Note: The Dakotas didn't become states until 1889. However, I will refer to them as "South Dakota" and "North Dakota" for ease in telling the story of Claude's life, mentioning the Territories only as it becomes relevant to the story. There is one time during Claude's life story where Idaho Territory is mentioned. Idaho became a state in 1890.
Claude Everett Ralph, sometimes spelled Claud, was born June 2, 1859, in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri to Dr. Erasmus Darwin Ralph and Sarah E. "Sally" (Wilson) Ralph. Erasmus was often referred to as E. D. Ralph in the newspapers. Claude was the oldest of three children born to Dr. and Mrs. Ralph:
Claude Everett Ralph (1859-1924) never married
Emmett Ernest Ralph (1862-1940) never married
Della Amanda Ralph (1867-1923) m. Henry Lorain Leppla [Sr.]
The 1860 US Census shows Claude at 1 year old living with his parents in Kansas City, Missouri. His father, "E. D. Ralph," was a physician, and his mother, "Sarah," a housewife. They had a servant by the name of Bridgit surname unknown, from Ireland.
In 1862 Claude's little brother, Emmett, was born in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri. In 1864 Claude's father, Dr. E. D. Ra.ph, made a wagon trip from his home in Kansas City to Bannock County, Idaho, carrying goods for sale, and returned to his home with stories about the large gold nuggets and the successful gold mining there. He brought two nuggets home to show everyone. Source: Page 2 of the Quad-City Times, Davenport, Iowa, dated March 28, 1864.
In 1865 Claude's family moved to the Haskell Farm west of Nebraska City, Nebraska where Claude's father, E. D. Ralph, reported a missing Bay Mare, 7 years old, 15 ½ hands high and round bodied. Source: Page 3 of the Nebraska Advertiser, Brownville, Nebraska, dated 27 April 1865. In 1867 Claude's little sister, Della, was born in Nebraska City, Otoe County, Nebraska.
Claude's father, Erasmus Ralph, engaged in freighting from points on the Missouri River to Idaho, as previously mentioned, and to Santa Fe, New Mexico and Salt Lake City, Utah. He worked in freighting by wagon until the United Pacific Railroad was completed in the late 1860s. Source: Page 1 of the Queen City Mail newspaper out of Spearfish, South Dakota, dated March 1, 1911 – this was from Erasmus' obituary. The Ralph family did not show up on the 1870 US Census report, but there is evidence that the family's home was variously located along the Missouri River from Nebraska City, Nebraska to Kansas City, Missouri from 1859 until about 1869, then in Utah until 1877.
In 1869 and again in 1871, Claude's father had an unclaimed letter at the post office at Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1873, Claude had an unclaimed letter there too. In 1872, Claude's father was a member of the Democratic Convention in Utah, and he owned a store with a partner, V. E. Street. The store was located at Little Cottonwood mining district, Alta City, Utah, and sold miners' tools, clothing, groceries, wine, and liquors. While in Alta, Utah, Claude was appointed Deputy Postmaster under V. M. Street (also Claude's father's partner), in about 1875-6. His father dabbled in mining; continued his freighting business; had a grocery store with a partner, V. M. Street, called "Street and Ralph;" and had a physician and surgeon office.
In 1877, after their stay in Utah, Dr. Erasmus Ralph moved his family to Deadwood, South Dakota and set up his physician practice at the IXL hotel. This is probably the time that Claude, now 18 years old, went off to college as reported in a newspaper article: Page 3 of The Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times out of Deadwood, South Dakota, dated November 13, 1885. Perhaps this is also the time that Claude's brother, Emmett, went to live and attend school in Columbia, Missouri with his cousins Dora and Asa D. Brasher. The three boarded at the home of W. E. and wife F. M. Stone in Columbia in 1880 at the ages of 18 [Ralph], 17 [Dora] and 16 [Asa].
The 1880 US Census Report showed Claude Ralph on his ranch in Lawrence County, South Dakota, at "Redwater [river] at the mouth of Spearfish Creek," which is about 22 miles north of Deadwood, and about 8 miles north of Spearfish. He had a boarder, J. H. Gray, that lived with him on his ranch, and Claude's parents, Erasmus and Sarah Ralph, lived on the ranch next door. Claude's uncle, Dr. Arthur B. Ralph, lived on a ranch nearby too. Claude's brother, Emmett, and sister, Della, weren't on the census report that year and are thought to have been away at school. In 1880 and 1881, Claude and his father, E. D. Ralph, were often seen as witnesses for "Proof of Claim" land notices in Deadwood, SD.
In October of 1881 Claude was a returning passenger with his mother Sarah, brother Emmett, and sister Della, from Richmond, Missouri by way of Ft. Robinson, Nebraska. Fort Robinson was originally Camp Robinson and was one of several army posts established to protect Indian agencies. Camp Robinson's responsibility was Red Cloud Agency and the soldiers at the camp also guarded the Sidney-Deadwood Trail to the Black Hills and surrounding region, aka Sidney-Black Hills Trail. The designation changed from "Camp" to "Fort" in 1878. Source: History Nebraska, history.nebraska,gov: https://history.nebraska.gov/visit/brief-history-fort-robinson . It is possible that Claude and his mother travelled together to retrieve his siblings from school in Richmond. They stayed at the Wentworth House in Deadwood, South Dakota before heading up to their ranches at Redwater. Source #1: Page 3 of The Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times, Deadwood, South Dakota, dated October 25, 1881. Source #2: Page 2 of The Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times, out of Deadwood, South Dakota, October 27, 1881.
In 1882 Claude Ralph lived in Chicago for a year or more where he worked for A. A. Devore & Son of Chicago who sold men's suits. Claude brought sample suits to Deadwood in 1882 for the purpose of taking orders from customers in his home state and around the country. By 1883 Claude was back at his ranch at Redwater.
In June of 1884 Claude took a group of prospectors from Deadwood, South Dakota to Medora, North Dakota to search for gold in the Badlands. The gold was said to have been discovered by a man who was afterward killed by Indians while guiding a party of friends to the location. It was a six-day trip that yielded no gold, so the party returned to Medora and broke up, some going back to Deadwood, Dakota Territory, others to Coeur D'Alene, Idaho Territory, and some back to "the States." Source: Page 4 of The Bad Lands Cow Boy newspaper out of Medora, North Dakota [Dakota Territory at the time of this article], dated June 26, 1884. In July of 1884 Claude's younger brother, Emmet Ernest Ralph, was committed to Yankton asylum. Source: Page 4 of the Lead Daily Call newspaper out of Lead, South Dakota, dated October 29, 1940.
