CALDWELL, Ernest W., the subject of this sketch, was born June 13, 1846, at Chesterfield, Pa.  He came West with his father when quite young and until he was eleven years of age attended the public schools where he resided.  On the 12th day of August, 1857, he began his newspaper career in a newspaper office at Boonsboro, Iowa.  At the age of fourteen years he published the Boonsboro Times, on shares, at New Boonsboro, Iowa.  This partnership came to an untimely end by reason of one of the partners engaging in a drunken frolic with a circus outfit which was temporarily stopping there.  When sixteen years of age he started the Jefferson City Star at New Boonsboro, for the purpose of printing the tax list for five counties.  This paper was the only one published in western Iowa at that time between Sioux City and Des Moines.  At the expiration of three months, after having completed the tax lists, he discontinued the publication of the paper and went to Des Moines and entered the printing office of a daily paper.  He remained there until in 1864 when he enlisted in the 44th Iowa Infantry, and went to the front and helped clean up the rebellion.  After his discharge he spent a year in Pennsylvania, then went to Omaha, Neb., and at the age of twenty-one years was foreman of the Herald job office.  In 1868, he joined a co-operative company in Omaha and assisted in starting the Evening Times, but the enterprise failed in 1869, and he says he “followed the debris to Sioux City and assisted at the birth of the first daily newspaper ever published in that metropolis.”  He sole his interest in this paper in 1870 and became connected with the Sioux City Journal, where he remained as printer, business manager, local reporter and chief editor for eight years.  In 1878 he came to Sioux Falls and in connection with J.F. Stahl purchased the Pantagraph, which in 1882 was consolidated with the Times and became the Press.  In 1879 he was village clerk of Sioux Falls; postmaster from 1883 to 1885, and was appointed territorial auditor and insurance commissioner of Dakota in 1885, and held these positions two years.
     In 1887 Mr. Caldwell and Charles H. Price were appointed to compile the territorial laws.  He was a member of the constitutional convention of South Dakota in 1889 and was a member of the joint commission to adjust the assets and liabilities of the territory between the states of North and South Dakota.  But it is as editor of the Daily Press that he is best known.  It is in this field he has won his way to the hearts of the people, and no name in the state is more familiar than that of E.W. Caldwell.  His editorials embrace almost every topic of the day; sometimes the great questions of science are discussed; the literary subjects receive his attention; theology is shaken up; political economy elucidated.  In short, the subjects that come to his editorial pen are too numerous to enumerate.  No line along with the average mind is accustomed to travel is without Caldwell’s guide posts.  But the best feature of his editorial work is the spirit of fairness, good nature and kindliness which accompanies his bright and vigorous style.  As a man he is generous, genial and companionable; as a citizen, honest and enterprising; as a politician—well, he generally helps to make up the band wagon train, and is in the driver’s seat before the motive power is attached.  He is “Cal” to everybody, rich and poor, old and young, and what is more—he is color blind.
     Since the foregoing was written Mr. Caldwell has terminated his connection with the Press and removed to Sioux City, Iowa.  In the Sunday morning’s issue of the Sioux Falls Daily Press November 15, 1896, Mr. Caldwell announced that his connection with the Press as proprietor and editor had ceased and that he was about to remove from the state.  It occasioned great surprise and regret among his thousands of friends not only in Sioux Falls and its immediate vicinity but throughout the state.  The loss to the city of Sioux Falls was deeply felt, and the high esteem in which he was held by her citizens was shown by numerous testimonials by his former employees and organizations with which he had been connected, and especially by an elaborate banquet that was tendered him by the Commercial Club of the city.  He is now in editorial charge of the Sioux City Journal at Sioux City, Iowa.

