Adkins, Mattas, Mize Family History

The Railroad

              Part 2

Postcard from the Adkins Family Archives

In 1885, there was nothing but prairie. By 1887, the railroad broke that prairie and created a booming town, Parkston.


The Milwaukee Line opened up seemingly endless possibilities for its new residents and the farmers around it who now had a much

larger market for their livestock and grain.


The town grew rapidly, the census in 1890 boasted 262 residents, by 1900 - 596, 1910 - 970, and by 1920, 1,230 people called Parkston their home. 

Photos courtesy of the Center for Western Studies, Augustana University

One of the farmers who took advantage of the railroad to prosper was my maternal great grandfather, Joseph Mattas. The Mattas place, nestled in hills along the Jim River near Milltown, provided ample grassland and plenty of water for livestock. Now that the railroad came, he could ship that livestock to as faraway markets as Chicago. 

He took advantage of the situation. In 1904, he and six other farmers commissioned the Milwaukee Line for sixteen livestock cars to Chicago. Joseph had five of those cars.

He took advantage of the situation. In 1904, he and six other farmers commissioned the Milwaukee Line for sixteen livestock cars to Chicago. Joseph had five of those cars.

Joseph Mattas. Circa, 1900s

Not only did the farmers ship their cattle, some decided to accompany them and make a vacation out of it! A. Hoffman, Frank Wright, Dave Sterling, M. Hammond, along with Joseph rode the passenger car to the “windy city” to take in the sights. What an adventure it must have been for these men from the Dakota prairie! 

The Milwaukee railroad charged $1,000 for the shipment. The farmers paid extra for their own passage.

Background photo Mattas Place. Circa, 1900s

Chicago 1904. From the Illinois Public Archives.

Other farmers prospered from the railroad. The Adkins brothers, my paternal grandfather Zina and brothers, Adelbert and Marcus lived next to Joseph Mattas and shipped their cattle via the railroad.

Zina Adkins. Circa, 1910s

By 1914, a sophisticated system developed called the Fitzsimmons-Pierce Livestock Commission Company in Sioux City, Iowa that would sell livestock on commission. 

New Barn, in front, l-r; Mark, Helen and Zina Adkins. Circa, 1914

Livestock was just one of the commodities shipped on the railroad, grain became another money maker for the community. By 1910, there were six privately owned elevators.

Map courtesy of Mitchell Historical Society.

A roller mill for grinding flour was conveniently located next to the elevators. In 1910, it was managed by Joseph Fergen. 

Flour Mill postcard sent to Adelbert and Martha Adkins  form their niece, Grace Adkins. Circa, 1912

Photo courtesy of the South Dakota Historical Society Archives. Circa, 1910s

In the early 1900s, J.D. Welch, formerly of the now vanished Dakota City (which moved lock stock and barrel to Parkston when the railroad came), convinced yet another of my maternal great grandfathers, William J. Mize, to come to Hutchinson County from Iowa.


“Money is to me made here,” J.D. wrote. 

William was not a stranger to the impact of the railroad. From 1876-1887 he was an engineer for the Northwestern Railroad and drove the first “iron horse” from Onawa, Iowa to Omaha, Nebraska. The engine he mastered was an old wooden type whose speed of 15 miles per hour was considered fast in railroading. 

Pictured l-r;  J.D. and Mary Welch, Susan and William Mize.  From the Adkins Family Archives. Circa, 1890s.

Picture courtesy of Shirley Mize.

At the age of 46, he decided to try his hand at farming. He bought land next to Zina Adkins. By 1910, my Adkins, Mattas, Mize relatives owned 2,475 acres in Foster Township, near Milltown. The railroad was a definite asset to all of their farms.

The railroad was a conduit for many things. It brought the lumber and other materials needed to build the many houses in the growing community of Parkston.

In 1909, the railroad supplied companies in Parkston: Bauman’s Builders, Fergen’s Fullerton Lumber Company, Quell and Company, and Goodridge-Call Lumber Company manged by E.M. Mowary. 

Notebook belonging to L.A. Adkins. Circa, 19o0s

After retiring from farming, my great uncle and aunt, Adelbert and Martha Adkins bought a four-acre lot in the north of town, and, according to the Parkston Advance, “erected one of the finest residences in this part of the country.”