Claude worked as a clerk at the Wentworth House [hotel] in 1885, was postmaster at Spearfish, South Dakota in 1885, and was on the board of directors of Esperanza mine in 1886. Source: Page 3 of The Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times out of Deadwood, South Dakota, dated November 13, 1885. Claude first showed signs of imbalance in October of 1886 when it was found that mail wasn't being delivered properly. Five or six registered letters had been tampered with and the contents removed. Money was short in his accounts. He claimed to know nothing about it and everybody who knew him was confident he told the truth. He was not charged. The following year while he was still postmaster of Spearfish, a complaint was filed against him by the Trustees of the town concerning his increasing violent behavior, and he was brought under examination by the board of insanity, but not committed. Claude resigned as postmaster in June of 1887. He continued to live and work on his ranch in Redwater, coming to Deadwood and Spearfish occasionally to visit friends. In February of 1888 he stayed at the Keystone hotel in Deadwood during one of his visits.
In June of 1888 the bondsmen of ex-Postmaster C. E. Ralph received communications from the postal department at Washingtoon calling upon them to make good a shortage of about $500 in Ralph's accounts. Claude was not charged, but an x-employee, W. H. Webber, one of the clerks under Claude Ralph when he was postmaster, was arrested for the embezzlement. Mr. Webber confessed to opening packages that were not addressed to him and said there was another party involved that he refused to name. Mr. Webber embezzled due to a gambling habit that had gone wrong. Webber was found guilty and was charged with owing $1,000. Claude Ralph's bondsmen had to pay over $300. In August of 1888 another man, Wallie J. Hill, who had been indicted for the embezzlement at the post office at Spearfish, was arrested for attempted arson at Spearfish, South Dakota.
In 1888 and 1889 Claude Ralph made an extended trip through Montana, Utah, and Colorado and returned to Deadwood surprising his friends, and feeling greatly improved in health and spirits. He planned to go to Spearfish the next day, then up to his ranch at Redwater. In November of 1889 Claude contracted to purchase 400 poles for the telephone line from Deadwood to Minnesela, South Dakota. Minnesela was founded in 1882 and was located three miles southeast of present-day Belle Fourche, Butte County, South Dakota. It was the first settlement in the county and was county seat. When the railroad bypassed Minnesela to continue to Belle Fourche in 1890, the town began to dwindle, became abandoned by 1901, and is ghost town today.
Claude Ralph visited old friends in Spearfish, South Dakota at least twice during 1891, continuing to live on his property at Redwater. Claude was sent to Yankton insane asylum in 1892. His younger brother, Emmett, had been committed in 1884, and the family were "at a loss to account for the matter." Page 4 of the Queen City Mail newspaper in Spearfish, South Dakota, dated April 6, 1892. On his way to Yankton, Claud escaped from the Elkhorn train. He broke from the sheriff and gained the platform. He jumped from the train, which was going forty miles an hour, and struck his side on landing. Sheriff McDonald followed, landing on his feet, and drawing a revolver, forced Claude to remain quiet. The train was stopped and backed up to pick the men up. Page 3 of The Black Hills Daily Times, Deadwood, South Dakota, April 23, 1892.
Claude escaped from the asylum in September of 1893, but he was not considered a threat to himself or others. He was found at his ranch in Redwater two months later and returned without incident to the institution. Page 2 of The Weekly Pioneer-Times newspaper out of Deadwood, dated November 16, 1893. In 1898 Claude took a pony from the yard of the institution and made his escape into a neighboring county where he was captured and returned without incident. He was removed from the open ward and was placed in ward 8.
Hospital clinical notes dated November 13, 1899, said that "Claude was sent here himself he says partly from grieving about his brother and partly from a 'spree' thought to be [???] over having been a drinking man habitually." Clinical notes continued, "Claude Ralph is the heaviest man on the grounds 250 lbs." The clinical notes went on to say further, "He is a good patient seems rational but has queer expression of eyes, converses pleasantly and interestingly on ordinary topics about self and circumstances."
In 1904 Claude lived and ranched at Redwater River near Spearfish, South Dakota, according to his obituary. Source: Page 4 of The Black Hills Weekly newspaper out of Deadwood, dated April 3, 1924. Hospital records included a letter dated March 13, 1927, from the Superintendent of the hospital to Clerk of the Court in Spearfish, L. P. Jenkins, that Claude was discharged June 29, 1906.
Claude's mother, Sarah, died July 12, 1909, at Spearfish, Lawrence County, South Dakota. Claud's father, Erasmus, moved to Phoenix to live with Claud's sister and brother-in-law, Della and Henry Leppla, Sr. Claude's father died February 19, 1911, in Phoenix, and his remains removed to Richmond Cemetery in Ray County, Missouri to be buried next to his wife.
In 1920 Claude appeared on the census for Reed, Lawrence County, South Dakota and worked as a farmer and employer, on his Ranch at Redwater which was about 35 miles from the census collection site. Reed is a ghost town today and was located near Bear Butte state park (small mountain or mound), about 8 miles Northeast of Sturgis. In 1923 Claude's sister, Della (Ralph) Leppla died and was buried at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona.
Claude Everett Ralph died of dropsy, (now known as edema), on April 2, 1924, at the Lawrence County Hospital in, South Dakota, (probably Monument Hospital in Deadwood today). Services were to be held in Spearfish, Lawrence County, South Dakota, so it is likely that Claude was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Spearfish. Claude's funeral arrangements were probably done by his brother-in-law Henry Lorain Leppla, Sr. Other family members buried there were: Henry's parents Jacob Leppla and Mary (Zeller) Leppla; and Henry's daughter-in-law, Ellouise Caroline "Ella" (Rushton) Leppla.
Page 3 of the Lead Daily Call newspapers of Lead, South Dakota dated December 3, 1926, lists Claude E. Ralph's Redwater land for delinquent taxes:
Claude E. Ralph . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pt S Redwater NE ¼ SW ¼ 4 7 2 37.60
Claude E. Ralph . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pt S Redwater NW ¼ SW ¼ 4 7 2 34.80
Claude E. Ralph . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pt S Redwater SW ¼ NW ¼ 4 7 2 6.90
Claude E. Ralph . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pt S Redwater S ½ SW ¼ 4 7 2 80.00
Claude E. Ralph, Hail Insurance. Pt S Redwater S ½ SW ¼ 4 7 2 45.00
Claude E. Ralph . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pt S Redwater NE ¼ SE ¼ 4 7 2 16.60
This land was located on Redwater River where it meets Spearfish Creek. That spot is difficult to find now since google maps doesn't show parts of Redwater River that used to exist. But you can google "Jolly Dump, South Dakota," and google maps will take you near the spot. On mapcarta.com you can see this area more clearly. Search for "Jolly Dump, South Dakota," and it will be clear where the land was. The land is east of the place where Old Belle Road meets State Highway 85, near the 180 degree turn in Spearfish Creek. Rimrock Lane leads nearly to the area that would have belonged to the three Ralphs: Dr. Erasmus D. Ralph, his son Claude E. Ralph, and Erasmus' brother, Dr. Arthur B. Ralph. It is probable that their land laid south of Spearfish Creek since that is the divider between Butte County and Lawrence County, and the 1880 U.S. Census for the Ralphs was in Lawrence County.