CAMPBELL, B. F., was born at Machias, Maine, October 30, 1838, and died at the city of Sioux Falls June 27, 1898.  In 1852, he removed to Aurora, New York, and from there to Aurora, Illinois, in 1856, where he engaged in the hardware business until the breaking out of the rebellion.  He enlisted in the three months’ service in the Seventh Illinois infantry.  September 23, 1861, he re-enlisted in Company B., Thirty-sixth Illinois to serve three years, and was mustered in as captain of that company December 10, 1862.  He was made lieutenant colonel of the regiment April 25, 1865, promoted to colonel May 10, and mustered out of the service October 8, 1865.  He was wounded in the right thigh and taken prisoner at the battle of Stone River, Tennessee, December 30, 1862; in April, 1863, he was paroled, and on the 9th day of May following, was exchanged.  On September 20, 1863, he was again wounded in the thigh and body and taken prisoner in the battle of Chickamauga, Ga., and was confined in Libbey prison until paroled, December 10, 1864.  March 20, 1865, he was exchanged.  In March, 1868, he removed from Illinois to Vermillion, in this state, and in May, 1869, was appointed register of the land office located at that place.  In June, 1873, the land office was removed to Sioux Falls, and Colonel Campbell came with it, and resided there until his death.  For the last twenty years he was an active worker in all the Masonic bodies; he was a charter  member of the El Riad Temple and the Elks lodge of Sioux Falls, and was Past Eminent Commander of Cyrene Commandery No. 2.  He was an esteemed citizen, and held many positions of honor and trust, among them that of postmaster of Sioux Falls for nearly five years; and only a few days before his death he was elected president of the Minnehaha National Bank of Sioux Falls.  Socially he was the peer of any man in the state, and in his death Sioux Falls mourns the loss of one of her best citizens.

CAREY, William J., was born in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, in 1854; was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools.  In 1873, he came to this county and settled in Red Rock, taking up as a homestead one hundred and sixty acres in section twenty, where he resided until he moved into the village of Valley Springs.  He was for a short time engaged in the butcher business; then in the machinery business, and for several years in buying and shipping stock.  He now resides at Sioux Falls, engaged in the same business.  For five years he was deputy sheriff under Sheriff Sundback, and received the nomination for sheriff from the Republican party in 1892, but it was a close year for Republicans in Minnehaha county, and there was a popular independent republican candidate running for the same office, and Mr. Carey was defeated at the polls, although his vote was surprisingly large under the circumstances.  He has held various town offices, and was president of the village of Valley Springs in 1895 and 1896.  He is a man of integrity, energetic and enterprising, and justly popular with the people.

CARLAND, John E., was born in Oswego county, New York, December 11, 1854.  He attended the law school at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and was admitted to the bar by the supreme court of that state in October, 1875.  The next two years he spent in the office of the Hon. John G. Hawley, a distinguished lawyer at Detroit.  In August, 1877, went to Bismarck, North Dakota, and commenced the practice of law; was city attorney of that place for about four years, and also county attorney one year.  In April, 1885, was elected mayor of Bismarck, but, receiving the appointment of United States district attorney for the Territory of Dakota, May 23, following, he resigned the office of mayor and entered upon the duties of his appointment; remained district attorney until March, 1888, when he received the appointment of associate justice of the supreme court of the Territory of Dakota.  Upon resuming the duties of this office he became judge of the fourth judicial district.  In April, 1889, he resigned this office, and in May following was elected a member of the constitutional convention which framed the constitution of North Dakota; was nominated by his party for president of this convention, but, as the party was in the minority, he was not elected.  In this convention he took a prominent part, receiving the appointment of chairman of the judicial department.  After the work of the constitutional convention had been completed, he removed to Sioux Falls, and entered into a copartnership with T.B. McMartin for the practice of law, under the firm name of McMartin & Carland, which continued until the 23d day of September, 1893.  After the dissolution of this firm he practice by himself, having in charge some of the most important litigation in the state.  He was also employed in some very important cases in the Unites States courts, and gained some notoriety in obtaining a large verdict in the case of Fullerton against the Homestake Mining Company, and more recently was honored by the appointment of special assistant United States attorney to conduct the case of the Unites States against the Homestake Mining Company in which the government brought suit to recover seven hundred thousand dollars for the illegal cutting of timber belonging to the government.  But before the trial of this important case was reached he was appointed United States district judge for the district of South Dakota.  This appointment so gratifying to the judge and his friends was made on the 3d day of September, 1896.  The members of the bar throughout the state congratulated the judge upon his good fortune, and also themselves upon having secured a federal judge in the State of South Dakota in whom all classes of people have the greatest confidence.  He is not only a good lawyer, but has a judicial temperament, and his integrity is beyond question.  His official career thus far has met the approbation of all, and no one regrets that Judge Carland has a life appointment to an office he is so well qualified to fill.  It only remains to add to his many other good qualities, that he is a genial, kind-hearted man, and highly esteemed by all who know him.

