses. A poem he taught me stays in my mind:

"I asked my Dad for 25 cents, to see the elephant jump the fence, he jumped so high, he reached the sky, and never came back till' the 4th of July!"

The Royal Theater showed the latest silent movie pictures accompanied by an organist.

There was even a traveling Minstrel Show.

 All advertisements are from the "Parkston Advance" newspaper.

 Circa, 1920's

Cole photo from the collection of Albert Conovan

The biggest entertainment in Parkston in the 1920's was the Labor Day Celebration and Parade!

Postcard from the family archives.

For the Adkins Family, there were also big events in the 1920’s. Five of Nellie’s older children were married. The Adkins House often served as a “reception” venue for the celebrations!

l-r: Grace, George Mattas, Leo Koenig, Joyce seated.

Marriages: Alice to Chauncey Hanson, 1920; Grace to George Mattas,1921; Dottie to Walter Stirling,1923; Lewis to Ethel Hanson, 1923; Joyce to Leo Koenig, 1929.

Lewis and Ethel Hanson Adkins

George and Grace Mattas

Postcard from the family archives, Corn Palace, 1921

Through all of her family activities, Nellie still kept a close relationship with her beloved Aunt Mattie Adkins. Though by the 1920’s, Mattie, now widowed, had moved to Mitchell, they often visited one another. Nellie “motored” to Mitchell, though someone else always drove the Buick! Nellie never learned to drive. 

Classic Buick from the collection of "Unique Cars and Parts."

For 15 years life in town seemed idyllic. Nellie’s family had grown to include 15 grandchildren, and the extended family often gathered in Parkston. Her husband, Zina remained loving after 35 years of being together. He wrote fondly to her when they were separated.

At the end of 1929, Zina was 75, Nellie, 53. The older boys were running the farm, her family appeared secure. But life is a series of good times, followed by a series of hard times, and Nellie was about to face those hard times.

The story will continue in another edition.

Early Parkston postcard from the Adkins Family archives.

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