Sources: newspapers.com, ancestry.com, US and State census reports, and wikipedia.org.
Bio by: Mary Ann Leppla
Claude Everett Ralph, sometimes spelled Claud, was born June 2, 1859, in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri to Dr. Erasmus Darwin Ralph and Sarah E. "Sally" (Wilson) Ralph. Erasmus was often referred to as E. D. Ralph in the newspapers. Claude was the oldest of three children born to Dr. and Mrs. Ralph:
Claude Everett Ralph (1859-1924) never married
Emmett Ernest Ralph (1862-1940) never married
Della Amanda Ralph (1867-1923) m. Henry Lorain Leppla [Sr.]
The 1860 US Census shows Claude at 1 year old living with his parents in Kansas City, Missouri. His father, "E. D. Ralph," was a physician, and his mother, "Sarah," a housewife. They had a servant by the name of Bridgit surname unknown, from Ireland.
In 1862 Claude's little brother, Emmett, was born in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri. In 1864 Claude's father, Dr. E. D. Ra.ph, made a wagon trip from his home in Kansas City to Bannock County, Idaho, carrying goods for sale, and returned to his home with stories about the large gold nuggets and the successful gold mining there. He brought two nuggets home to show everyone. Source: Page 2 of the Quad-City Times, Davenport, Iowa, dated March 28, 1864.
In 1865 Claude's family moved to the Haskell Farm west of Nebraska City, Nebraska where Claude's father, E. D. Ralph, reported a missing Bay Mare, 7 years old, 15 ½ hands high and round bodied. Source: Page 3 of the Nebraska Advertiser, Brownville, Nebraska, dated 27 April 1865. In 1867 Claude's little sister, Della, was born in Nebraska City, Otoe County, Nebraska.
Claude's father, Erasmus Ralph, engaged in freighting from points on the Missouri River to Idaho, as previously mentioned, and to Santa Fe, New Mexico and Salt Lake City, Utah. He worked in freighting by wagon until the United Pacific Railroad was completed in the late 1860s. Source: Page 1 of the Queen City Mail newspaper out of Spearfish, South Dakota, dated March 1, 1911 – this was from Erasmus' obituary. The Ralph family did not show up on the 1870 US Census report, but there is evidence that the family's home was variously located along the Missouri River from Nebraska City, Nebraska to Kansas City, Missouri from 1859 until about 1869, then in Utah until 1877.
In 1869 and again in 1871, Claude's father had an unclaimed letter at the post office at Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1873, Claude had an unclaimed letter there too. In 1872, Claude's father was a member of the Democratic Convention in Utah, and he owned a store with a partner, V. E. Street. The store was located at Little Cottonwood mining district, Alta City, Utah, and sold miners' tools, clothing, groceries, wine, and liquors. While in Alta, Utah, Claude was appointed Deputy Postmaster under V. M. Street (also Claude's father's partner), in about 1875-6. His father dabbled in mining; continued his freighting business; had a grocery store with a partner, V. M. Street, called "Street and Ralph;" and had a physician and surgeon office.
In 1877, after their stay in Utah, Dr. Erasmus Ralph moved his family to Deadwood, South Dakota and set up his physician practice at the IXL hotel. This is probably the time that Claude, now 18 years old, went off to college as reported in a newspaper article: Page 3 of The Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times out of Deadwood, South Dakota, dated November 13, 1885. Perhaps this is also the time that Claude's brother, Emmett, went to live and attend school in Columbia, Missouri with his cousins Dora and Asa D. Brasher. The three boarded at the home of W. E. and wife F. M. Stone in Columbia in 1880 at the ages of 18 [Ralph], 17 [Dora] and 16 [Asa].
The 1880 US Census Report showed Claude Ralph on his ranch in Lawrence County, South Dakota, at "Redwater [river] at the mouth of Spearfish Creek," which is about 22 miles north of Deadwood, and about 8 miles north of Spearfish. He had a boarder, J. H. Gray, that lived with him on his ranch, and Claude's parents, Erasmus and Sarah Ralph, lived on the ranch next door. Claude's uncle, Dr. Arthur B. Ralph, lived on a ranch nearby too. Claude's brother, Emmett, and sister, Della, weren't on the census report that year and are thought to have been away at school. In 1880 and 1881, Claude and his father, E. D. Ralph, were often seen as witnesses for "Proof of Claim" land notices in Deadwood, SD.
In October of 1881 Claude was a returning passenger with his mother Sarah, brother Emmett, and sister Della, from Richmond, Missouri by way of Ft. Robinson, Nebraska. Fort Robinson was originally Camp Robinson and was one of several army posts established to protect Indian agencies. Camp Robinson's responsibility was Red Cloud Agency and the soldiers at the camp also guarded the Sidney-Deadwood Trail to the Black Hills and surrounding region, aka Sidney-Black Hills Trail. The designation changed from "Camp" to "Fort" in 1878. Source: History Nebraska, history.nebraska,gov: https://history.nebraska.gov/visit/brief-history-fort-robinson . It is possible that Claude and his mother travelled together to retrieve his siblings from school in Richmond. They stayed at the Wentworth House in Deadwood, South Dakota before heading up to their ranches at Redwater. Source #1: Page 3 of The Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times, Deadwood, South Dakota, dated October 25, 1881. Source #2: Page 2 of The Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times, out of Deadwood, South Dakota, October 27, 1881.
In 1882 Claude Ralph lived in Chicago for a year or more where he worked for A. A. Devore & Son of Chicago who sold men's suits. Claude brought sample suits to Deadwood in 1882 for the purpose of taking orders from customers in his home state and around the country. By 1883 Claude was back at his ranch at Redwater.
In June of 1884 Claude took a group of prospectors from Deadwood, South Dakota to Medora, North Dakota to search for gold in the Badlands. The gold was said to have been discovered by a man who was afterward killed by Indians while guiding a party of friends to the location. It was a six-day trip that yielded no gold, so the party returned to Medora and broke up, some going back to Deadwood, Dakota Territory, others to Coeur D'Alene, Idaho Territory, and some back to "the States." Source: Page 4 of The Bad Lands Cow Boy newspaper out of Medora, North Dakota [Dakota Territory at the time of this article], dated June 26, 1884. In July of 1884 Claude's younger brother, Emmet Ernest Ralph, was committed to Yankton asylum. Source: Page 4 of the Lead Daily Call newspaper out of Lead, South Dakota, dated October 29, 1940.
Claude worked as a clerk at the Wentworth House [hotel] in 1885, was postmaster at Spearfish, South Dakota in 1885, and was on the board of directors of Esperanza mine in 1886. Source: Page 3 of The Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times out of Deadwood, South Dakota, dated November 13, 1885. Claude first showed signs of imbalance in October of 1886 when it was found that mail wasn't being delivered properly. Five or six registered letters had been tampered with and the contents removed. Money was short in his accounts. He claimed to know nothing about it and everybody who knew him was confident he told the truth. He was not charged. The following year while he was still postmaster of Spearfish, a complaint was filed against him by the Trustees of the town concerning his increasing violent behavior, and he was brought under examination by the board of insanity, but not committed. Claude resigned as postmaster in June of 1887. He continued to live and work on his ranch in Redwater, coming to Deadwood and Spearfish occasionally to visit friends. In February of 1888 he stayed at the Keystone hotel in Deadwood during one of his visits.