CARLETON, Harry B., was born in Marshfield, Vermont, October 10, 1867.  When eighteen years of age he came to Sioux Falls and entered the law office of Boyce & Boyce, where he remained until 1888.  He then spent a year with White & Brown, court reporters.  Upon the election of Albion Thorne as clerk of the courts, Harry was appointed deputy clerk, and held this place during Mr. Thorne’s administration for four years.  In 1894, he received the republican nomination for clerk of the courts, and ran about three hundred votes ahead of his ticket.  His conduct of the office was so satisfactory that at the republican county convention in 1896 he received a renomination by acclamation, but was defeated at the election with the rest of his comrades on the ticket.  At the expiration of his term of office he entered into a copartnership with Judge Parliman for the practice of law, but after a few months abandoned the profession, and accepted a good position with a large business house in Chicago where he now resides.

CARLETON, Jerry, was born at Montpelier, Vermont, October 10, 1865.  He attended school and worked on a farm until he removed to Dakota.  He arrived in Sioux Falls, May 13, 1882, and was employed as express messenger between Tracy, Minn., and Pierre, Dakota, until March following, at which time he retuned to Sioux Falls and entered the American Express office, where he remained several months.  In November, 1882, he bought an interest in the Peterson meat market, and continued in this business until January 1, 1890, when he sold out  and engaged in farming three years.  During 1894 and 1895 he was employed in the county treasurer’s office of this county.  On the 1st day of October, 1897, he was appointed chief deputy United States marshal under Marshal Kennedy.  He has been a very active member of the Sioux Falls fire department for several years, and has been its chief.  Jerry is well known in political circles and could be removed from his present office of marshal by an adverse administration for pernicious activity in politics under the civil service rule.  A trial would not be necessary as he would plead guilty.  However, he makes a careful, painstaking official, and has a host of friends.

CARR, Willard P. is a native of Ashfield, Franklin county, Massachusetts, and was born August 4, 1834.  Until seventeen years of age he attended school and worked on a farm, and then commenced clerking in a store at Conneaut, Ashtablua county, Ohio, where he remained one year, and then went to Cleveland, Ohio, following the same occupation until the spring of 1855.  He then went to New Lisbon, Wisconsin, and entered into a copartnership in the mercantile business with a brother-in-law under the firm name of Surdam & Carr.  This firm was dissolved at the end of four years, and Mr. Carr continued in trade twelve years longer at the same place.  He was city treasurer of Lisbon for four years.  In 1871 he removed to Vermillion, Dakota, and engaged in business as a merchant for nine years and came to Sioux Falls, August 13, 1882.  He had been successful in business, and after having taken up his residence in Sioux Falls he engaged in loaning money.  He was appointed postmaster of Sioux Falls by President Cleveland in 1885, and held this office the full term of four years.  In 1892 he removed to River Falls, Wisconsin, and in connection with Nelson B. Bailey started the Farmers and Merchants bank at that place, of which he was president.  Mr. Carr about the same time started another bank in Wisconsin, which is managed by his son-in-law.
     Mr. Carr has always been known as a good business man and reliable citizen.  Notwithstanding his residence in Wisconsin he has retained a large and valuable property in Sioux Falls, and upon the assessment roll in the amount of taxes set against his name he is nearer the head of the list than he is alphabetically.

