Dr. Dann's house in Clark Dr. Dann
The original house has been been replaced with a new one, and is the residence of Wayne Olson
302 South Iowa (Smith Street) about 1900
Copyrighted 2005 for Clark county South Dakota and Gordon Meyer
The Sellick Dann Story
I could say this is just another Clark County Pioneer Story, but that wouldn't be true, these stories are all different, and each one of them is a story in itself, and, the characters are real people, and they had there own experiences. This story is about a family from Stamford Connecticut, and it Starts with Sellick Dann. Sellick Dann's story ends here in Clark SD. Sellick Dann was born in March of 1820, and died January 28, 1904, at the home of his Son Dr. E.F. Dann in Clark SD. I was asked if I could get some information on Sellick Dann, and this is his and his son's story.. (Gordon C. Meyer)
Sellick Dann, is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery at Clark SD. in an ummarked grave. Sellick Dann was just another name on the cemetery list, so it would seem, but as I delved into the life of this family it wasn't just any story but then there never seems to be just any story.. Sellick Dann was just one part of a pioneer family whose heritage goes back to the birth of the United States, and this is a condensed story of his life.
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Sellick Dann was born in March of 1820, in North Stamford Connecticut, USA, and died in Clark South Dakota January 28, 1904. His parents were Johathan Dann and Mary Stevens. Sellick Dann was married to Pedee Ann Pierce in about 1845. Pedee Ann was born in West Turin, Lewis New York, USA, and she died July 9, 1911, at Kalispell Montana, at the home of her daughter Etta (Manetta)and is buried at Kalispell Montana. Sellick and his wife Pedee had 8 children. The oldest child was Edward Franklin, the second child was Arminia Jane,(died when she was 18 yrs old) the third child was Emma,Gertrude, the fourth child was Manetta,(Etta) the fifth child was Adella J., the sixth child was George G., the seventh child was Ida, and the Eighth child was Fredrick, Fredrick died as a child.
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Sellick Dann was a farmer as were his parents. The Sellick Dann family moved to several different locations, in there trek through life, and the instances that I will write about here, are all verified by the U.S. Census. From Connecticut the Sellick Dann family moved to New York, here his occupation changed from farmer to basket maker, this was on his census reports as his occupation all the way through this story. In there moves The Sellick Dann family lived in Wisconsin, and Montana predominately but they also lived in other states, but I haven't found anyplace in the reports where they every lived in South Dakota, until he came to Clark SD in 1902 to stay with E.F. Dann. On some of the census reports the wife of Sellick was listed as Ann, Rather than Pedee, this was probably done to seperate the daughter from the mother, because her mother's name was Pedee Ann also. It was probably in the 70's that Sellick and Pedee seem to have went there separate ways, they aren't listed as being together, on the census reports, and on the 1900 census I have found where Sellick is staying with his brother, and wife in New York, and Pedee on the 1900 census report from Kalispel MT and has herself listed as widowed.
Pedee, was an early proponent for Women's Rights (back in the 1870's - 1880's). Sellick came to Clark South Dakota probably in the year 1902, to spend the remaining years of his life with his son Dr. Edward F. Dann. According to the obituary in the local paper his death was January 28, 1904, in Ancestry dot com it has January 26, 1903 as his death date. This is a copy of the obituary taken from the Clark Paper "Sellick Dann, father of Dr. Dann died at the home of the latter Tuesday evening age 85 years the coming of March . He was born at Stamford Conn., and came here to spend his remaining years with his son, a year ago last June. He has been a Lifelong Member of M. and E. Church. His Grandfather was in the Revolutionary war, and his father was in the war of 1812, and his son Edward was in the Civil War. The funeral services were conducted at the house this P.M. by Rev. W.L. Molnzer. Sellick Dann died in January 28, 1904, and would have been 85 years old the next March "
This is a docuement signed by Edward Dann, it isn't a very good, copy.
It is signed Dann, Edward F--Second inscription is D 28 Wis. Inft.
Then it is dated 1890 January 12, then in the class column
it looks like invalid Then the application no is 781508--certificate no is not readable
the last column is state where filed and this is S.Dak.
This part of this story is about the eldest son of Sellick and Pedee Dann, Dr.Edward Franklin.Dann. Edward was born 10, 02, 1846, in Stamford Connecticut. We can relate to Edward Franklin Dann because he was a resident in Clark county for several years, I haven't found anyone old enough to remember him and I have found very little documentation of his existence in Clark, or of his medicine practice in Clark. He had a residence at 302 South Iowa st (Smith St.).