In June of 1888 the bondsmen of ex-Postmaster C. E. Ralph received communications from the postal department at Washingtoon calling upon them to make good a shortage of about $500 in Ralph's accounts. Claude was not charged, but an x-employee, W. H. Webber, one of the clerks under Claude Ralph when he was postmaster, was arrested for the embezzlement. Mr. Webber confessed to opening packages that were not addressed to him and said there was another party involved that he refused to name. Mr. Webber embezzled due to a gambling habit that had gone wrong. Webber was found guilty and was charged with owing $1,000. Claude Ralph's bondsmen had to pay over $300. In August of 1888 another man, Wallie J. Hill, who had been indicted for the embezzlement at the post office at Spearfish, was arrested for attempted arson at Spearfish, South Dakota.
In 1888 and 1889 Claude Ralph made an extended trip through Montana, Utah, and Colorado and returned to Deadwood surprising his friends, and feeling greatly improved in health and spirits. He planned to go to Spearfish the next day, then up to his ranch at Redwater. In November of 1889 Claude contracted to purchase 400 poles for the telephone line from Deadwood to Minnesela, South Dakota. Minnesela was founded in 1882 and was located three miles southeast of present-day Belle Fourche, Butte County, South Dakota. It was the first settlement in the county and was county seat. When the railroad bypassed Minnesela to continue to Belle Fourche in 1890, the town began to dwindle, became abandoned by 1901, and is ghost town today.
Claude Ralph visited old friends in Spearfish, South Dakota at least twice during 1891, continuing to live on his property at Redwater. Claude was sent to Yankton insane asylum in 1892. His younger brother, Emmett, had been committed in 1884, and the family were "at a loss to account for the matter." Page 4 of the Queen City Mail newspaper in Spearfish, South Dakota, dated April 6, 1892. On his way to Yankton, Claud escaped from the Elkhorn train. He broke from the sheriff and gained the platform. He jumped from the train, which was going forty miles an hour, and struck his side on landing. Sheriff McDonald followed, landing on his feet, and drawing a revolver, forced Claude to remain quiet. The train was stopped and backed up to pick the men up. Page 3 of The Black Hills Daily Times, Deadwood, South Dakota, April 23, 1892.
Claude escaped from the asylum in September of 1893, but he was not considered a threat to himself or others. He was found at his ranch in Redwater two months later and returned without incident to the institution. Page 2 of The Weekly Pioneer-Times newspaper out of Deadwood, dated November 16, 1893. In 1898 Claude took a pony from the yard of the institution and made his escape into a neighboring county where he was captured and returned without incident. He was removed from the open ward and was placed in ward 8.
Hospital clinical notes dated November 13, 1899, said that "Claude was sent here himself he says partly from grieving about his brother and partly from a 'spree' thought to be [???] over having been a drinking man habitually." Clinical notes continued, "Claude Ralph is the heaviest man on the grounds 250 lbs." The clinical notes went on to say further, "He is a good patient seems rational but has queer expression of eyes, converses pleasantly and interestingly on ordinary topics about self and circumstances."
In 1904 Claude lived and ranched at Redwater River near Spearfish, South Dakota, according to his obituary. Source: Page 4 of The Black Hills Weekly newspaper out of Deadwood, dated April 3, 1924. Hospital records included a letter dated March 13, 1927, from the Superintendent of the hospital to Clerk of the Court in Spearfish, L. P. Jenkins, that Claude was discharged June 29, 1906.
Claude's mother, Sarah, died July 12, 1909, at Spearfish, Lawrence County, South Dakota. Claud's father, Erasmus, moved to Phoenix to live with Claud's sister and brother-in-law, Della and Henry Leppla, Sr. Claude's father died February 19, 1911, in Phoenix, and his remains removed to Richmond Cemetery in Ray County, Missouri to be buried next to his wife.
In 1920 Claude appeared on the census for Reed, Lawrence County, South Dakota and worked as a farmer and employer, on his Ranch at Redwater which was about 35 miles from the census collection site. Reed is a ghost town today and was located near Bear Butte state park (small mountain or mound), about 8 miles Northeast of Sturgis. In 1923 Claude's sister, Della (Ralph) Leppla died and was buried at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona.
Claude Everett Ralph died of dropsy, (now known as edema), on April 2, 1924, at the Lawrence County Hospital in, South Dakota, (probably Monument Hospital in Deadwood today). Services were to be held in Spearfish, Lawrence County, South Dakota, so it is likely that Claude was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Spearfish. Claude's funeral arrangements were probably done by his brother-in-law Henry Lorain Leppla, Sr. Other family members buried there were: Henry's parents Jacob Leppla and Mary (Zeller) Leppla; and Henry's daughter-in-law, Ellouise Caroline "Ella" (Rushton) Leppla.
Page 3 of the Lead Daily Call newspapers of Lead, South Dakota dated December 3, 1926, lists Claude E. Ralph's Redwater land for delinquent taxes:
Claude E. Ralph . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pt S Redwater NE ¼ SW ¼ 4 7 2 37.60
Claude E. Ralph . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pt S Redwater NW ¼ SW ¼ 4 7 2 34.80
Claude E. Ralph . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pt S Redwater SW ¼ NW ¼ 4 7 2 6.90
Claude E. Ralph . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pt S Redwater S ½ SW ¼ 4 7 2 80.00
Claude E. Ralph, Hail Insurance. Pt S Redwater S ½ SW ¼ 4 7 2 45.00
Claude E. Ralph . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pt S Redwater NE ¼ SE ¼ 4 7 2 16.60
This land was located on Redwater River where it meets Spearfish Creek. That spot is difficult to find now since google maps doesn't show parts of Redwater River that used to exist. But you can google "Jolly Dump, South Dakota," and google maps will take you near the spot. On mapcarta.com you can see this area more clearly. Search for "Jolly Dump, South Dakota," and it will be clear where the land was. The land is east of the place where Old Belle Road meets State Highway 85, near the 180 degree turn in Spearfish Creek. Rimrock Lane leads nearly to the area that would have belonged to the three Ralphs: Dr. Erasmus D. Ralph, his son Claude E. Ralph, and Erasmus' brother, Dr. Arthur B. Ralph. It is probable that their land laid south of Spearfish Creek since that is the divider between Butte County and Lawrence County, and the 1880 U.S. Census for the Ralphs was in Lawrence County.
Sources: newspapers.com, ancestry.com, US and State census reports, and wikipedia.org.