CARTER, Jervis W., was born in Benson, Rutland county, Vermont, May 18, 1830.  His father was a merchant, and the subject of this sketch attended the public schools, and fitted for entering the sophomore class in college at Castleton seminary, Castleton, Vt.  When twenty years old he went to Milwaukee, Wis., where he was employed in the office of the clerk of the circuit court for two years.  He then removed to Watertown, Wis., where he taught school three years.  He next engaged for one year in the newspaper business in Portage county, Wis., and published a republican newspaper during the Fremont campaign.  After the election he entered the law office of Sloan & Lander, at Beaver Dam, and after being admitted to the bar, practiced law in New London and Waupaca, and was elected county attorney four terms and was a member of the legislature one term.  From Wisconsin he removed to Gage county, Neb., where he was judge of probate two terms.  In 1885 he came to Dakota, remained at Yankton a few months, and then located at Canton, in Lincoln county, where he practiced law until 1890.  While a resident of Canton he was county attorney six years, and district attorney of the fourth judicial district four years.  In 1890 he removed to Pierre and was in the land office at that place four years.  During the last six months of Governor Sheldon’s administration, he was his private secretary.  In March, 1896, he removed to Sioux Falls, where he now resides.  Judge Carter is a good lawyer, was a successful prosecutor, is a genial gentleman, a highly respected citizen, and has a host of friends.

CASHMAN, Leonard, was born in Clinton county, N. Y. February 27, 1858.  When fifteen years of age he commenced railroading, but two years later engaged in carpenter work, and at twenty years of age went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and learned the millwright’s trade.  October 22, 1880, he came to Sioux Falls, and worked for about two years at the Queen Bee mill.  The next seven years he had a carpenter shop in Sioux Falls, and carried on a farm, and since then has been engaged as a traveling salesman and collector.  Mr. Cashman is an active, enterprising citizen.

CHERRY, U.S.G., was born near Bellefontaine, Ohio.  He attended the district school when a lad, and completed his education at the Ohio Normal University at Ada, where he was graduated in 1895.  He then entered the law office of Judge West “The Blind Orator of Ohio” where he remained one year.  From there he went to the Columbian Law School at Washington, D.C., where he was graduated in 1887, receiving the first prize for legal essay.  On the first day of December, 1887, came to Dakota, and on the 21st day of February, following, commenced the practice of law at Sioux Falls.  In 1892, he was elected Grand Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias of South Dakota.  Mr. Cherry is a hard worker and a good lawyer and  has a remunerative practice.  He is quite active in politics, and being a good speaker and well informed, his services are in demand during political campaigns.  Until 1896 he was a republican, but after the adoption of the platform at St. Louis by the Republican party that year, he became a Silver Republican, assisted in organizing the Silver Republican party in South Dakota, and became the chairman of the state executive committee, which position he still holds.

CHRISTOPHERSON, Anton, is a native of Norway, and was born March 16, 1854.  In 1868, he emigrated to Albert Lea, Minnesota, and remained there on a farm until 1882, when he went to Grand Forks, North Dakota, and in company with Peter J. Morstad went into the clothing trade.  On the 25th day of April, 1883, the firm removed to Sioux Falls, where it has been doing a successful business since that time.  Mr. Christopherson is a good business man and an esteemed citizen.  In 1884, he was elected alderman from the First ward and served two years, making an upright, honest official.

CHRISTOPHERSON, Charles A., was born in Fillmore county, Minnesota, July 23, 1871.  He was raised on a farm and attended the public schools during his youth.  He came to Sioux Falls November 24, 1890, and entered the Sioux Falls Business College, from which he graduated in 1891.  He then commenced the study of law, and was admitted to practice March 8, 1893.  He entered Joe Kirby’s law office, where he remained one year, and then opened a law office by himself, and has continued in the practice of his profession since then.  He has thus far been engaged principally in the line of collections, and is an efficient collector.  He is a young man of great industry and perseverance, and is a growing lawyer.