It was a ten room house with two front porches.

Adelbert and Martha spared no expense. Martha ordered special wallpaper, oils and stains from O.P. Swartz. She hired G. F. Teske, painter and paper hanger to help with the job. The special items to complete the home would not have been available without the railroad.

Martha and Adelbert Adkins. Circa, 1900s

Photo of the Adkins House.

William J. Mize also saw the opportunities that shipments by rail could provide. Knowing farmers needed additional feed for their livestock, he opened the Mize Feed Store in Parkston. 


William joined many others in this quest to make money. In 1909, a South Dakota State Business Directory was published. It praised the community: "An incorporated city in Hutchinson County, on the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad. It has municipal waterworks and other city improvements. All lines of businesses well represented.”


William Mize, center, in front of the store. Circa, 1900s

He also saw money to be made in houses. He purchased lots in Parkston and built three houses on speculation. They were located a block from Main Street and are still standing today.

William Mize to the far right, others unknown. Circa, 1900s

Not only did the railroad bring goods into Parkston, it provided a means to get out of town! Passenger cars could take you on a day trip, an adventure for many young people.


My great aunt, Mayme Mattas was one of those adventurers.

She and her friends would board the train in Parkston and visit other friends in Scotland. 

Mayme Mattas. Circa, 1900s

Mayme Mattas in the center, others unknown. Circa, 1900s

Mayme Mattas in the center, others unknown. Circa, 1900s

Some of the most important people for the railroads and the community were the local agents. They sold passenger tickets, coordinated shipments, collected mail, and had to master “the wire.” Telegraphs were vital to fast communication at the time, and the telegraph wires ran parallel to the tracks. Early station agents included men like C.F. Dunham and B. Wallace.

One of the longest serving agents was A.G. Gorman.

He and his family lived in an apartment above the depot. His children would often deliver telegraphs. In 1911, they may have heard the crashing of two locomotive engines colliding and probably witnessed the great train wreck.

Postcard sent to L.A. Adkins

Article from the Parkston Advance. Picture courtesy of the Center for Western Studies, Augustana University.

Undoubtedly, A. J. Gorman did not have his children deliver a telegram that came for William J. Mize in November of 1912. 

A good looking, popular, vibrant young man, William’s son, Clarence boarded a train in the spring of 1911, destined for Livingston, Montana. Just recently graduated from Parkston High School, he was going to pursue a career with the railroad. His father encouraged him - after all, William, a former engineer knew what good employment the railroad provided. 

Clarence Mize's graduation picture, 1911.

Clarence started out as a brakeman, a dangerous job, but he was strong and quick. He sent a postcard home from Livingston. He liked the work and the Brotherhood of Railway Workers union.

No matter how quick and strong he was, he was unable to save himself on November 9. According to the newspaper accounts, “In stepping between the cars to work a coupling pin, Mr. Mize caught his foot in the frog of the switch and was run over before being able to extricate himself. Conductor, C.B. Martin found the lifeless body of the young brakeman beneath the railroad cars.”


William received notice of the death via telegram.

The Brotherhood of Railway Workers laid Clarence in a flower decked coffin shortly after, and put the coffin on a train bound for Parkston, but would not leave the young man to go alone. For over seven hundred miles, a railway brother accompanied the coffin. At each stop one would get off, another on, until they saw Clarence safely home.

Photo Courtesy of the Yellowstone Gateway Museum, Montana

In 1917, the railroad continued to be a vital part of the economy. A.G. Gorman, still serving as its agent, was busier than ever bringing goods into the community and scheduling passengers.


That year, however, he had to arrange passage for one of the community's greatest assets - its young men. World War 1 had come.

Photo courtesy of the South Dakota Historical Society Archives.

Joseph Mattas, one of the early Milltown farmers who had prospered from the coming of the railroad, put his son, George on that train. Like so many others, he hoped the railroad would bring him home again!

George Mattas. Circa, 1918

Part 3 of the Railroad Story will contine in the next edition of the website.

Special thanks to these resources: The Yellowstone Gateway Museum, Park County Montana, Hutchinson County Register of Deeds, South Dakota State Historical Society, the Center for Western Studies, Augustana University, Mitchell Area Historical Society, archives of the Parkston Advance, Ray Doering, and Terry Grajkowske. 

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