Bio by: Mary Ann Leppla
Note: The Dakotas didn't become states until 1889. However, I will refer to them as "South Dakota" and "North Dakota" for ease in telling the story of Claude's life, mentioning the Territories only as it becomes relevant to the story. There is one time during Claude's life story where Idaho Territory is mentioned. Idaho became a state in 1890.
Claude Everett Ralph, sometimes spelled Claud, was born June 2, 1859, in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri to Dr. Erasmus Darwin Ralph and Sarah E. "Sally" (Wilson) Ralph. Erasmus was often referred to as E. D. Ralph in the newspapers. Claude was the oldest of three children born to Dr. and Mrs. Ralph:
Claude Everett Ralph (1859-1924) never married
Emmett Ernest Ralph (1862-1940) never married
Della Amanda Ralph (1867-1923) m. Henry Lorain Leppla [Sr.]
The 1860 US Census shows Claude at 1 year old living with his parents in Kansas City, Missouri. His father, "E. D. Ralph," was a physician, and his mother, "Sarah," a housewife. They had a servant by the name of Bridgit surname unknown, from Ireland.
In 1862 Claude's little brother, Emmett, was born in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri. In 1864 Claude's father, Dr. E. D. Ra.ph, made a wagon trip from his home in Kansas City to Bannock County, Idaho, carrying goods for sale, and returned to his home with stories about the large gold nuggets and the successful gold mining there. He brought two nuggets home to show everyone. Source: Page 2 of the Quad-City Times, Davenport, Iowa, dated March 28, 1864.
In 1865 Claude's family moved to the Haskell Farm west of Nebraska City, Nebraska where Claude's father, E. D. Ralph, reported a missing Bay Mare, 7 years old, 15 ½ hands high and round bodied. Source: Page 3 of the Nebraska Advertiser, Brownville, Nebraska, dated 27 April 1865. In 1867 Claude's little sister, Della, was born in Nebraska City, Otoe County, Nebraska.
Claude's father, Erasmus Ralph, engaged in freighting from points on the Missouri River to Idaho, as previously mentioned, and to Santa Fe, New Mexico and Salt Lake City, Utah. He worked in freighting by wagon until the United Pacific Railroad was completed in the late 1860s. Source: Page 1 of the Queen City Mail newspaper out of Spearfish, South Dakota, dated March 1, 1911 – this was from Erasmus' obituary. The Ralph family did not show up on the 1870 US Census report, but there is evidence that the family's home was variously located along the Missouri River from Nebraska City, Nebraska to Kansas City, Missouri from 1859 until about 1869, then in Utah until 1877.
In 1869 and again in 1871, Claude's father had an unclaimed letter at the post office at Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1873, Claude had an unclaimed letter there too. In 1872, Claude's father was a member of the Democratic Convention in Utah, and he owned a store with a partner, V. E. Street. The store was located at Little Cottonwood mining district, Alta City, Utah, and sold miners' tools, clothing, groceries, wine, and liquors. While in Alta, Utah, Claude was appointed Deputy Postmaster under V. M. Street (also Claude's father's partner), in about 1875-6. His father dabbled in mining; continued his freighting business; had a grocery store with a partner, V. M. Street, called "Street and Ralph;" and had a physician and surgeon office.
In 1877, after their stay in Utah, Dr. Erasmus Ralph moved his family to Deadwood, South Dakota and set up his physician practice at the IXL hotel. This is probably the time that Claude, now 18 years old, went off to college as reported in a newspaper article: Page 3 of The Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times out of Deadwood, South Dakota, dated November 13, 1885. Perhaps this is also the time that Claude's brother, Emmett, went to live and attend school in Columbia, Missouri with his cousins Dora and Asa D. Brasher. The three boarded at the home of W. E. and wife F. M. Stone in Columbia in 1880 at the ages of 18 [Ralph], 17 [Dora] and 16 [Asa].
The 1880 US Census Report showed Claude Ralph on his ranch in Lawrence County, South Dakota, at "Redwater [river] at the mouth of Spearfish Creek," which is about 22 miles north of Deadwood, and about 8 miles north of Spearfish. He had a boarder, J. H. Gray, that lived with him on his ranch, and Claude's parents, Erasmus and Sarah Ralph, lived on the ranch next door. Claude's uncle, Dr. Arthur B. Ralph, lived on a ranch nearby too. Claude's brother, Emmett, and sister, Della, weren't on the census report that year and are thought to have been away at school. In 1880 and 1881, Claude and his father, E. D. Ralph, were often seen as witnesses for "Proof of Claim" land notices in Deadwood, SD.
In October of 1881 Claude was a returning passenger with his mother Sarah, brother Emmett, and sister Della, from Richmond, Missouri by way of Ft. Robinson, Nebraska. Fort Robinson was originally Camp Robinson and was one of several army posts established to protect Indian agencies. Camp Robinson's responsibility was Red Cloud Agency and the soldiers at the camp also guarded the Sidney-Deadwood Trail to the Black Hills and surrounding region, aka Sidney-Black Hills Trail. The designation changed from "Camp" to "Fort" in 1878. Source: History Nebraska, history.nebraska,gov: https://history.nebraska.gov/visit/brief-history-fort-robinson . It is possible that Claude and his mother travelled together to retrieve his siblings from school in Richmond. They stayed at the Wentworth House in Deadwood, South Dakota before heading up to their ranches at Redwater. Source #1: Page 3 of The Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times, Deadwood, South Dakota, dated October 25, 1881. Source #2: Page 2 of The Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times, out of Deadwood, South Dakota, October 27, 1881.
In 1882 Claude Ralph lived in Chicago for a year or more where he worked for A. A. Devore & Son of Chicago who sold men's suits. Claude brought sample suits to Deadwood in 1882 for the purpose of taking orders from customers in his home state and around the country. By 1883 Claude was back at his ranch at Redwater.
In June of 1884 Claude took a group of prospectors from Deadwood, South Dakota to Medora, North Dakota to search for gold in the Badlands. The gold was said to have been discovered by a man who was afterward killed by Indians while guiding a party of friends to the location. It was a six-day trip that yielded no gold, so the party returned to Medora and broke up, some going back to Deadwood, Dakota Territory, others to Coeur D'Alene, Idaho Territory, and some back to "the States." Source: Page 4 of The Bad Lands Cow Boy newspaper out of Medora, North Dakota [Dakota Territory at the time of this article], dated June 26, 1884. In July of 1884 Claude's younger brother, Emmet Ernest Ralph, was committed to Yankton asylum. Source: Page 4 of the Lead Daily Call newspaper out of Lead, South Dakota, dated October 29, 1940.