CHRISTOPHERSON, G.C.—The subject of this sketch was born at Amherst, Fillmore county, Minnesota, in 1865.  He obtained his early education in the district school, and in 1881 entered the Decorah Institute; from there he went to the LaCrosse Business College, and graduated from that institution in 1885.  Tow years later he took a special teacher’s course at the same college form Professor Wallace, and in 1887, when Professor Wallace purchased the business school at Sioux Falls, Mr. Christopherson was made principal of the same, which position he held until in the spring of 1892, when he became the proprietor.
     Under Professor Christopherson’s direction the Sioux Falls Business College greatly extended its usefulness, and earned for itself a large patronage and a wide reputation for thorough and practical work.  In the spring of 1894, the Sioux Falls Business College and the Queen City Commercial College were consolidated under the name of Dakota Normal College and Business University and Professor Christopherson was by the board of directors chosen business manager of the institution, in which capacity he ahs since remained, and it is due largely to his effort that this college now takes a leading place among this class of institutions in the Northwest in the methods offered young people desirous of obtaining a thorough and practical business education.

CLARK, James B., was born in Orleans county, New York, April 21, 1860.  He was reared on a farm, attended the public schools, and completed his education at the University of Michigan where he was graduated in 1880.  He then went to Mount Carroll, Illinois, and engaged in the drug business one year.  In the spring of 1881 he came to Sioux Falls with a car load of horses, and when they had been disposed of he went into the real estate, loan and insurance business, in which he has continued to the present time.  He was one of the organizers of the State Banking & Trust Company and is one of its directors.  He is one of Sioux Falls best citizens, and takes an active part in all public matters.

CLOUDAS, John B., was born in Pekin, Ill., April 27, 1853.  He attended the common and high schools, but while quite young went to work in a clothing store; in 1869 went to Sioux City where he was employed in a clothing store for one year; in 1870 went to Yankton and entered the employ of S. Eisman & Co., dealers in gent’s clothing and furnishing good and remained with them several years; then went into the grocery business, but sold out at the end of two years, and went to Niobrara, Nebraska, and established the first clothing house there.  On the 16th day of March, 1880, came to Sioux Falls, and opened a clothing store in company with S. Eisman, under the firm name of J.B. Cloudas & Co., and continued this business for two years, when he sold out, and was employed in the Queen Bee mill until it stopped operation; since that time he has been engaged in the insurance, real estate and stone business.  Mr. Cloudas is a genial good fellow, a good citizen, and has a host of friends.

COATS, Clark G., was born at Mecca, Trumbull county, Ohio, March 14, 1844, attended the public schools and worked in his father’s machine shop and novelty works until twenty-two years of age; then went to Cleveland, Ohio, and worked in cooper shops seven years; came to “Sioux Falls City,” as it was then called, July 3, 1869, and went to work for C.K. Howard and the next winter went to Flandreau and took charge of C.K. Howard’s general store at that place; the last of March, 1870, returned to Sioux Falls afoot, wading through water waist-deep in some places; in May went to Kalamazoo, Mich., and got married, but returned to Sioux Falls in a few weeks’ his wife came in August, and during the next winter they kept house in the barracks, the next spring he commenced building the first frame house in Sioux Falls, but W.S. Bloom, who commenced soon after to build a house afterwards occupied by T.H. Brown, finished his first.  Mr. Coats took up one hundred and sixty acres of land in Sioux Falls township, and bought forty acres more; two years later he took up one hundred and sixty acres of land in Mapleton township and removed there; bought eight hundred and forty acres more and resided there until 1883, when he retuned to Sioux Falls and bought five hundred and forty acres of land situated mostly within the city limits, and also acquired considerable city property.
     Mr. Coats is a man of great energy and enterprise, and has spent large amounts of money in endeavoring to advance the prosperity of the city of Sioux Falls.  In 1890 he erected a large number of buildings to accommodate the State Fair, and also constructed two race tracks, one a half-mile track, the other a kite-shaped mile track, supposing at that time that horse racing would be generally supported.  He has contributed liberally to other public enterprises, and is recognized as one of the best farmers in the county.  He has been alderman from the Third ward six years, and was a member of the constitutional convention from Minnehaha county in 1889.  He is a good neighbor and a good citizen.