Edward lived at Whitewater Wisconsin at the time of the civil war, and this is where He enlisted as a private, on Aug. 20th 1862, in Company D. 28th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin. and was discharged on 23 of Aug. 1865, (this means that he was only 16, when he enlisted). Edward was mustered out in Brownsille Texas, and returned to Connecticut and stayed with Sellick, this is proven by the 1870 census which has him living with Sellick, and going to medical school in Connecticut. Sometime during his period, while in medical school, or right after he graduated, Edward met a doctor David A.Bennett, and the two arrived in Clark in the late 1800's. These Doctors came from the Berlin Wisconsin area and probably practiced medicine there before coming to Clark. During the time that Edward was in Wisconsin he was married to to Sarah Jane Forsythe, (first marriage)Sara is shown as being a seamstress in Wisconsin. They were married on October 30, 1872, they had one child Helen Dann born on August 3, 1873, in Berlin, Wisconsin.(I have another entry that has her born in Missouri, but I doubt this because she lived in South Dakota most of her early life, and then moved to Montana, and then California) Sarah Died circa 1874. It was right after this that Dr. E.F. Dann, and Dr. David Bennett arrived in Clark. Dr. Dan located on a homestead a pre-emption, and a tree claim (480 acres of land) in Richland township.
Dr. Dann remarried December 19, 1877. To Sally Mcclelland to this marriage two Children were born, a daughter Ethyl, and a Son Frank. Sally didn't move to Clark until the year 1883, when she arrived in Clark she brought with her a baby daughter, 'Ethyl" who was born in Wisconsin in January 1882. The records show that the Dann's moved onto the homesteaded in Richland Township sec 11, and this is where Frank Dann was born. The Dann's lived on the homestead until 1892, at this time they moved to Clark. Dr. Dann Practiced medicine in Clark, at this time, and his office was in the old abstract building. Sally Died June 13, 1907, of "Lagrip" which was an epidemic at that time. (a strain of influenza).
This is a portion of the Obituary of Sally Dann taken out of the Clark paper.
"Sally Dann"
Though death was a matter of only a few days or hours. While she kept growing weaker she still showed wonderful vitality, but the grim messenger at last prevailed and her spirit passed quietly out. The funeral was held at the home on Tuesday afternoon at 4 0 Clock. Rev. Oldfield officiating. The remains were taken to Berlin Wisconsin May 12 1849, where she grew up to woman hood. She was married to Dr. E. F. Dann December 19, 1877 and remained at Berlin until 1883, when she came to Clark county where Mr. Dann had previously come and located on a homestead a pre-emption, and a tree claim (480 acres of land) in Richland township. They remained on the farm until the fall of 1892 when they moved to Clark, where she remained until the time of her death. She leaves her husband, and son Frank, and daughter Ethyl, to mourn her departure. Mrs Dann was a woman of great energy"
Dr. Dann stayed in Clark and remarried on June 16, 1909 in St. Paul Minnesota. This is an article depicting E.F. Danns third marriage taken from the Clark paper. "Dr. Dann left clark on Tuesday evening for St. Paul MN. Where on Wednesday he was united in marriage to Lela Whiteman a widow, the marriage was performed by Dr. George Satterlee". A little bit of trivia here, Dr. Dann was born in 1846, and Lela was born in 1876. Lela was born in Woodbury County Iowa, and her first marriage was to George E. Whiteman they had two children none living. "The Danns made there home in Clark and lived in the house at 302.South Smith Street. Dr. Dann had an office in the Ware and Griffin Bank Building, in 1910". Sometime between 1910, and 1920 Edward and Lela moved to California they lived at 4344 Thirty-eighth st.Moro Bay, Calif.(there last known address in California) Moro Bay is located midway between Los Angleles and San Francisco. Edward died here Aug. 14, 1936, at the age of 90 years. Edward is buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego. This information was received from the National Cemetery site: "Dann, Edward, d. 08/14/1936, PVT CO D 28TH WIS VOL INF CW, Plot: A 38, bur. 08/19/1936" .Lila remarried, her new surname was "Wendell" This is Lila's, Obituary." Lila Jane Wendell died Sept 28 1954, at San Diego California. Lila was born Aug. 15, 1876, in Woodbury county Iowa.
This is just a small part of the Dann Family history, and there are a couple of things I should add . I mentioned Dr. David Bennett, I don't have much on him except for the fact he came to South Dakota with Dr. E.F. Dann. In searching for the Doctors, I found where a Dentist by the name of Henry Judson Bennett moved to Clark and set up a practice. This dentist was the son of Dr.David A. Bennett.(1920's to 1940's)
This the obituary of E.F. Dann
EDWARD FRANKLIN DANN
At the residence, 4344 Thirty-eighth st., Aug. 14, 1936, Edward
Franklin Dann; beloved husband of Lela J. Dann; father of Helen Dyer,
Moro Bay, Calif.; Ethel Schellman, St. Paul and Frank Dann, Reo, Wis;
brother of Ida M. Holbrook; age 90 years. Announcement later by Bent
Funeral Home, 3859 44th St.
Source: Obituary, 15 Aug. 1936, The Evening Tribune, San Diego, CA.
Helen Dyer, was the only daughter of Edward, and his first wife, Sara Jane Forsythe.
Ethyl Schellman, is the Daughter of Edward and Sally (lived in St. Paul MN.in 1936)
Frank Dann, is the Son of Edward and Sally (lived in Wisconsin in 1936) The census shows Frank to be married to Ida (second Marriage) and they have seven children.
Ida M. Holbrook would be Edward's Sister (Ida M - Ida May Dann -Holbrook)Born 1864 Whitewater Wisc 1870 census.(72 yrs old)