Claude worked as a clerk at the Wentworth House [hotel] in 1885, was postmaster at Spearfish, South Dakota in 1885, and was on the board of directors of Esperanza mine in 1886. Source: Page 3 of The Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times out of Deadwood, South Dakota, dated November 13, 1885. Claude first showed signs of imbalance in October of 1886 when it was found that mail wasn't being delivered properly. Five or six registered letters had been tampered with and the contents removed. Money was short in his accounts. He claimed to know nothing about it and everybody who knew him was confident he told the truth. He was not charged. The following year while he was still postmaster of Spearfish, a complaint was filed against him by the Trustees of the town concerning his increasing violent behavior, and he was brought under examination by the board of insanity, but not committed. Claude resigned as postmaster in June of 1887. He continued to live and work on his ranch in Redwater, coming to Deadwood and Spearfish occasionally to visit friends. In February of 1888 he stayed at the Keystone hotel in Deadwood during one of his visits.
In June of 1888 the bondsmen of ex-Postmaster C. E. Ralph received communications from the postal department at Washingtoon calling upon them to make good a shortage of about $500 in Ralph's accounts. Claude was not charged, but an x-employee, W. H. Webber, one of the clerks under Claude Ralph when he was postmaster, was arrested for the embezzlement. Mr. Webber confessed to opening packages that were not addressed to him and said there was another party involved that he refused to name. Mr. Webber embezzled due to a gambling habit that had gone wrong. Webber was found guilty and was charged with owing $1,000. Claude Ralph's bondsmen had to pay over $300. In August of 1888 another man, Wallie J. Hill, who had been indicted for the embezzlement at the post office at Spearfish, was arrested for attempted arson at Spearfish, South Dakota.
In 1888 and 1889 Claude Ralph made an extended trip through Montana, Utah, and Colorado and returned to Deadwood surprising his friends, and feeling greatly improved in health and spirits. He planned to go to Spearfish the next day, then up to his ranch at Redwater. In November of 1889 Claude contracted to purchase 400 poles for the telephone line from Deadwood to Minnesela, South Dakota. Minnesela was founded in 1882 and was located three miles southeast of present-day Belle Fourche, Butte County, South Dakota. It was the first settlement in the county and was county seat. When the railroad bypassed Minnesela to continue to Belle Fourche in 1890, the town began to dwindle, became abandoned by 1901, and is ghost town today.
Claude Ralph visited old friends in Spearfish, South Dakota at least twice during 1891, continuing to live on his property at Redwater. Claude was sent to Yankton insane asylum in 1892. His younger brother, Emmett, had been committed in 1884, and the family were "at a loss to account for the matter." Page 4 of the Queen City Mail newspaper in Spearfish, South Dakota, dated April 6, 1892. On his way to Yankton, Claud escaped from the Elkhorn train. He broke from the sheriff and gained the platform. He jumped from the train, which was going forty miles an hour, and struck his side on landing. Sheriff McDonald followed, landing on his feet, and drawing a revolver, forced Claude to remain quiet. The train was stopped and backed up to pick the men up. Page 3 of The Black Hills Daily Times, Deadwood, South Dakota, April 23, 1892.
Claude escaped from the asylum in September of 1893, but he was not considered a threat to himself or others. He was found at his ranch in Redwater two months later and returned without incident to the institution. Page 2 of The Weekly Pioneer-Times newspaper out of Deadwood, dated November 16, 1893. In 1898 Claude took a pony from the yard of the institution and made his escape into a neighboring county where he was captured and returned without incident. He was removed from the open ward and was placed in ward 8.
Hospital clinical notes dated November 13, 1899, said that "Claude was sent here himself he says partly from grieving about his brother and partly from a 'spree' thought to be [???] over having been a drinking man habitually." Clinical notes continued, "Claude Ralph is the heaviest man on the grounds 250 lbs." The clinical notes went on to say further, "He is a good patient seems rational but has queer expression of eyes, converses pleasantly and interestingly on ordinary topics about self and circumstances."
In 1904 Claude lived and ranched at Redwater River near Spearfish, South Dakota, according to his obituary. Source: Page 4 of The Black Hills Weekly newspaper out of Deadwood, dated April 3, 1924. Hospital records included a letter dated March 13, 1927, from the Superintendent of the hospital to Clerk of the Court in Spearfish, L. P. Jenkins, that Claude was discharged June 29, 1906.
Claude's mother, Sarah, died July 12, 1909, at Spearfish, Lawrence County, South Dakota. Claud's father, Erasmus, moved to Phoenix to live with Claud's sister and brother-in-law, Della and Henry Leppla, Sr. Claude's father died February 19, 1911, in Phoenix, and his remains removed to Richmond Cemetery in Ray County, Missouri to be buried next to his wife.
In 1920 Claude appeared on the census for Reed, Lawrence County, South Dakota and worked as a farmer and employer, on his Ranch at Redwater which was about 35 miles from the census collection site. Reed is a ghost town today and was located near Bear Butte state park (small mountain or mound), about 8 miles Northeast of Sturgis. In 1923 Claude's sister, Della (Ralph) Leppla died and was buried at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona.
Claude Everett Ralph died of dropsy, (now known as edema), on April 2, 1924, at the Lawrence County Hospital in, South Dakota, (probably Monument Hospital in Deadwood today). Services were to be held in Spearfish, Lawrence County, South Dakota, so it is likely that Claude was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Spearfish. Claude's funeral arrangements were probably done by his brother-in-law Henry Lorain Leppla, Sr. Other family members buried there were: Henry's parents Jacob Leppla and Mary (Zeller) Leppla; and Henry's daughter-in-law, Ellouise Caroline "Ella" (Rushton) Leppla.
Page 3 of the Lead Daily Call newspapers of Lead, South Dakota dated December 3, 1926, lists Claude E. Ralph's Redwater land for delinquent taxes:
Claude E. Ralph . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pt S Redwater NE ¼ SW ¼ 4 7 2 37.60
Claude E. Ralph . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pt S Redwater NW ¼ SW ¼ 4 7 2 34.80
Claude E. Ralph . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pt S Redwater SW ¼ NW ¼ 4 7 2 6.90
Claude E. Ralph . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pt S Redwater S ½ SW ¼ 4 7 2 80.00
Claude E. Ralph, Hail Insurance. Pt S Redwater S ½ SW ¼ 4 7 2 45.00
Claude E. Ralph . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pt S Redwater NE ¼ SE ¼ 4 7 2 16.60
This land was located on Redwater River where it meets Spearfish Creek. That spot is difficult to find now since google maps doesn't show parts of Redwater River that used to exist. But you can google "Jolly Dump, South Dakota," and google maps will take you near the spot. On mapcarta.com you can see this area more clearly. Search for "Jolly Dump, South Dakota," and it will be clear where the land was. The land is east of the place where Old Belle Road meets State Highway 85, near the 180 degree turn in Spearfish Creek. Rimrock Lane leads nearly to the area that would have belonged to the three Ralphs: Dr. Erasmus D. Ralph, his son Claude E. Ralph, and Erasmus' brother, Dr. Arthur B. Ralph. It is probable that their land laid south of Spearfish Creek since that is the divider between Butte County and Lawrence County, and the 1880 U.S. Census for the Ralphs was in Lawrence County.