COATS, Mrs. Ella P., wife of Clark G. Coats, came to Sioux Falls in August, 1870, and since then has resided there, except a few years, when Mr. Coats was farming on a large scale in Mapleton township.  Before moving to their farm Mrs. Coats was very active in social affairs and was the first Sunday school superintendent in the county, if not in the state.  Mrs. Coats is quite an artist, and has a large collection of fine paintings which are her own production.  Her maiden name was Ella Pierson, and at the time of her marriage was a resident of Michigan.

COCHRAN, Samuel J., was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, November 20, 1834, and lived on a farm until twenty-two years of age.  At that time he went to Dakota county, Nebraska, where he built a saw mill and manufactured lumber for about six years; went to Colorado and engaged in freighting and mining about the same length of time, and then engaged in mining in Montana two years; returned to Ohio and again took up farming for twelve years; came to Sioux Falls on the 4th of July, 1882, and engaged in the grocery business with G.B. Sammons, in which he has since continued.  He also own a nice farm in this county.  Mr. Cochran is a careful, conservative business man, and a highly esteemed citizen.

COGAN, John T., was born at Montello, Wis., May 21, 1855.  He attended school until fourteen years old, and then entered the printing office of the Montello Express.  When twenty years of age he purchased a half interest in the paper.  Two years later he sold out his interest and went to Mondovi, Wisconsin, and assisted in the publication of the Mondovi Herald until 1879 when he removed to Ree Heights, Hand county, S.D., where he published the Ree Valley Free Press five years.  In 1884 he went to Howard, Miner county, and published the Howard Press one year, and from there went to St. Paul, Minn., and engaged in job printing until 1889, when he returned to South Dakota, and located at Sioux Falls, and published the Sioux Falls Journal one year.  In 1890 went into the employ of Tomlinson & Day and worked on the Argus-Leader nearly seven years.  Since coming to Sioux Falls he has been alderman from the Second ward four years, and during two years was president of the city council, and for nine months, during the absence of Mayor Williams, was acting mayor.  He was elected register of deeds of Minnehaha county in 1896, and re-elected I 1898.  While a resident of Hand county he was a member of the legislature one term.  In 1893 he was a delegate to the International Typographical Union, which met in Philadelphia and was the first delegate ever sent form the Dakotas.  He has been a member of the state central committee and chairman of the county committee of the Populist party, and evinces great activity in political and other public matters.  He is a good official and an esteemed citizen.

CONWAY, Daniel J., is a native of LaSalle, Illinois, and was born march 8, 1859.  He was educated in the common schools, the Northern Illinois Normal, and St. Viateurs College.  He read law at Dixon, Ill., two years, and then removed to Sioux county, Iowa, and while residing there was deputy county auditor two years.  In March, 1889, he came to Sioux Falls, where he has since resided engaged in the practice of law.  At first he was in copartnership with D. E. Powers, but in 1893 entered into a partnership with Henry A. Muller, which still exists.  Mr. Conway has been active in politics.  In 1890, was elected one of the state committee of the Democratic party, and acted as one of the executive committee that year.  In 1896, was chairman of the state central committee, and in 1898 was elected secretary of the same committee.  In 1897, was appointed United States commissioner, and in May, 1898, was appointed city attorney of Sioux Falls, both of which offices he now holds.  Mr. Conway is a good lawyer as well as a good politician, and takes an active part in all matters of public concern.