Sources: newspapers.com, ancestry.com, US and State census reports, and wikipedia.org.
Bio by: Mary Ann Leppla
Claude Everett Ralph, sometimes spelled Claud, was born June 2, 1859, in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri to Dr. Erasmus Darwin Ralph and Sarah E. "Sally" (Wilson) Ralph. Erasmus was often referred to as E. D. Ralph in the newspapers. Claude was the oldest of three children born to Dr. and Mrs. Ralph:
Claude Everett Ralph (1859-1924) never married
Emmett Ernest Ralph (1862-1940) never married
Della Amanda Ralph (1867-1923) m. Henry Lorain Leppla [Sr.]
The 1860 US Census shows Claude at 1 year old living with his parents in Kansas City, Missouri. His father, "E. D. Ralph," was a physician, and his mother, "Sarah," a housewife. They had a servant by the name of Bridgit surname unknown, from Ireland.
In 1862 Claude's little brother, Emmett, was born in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri. In 1864 Claude's father, Dr. E. D. Ra.ph, made a wagon trip from his home in Kansas City to Bannock County, Idaho, carrying goods for sale, and returned to his home with stories about the large gold nuggets and the successful gold mining there. He brought two nuggets home to show everyone. Source: Page 2 of the Quad-City Times, Davenport, Iowa, dated March 28, 1864.
In 1865 Claude's family moved to the Haskell Farm west of Nebraska City, Nebraska where Claude's father, E. D. Ralph, reported a missing Bay Mare, 7 years old, 15 ½ hands high and round bodied. Source: Page 3 of the Nebraska Advertiser, Brownville, Nebraska, dated 27 April 1865. In 1867 Claude's little sister, Della, was born in Nebraska City, Otoe County, Nebraska.
Claude's father, Erasmus Ralph, engaged in freighting from points on the Missouri River to Idaho, as previously mentioned, and to Santa Fe, New Mexico and Salt Lake City, Utah. He worked in freighting by wagon until the United Pacific Railroad was completed in the late 1860s. Source: Page 1 of the Queen City Mail newspaper out of Spearfish, South Dakota, dated March 1, 1911 – this was from Erasmus' obituary. The Ralph family did not show up on the 1870 US Census report, but there is evidence that the family's home was variously located along the Missouri River from Nebraska City, Nebraska to Kansas City, Missouri from 1859 until about 1869, then in Utah until 1877.
In 1869 and again in 1871, Claude's father had an unclaimed letter at the post office at Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1873, Claude had an unclaimed letter there too. In 1872, Claude's father was a member of the Democratic Convention in Utah, and he owned a store with a partner, V. E. Street. The store was located at Little Cottonwood mining district, Alta City, Utah, and sold miners' tools, clothing, groceries, wine, and liquors. While in Alta, Utah, Claude was appointed Deputy Postmaster under V. M. Street (also Claude's father's partner), in about 1875-6. His father dabbled in mining; continued his freighting business; had a grocery store with a partner, V. M. Street, called "Street and Ralph;" and had a physician and surgeon office.
In 1877, after their stay in Utah, Dr. Erasmus Ralph moved his family to Deadwood, South Dakota and set up his physician practice at the IXL hotel. This is probably the time that Claude, now 18 years old, went off to college as reported in a newspaper article: Page 3 of The Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times out of Deadwood, South Dakota, dated November 13, 1885. Perhaps this is also the time that Claude's brother, Emmett, went to live and attend school in Columbia, Missouri with his cousins Dora and Asa D. Brasher. The three boarded at the home of W. E. and wife F. M. Stone in Columbia in 1880 at the ages of 18 [Ralph], 17 [Dora] and 16 [Asa].
The 1880 US Census Report showed Claude Ralph on his ranch in Lawrence County, South Dakota, at "Redwater [river] at the mouth of Spearfish Creek," which is about 22 miles north of Deadwood, and about 8 miles north of Spearfish. He had a boarder, J. H. Gray, that lived with him on his ranch, and Claude's parents, Erasmus and Sarah Ralph, lived on the ranch next door. Claude's uncle, Dr. Arthur B. Ralph, lived on a ranch nearby too. Claude's brother, Emmett, and sister, Della, weren't on the census report that year and are thought to have been away at school. In 1880 and 1881, Claude and his father, E. D. Ralph, were often seen as witnesses for "Proof of Claim" land notices in Deadwood, SD.
In October of 1881 Claude was a returning passenger with his mother Sarah, brother Emmett, and sister Della, from Richmond, Missouri by way of Ft. Robinson, Nebraska. Fort Robinson was originally Camp Robinson and was one of several army posts established to protect Indian agencies. Camp Robinson's responsibility was Red Cloud Agency and the soldiers at the camp also guarded the Sidney-Deadwood Trail to the Black Hills and surrounding region, aka Sidney-Black Hills Trail. The designation changed from "Camp" to "Fort" in 1878. Source: History Nebraska, history.nebraska,gov: https://history.nebraska.gov/visit/brief-history-fort-robinson . It is possible that Claude and his mother travelled together to retrieve his siblings from school in Richmond. They stayed at the Wentworth House in Deadwood, South Dakota before heading up to their ranches at Redwater. Source #1: Page 3 of The Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times, Deadwood, South Dakota, dated October 25, 1881. Source #2: Page 2 of The Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times, out of Deadwood, South Dakota, October 27, 1881.
In 1882 Claude Ralph lived in Chicago for a year or more where he worked for A. A. Devore & Son of Chicago who sold men's suits. Claude brought sample suits to Deadwood in 1882 for the purpose of taking orders from customers in his home state and around the country. By 1883 Claude was back at his ranch at Redwater.
In June of 1884 Claude took a group of prospectors from Deadwood, South Dakota to Medora, North Dakota to search for gold in the Badlands. The gold was said to have been discovered by a man who was afterward killed by Indians while guiding a party of friends to the location. It was a six-day trip that yielded no gold, so the party returned to Medora and broke up, some going back to Deadwood, Dakota Territory, others to Coeur D'Alene, Idaho Territory, and some back to "the States." Source: Page 4 of The Bad Lands Cow Boy newspaper out of Medora, North Dakota [Dakota Territory at the time of this article], dated June 26, 1884. In July of 1884 Claude's younger brother, Emmet Ernest Ralph, was committed to Yankton asylum. Source: Page 4 of the Lead Daily Call newspaper out of Lead, South Dakota, dated October 29, 1940.
Claude worked as a clerk at the Wentworth House [hotel] in 1885, was postmaster at Spearfish, South Dakota in 1885, and was on the board of directors of Esperanza mine in 1886. Source: Page 3 of The Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times out of Deadwood, South Dakota, dated November 13, 1885. Claude first showed signs of imbalance in October of 1886 when it was found that mail wasn't being delivered properly. Five or six registered letters had been tampered with and the contents removed. Money was short in his accounts. He claimed to know nothing about it and everybody who knew him was confident he told the truth. He was not charged. The following year while he was still postmaster of Spearfish, a complaint was filed against him by the Trustees of the town concerning his increasing violent behavior, and he was brought under examination by the board of insanity, but not committed. Claude resigned as postmaster in June of 1887. He continued to live and work on his ranch in Redwater, coming to Deadwood and Spearfish occasionally to visit friends. In February of 1888 he stayed at the Keystone hotel in Deadwood during one of his visits.
In June of 1888 the bondsmen of ex-Postmaster C. E. Ralph received communications from the postal department at Washingtoon calling upon them to make good a shortage of about $500 in Ralph's accounts. Claude was not charged, but an x-employee, W. H. Webber, one of the clerks under Claude Ralph when he was postmaster, was arrested for the embezzlement. Mr. Webber confessed to opening packages that were not addressed to him and said there was another party involved that he refused to name. Mr. Webber embezzled due to a gambling habit that had gone wrong. Webber was found guilty and was charged with owing $1,000. Claude Ralph's bondsmen had to pay over $300. In August of 1888 another man, Wallie J. Hill, who had been indicted for the embezzlement at the post office at Spearfish, was arrested for attempted arson at Spearfish, South Dakota.
In 1888 and 1889 Claude Ralph made an extended trip through Montana, Utah, and Colorado and returned to Deadwood surprising his friends, and feeling greatly improved in health and spirits. He planned to go to Spearfish the next day, then up to his ranch at Redwater. In November of 1889 Claude contracted to purchase 400 poles for the telephone line from Deadwood to Minnesela, South Dakota. Minnesela was founded in 1882 and was located three miles southeast of present-day Belle Fourche, Butte County, South Dakota. It was the first settlement in the county and was county seat. When the railroad bypassed Minnesela to continue to Belle Fourche in 1890, the town began to dwindle, became abandoned by 1901, and is ghost town today.
Claude Ralph visited old friends in Spearfish, South Dakota at least twice during 1891, continuing to live on his property at Redwater. Claude was sent to Yankton insane asylum in 1892. His younger brother, Emmett, had been committed in 1884, and the family were "at a loss to account for the matter." Page 4 of the Queen City Mail newspaper in Spearfish, South Dakota, dated April 6, 1892. On his way to Yankton, Claud escaped from the Elkhorn train. He broke from the sheriff and gained the platform. He jumped from the train, which was going forty miles an hour, and struck his side on landing. Sheriff McDonald followed, landing on his feet, and drawing a revolver, forced Claude to remain quiet. The train was stopped and backed up to pick the men up. Page 3 of The Black Hills Daily Times, Deadwood, South Dakota, April 23, 1892.
Claude escaped from the asylum in September of 1893, but he was not considered a threat to himself or others. He was found at his ranch in Redwater two months later and returned without incident to the institution. Page 2 of The Weekly Pioneer-Times newspaper out of Deadwood, dated November 16, 1893. In 1898 Claude took a pony from the yard of the institution and made his escape into a neighboring county where he was captured and returned without incident. He was removed from the open ward and was placed in ward 8.
Hospital clinical notes dated November 13, 1899, said that "Claude was sent here himself he says partly from grieving about his brother and partly from a 'spree' thought to be [???] over having been a drinking man habitually." Clinical notes continued, "Claude Ralph is the heaviest man on the grounds 250 lbs." The clinical notes went on to say further, "He is a good patient seems rational but has queer expression of eyes, converses pleasantly and interestingly on ordinary topics about self and circumstances."
In 1904 Claude lived and ranched at Redwater River near Spearfish, South Dakota, according to his obituary. Source: Page 4 of The Black Hills Weekly newspaper out of Deadwood, dated April 3, 1924. Hospital records included a letter dated March 13, 1927, from the Superintendent of the hospital to Clerk of the Court in Spearfish, L. P. Jenkins, that Claude was discharged June 29, 1906.
Claude's mother, Sarah, died July 12, 1909, at Spearfish, Lawrence County, South Dakota. Claud's father, Erasmus, moved to Phoenix to live with Claud's sister and brother-in-law, Della and Henry Leppla, Sr. Claude's father died February 19, 1911, in Phoenix, and his remains removed to Richmond Cemetery in Ray County, Missouri to be buried next to his wife.
In 1920 Claude appeared on the census for Reed, Lawrence County, South Dakota and worked as a farmer and employer, on his Ranch at Redwater which was about 35 miles from the census collection site. Reed is a ghost town today and was located near Bear Butte state park (small mountain or mound), about 8 miles Northeast of Sturgis. In 1923 Claude's sister, Della (Ralph) Leppla died and was buried at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona.
Claude Everett Ralph died of dropsy, (now known as edema), on April 2, 1924, at the Lawrence County Hospital in, South Dakota, (probably Monument Hospital in Deadwood today). Services were to be held in Spearfish, Lawrence County, South Dakota, so it is likely that Claude was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Spearfish. Claude's funeral arrangements were probably done by his brother-in-law Henry Lorain Leppla, Sr. Other family members buried there were: Henry's parents Jacob Leppla and Mary (Zeller) Leppla; and Henry's daughter-in-law, Ellouise Caroline "Ella" (Rushton) Leppla.
Page 3 of the Lead Daily Call newspapers of Lead, South Dakota dated December 3, 1926, lists Claude E. Ralph's Redwater land for delinquent taxes:
Claude E. Ralph . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pt S Redwater NE ¼ SW ¼ 4 7 2 37.60
Claude E. Ralph . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pt S Redwater NW ¼ SW ¼ 4 7 2 34.80
Claude E. Ralph . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pt S Redwater SW ¼ NW ¼ 4 7 2 6.90
Claude E. Ralph . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pt S Redwater S ½ SW ¼ 4 7 2 80.00
Claude E. Ralph, Hail Insurance. Pt S Redwater S ½ SW ¼ 4 7 2 45.00
Claude E. Ralph . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pt S Redwater NE ¼ SE ¼ 4 7 2 16.60
This land was located on Redwater River where it meets Spearfish Creek. That spot is difficult to find now since google maps doesn't show parts of Redwater River that used to exist. But you can google "Jolly Dump, South Dakota," and google maps will take you near the spot. On mapcarta.com you can see this area more clearly. Search for "Jolly Dump, South Dakota," and it will be clear where the land was. The land is east of the place where Old Belle Road meets State Highway 85, near the 180 degree turn in Spearfish Creek. Rimrock Lane leads nearly to the area that would have belonged to the three Ralphs: Dr. Erasmus D. Ralph, his son Claude E. Ralph, and Erasmus' brother, Dr. Arthur B. Ralph. It is probable that their land laid south of Spearfish Creek since that is the divider between Butte County and Lawrence County, and the 1880 U.S. Census for the Ralphs was in Lawrence County.
Sources: newspapers.com, ancestry.com, US and State census reports, and wikipedia.org.
Bio by: Mary Ann Leppla
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