CORSON, Harry, On the 6th day of September, 1836, Harry Corson was born at Athens, Maine, and was named by his parents William Henry Harrison.  He has dropped the Henry and the public have abridged the rest of his name to “Harry Corson.”  At the time of his birth his father “kept tavern” and when eight years of age, Harry removed with his parents to Monroe, Wisconsin, where his father engaged in the mercantile business.  The subject of this sketch attended the common schools during his youth and clerked in his father’s store until 23 years of age, when he went to Pleasant Grove, Eldorado county, California, and engaged in the hotel business three years, and three years in mining and grain speculations, and then returned to Monroe.  Soon after, he was employed by a dry goods house, and was a commercial traveler for five years.  In 1870, he came to Sioux Falls, and being acquainted with the surrounding country, and recognizing the natural advantages of Sioux Falls, he came to the conclusion that it would not be long before it would be an enterprising city, and determined to become a resident.  In 1871, he settled permanently in Sioux Falls and commenced at once the building of a hotel.  It was completed and opened to the public on the 5th day of August, 1871, and Mr. Foster, commissioner of immigration, who then resided at Rockport, Hanson county, was the first to register at the Cataract House.  In 1878, Henry T. Corson, a brother of Harry, came to Sioux Falls and from that time the business was conducted under the name of W.H. Corson & brother, which partnership still exists.  The same year they made quite an extensive addition to the Cataract House on the north, and again, in 1882, remodeled the whole building, besides adding largely to its capacity.  The Cataract House is the most complete in all its arrangements, as well as the best kept and most popular hotel in the state, and while the Corsons live, it will in all probability remain the hotel of South Dakota.
     “Harry” was not only born in a hotel, but knows how to “keep a hotel,” and his brother Henry is not only a brother in blood, but was a full brother in the hotel business.
     With good business qualifications, attentive to the wants of their guests, always genial and pleasant, it is no wonder that they were successful hotel keepers, and until the hotel was leased in January, 1894, stood at the head of the list of popular hotel keepers in South Dakota.  Mr. Corson at the present time is residing in his residence in the city of Sioux Falls, and occupies his time in the management of a farm in Sioux Falls township, which is owned by himself and his brother Henry.  He has always been active in promoting the interests of the city of Sioux Falls, and his friends are as numerous as his circle of acquaintance is extensive.

CORSON, Henry Tabor, is a native of Maine, and was born November 8, 1837.  He attended school during his youth, and when nineteen years of age went to California, and remained five years.  During his residence on the Pacific coast he spent some time in the mines, but during the larger portion was employed by a Chicago store house at San Francisco.  Upon leaving California he went to Chicago where he made his home, remaining in the employ of the same house as a traveling salesman until 1878.  When his brother Harry commenced the hotel business in Sioux Falls, he contributed to the enterprise, and in 1878 removed to Sioux Falls with his family and took up his residence at the Cataract, where he in connection with his brother had the management of this famous hotel until it was leased in January, 1894.  Since then he has remained a private citizen of Sioux Falls, taking things leisurely.  Mr. Corson, although never an office seeker, has occasionally been energetic in political affairs.  He was a member of the board of directors of the Dakota penitentiary in 1885-6, and took a very active part in procuring the building of the Willmar & Sioux Falls railroad into Sioux Falls, and was one of the directors of the first railroad corporation organized for that purpose, and the first railroad station out of Sioux Falls received his name to commemorate his services in the enterprise.  He is a prominent Mason, a good citizen, and has a host of friends.

COUGHRAN, Eugene W., was born in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, June 17, 1856; attended the common schools, and was graduated form the high school at Sparta, after which he entered the telegraph office of the Northwestern Railroad Co. at that place.  He was in Sioux Falls a short time in 1875, but did not come there to locate permanently until November 10, 1876.  He was at first employed in J.D. Cameron & Co.’s bank, but near the close of the month was employed by the Northwestern Telegraph Co., in its office just opened at that time in a small frame building on Phillips avenue.  The next year Cameron & Co. built the block now occupied by Charles Vincent, just opposite this frame building, and the bank and telegraph office were moved into the new block.  In the fall of 1877, he entered the United States land office in Sioux Falls as chief clerk, and retained this position until the office was removed to Mitchell.  In 1880, he entered into a copartnership with T.B. McMartin, under the firm name of Coughran & McMartin, which continued until October 1, 1889.  The firm was engaged in the practice of law, real estate and loans.  Since the dissolution of the firm, Mr. Coughran has confined his business to real estate and loans.  He is a good business man, and has been successful; is a good citizen, but has never been a candidate for office.

CRISP, JR., Walter J., was born at Marshall, Wisconsin, March 4, 1870.  His parents removed to this county and located in Logan township when he was three years old.  He was raised on a farm, attended the public schools, and was a student at the State Normal school at Madison, So. Dak., for nearly three years.  When he attained his majority he entered a law office at Dell Rapids, and studied law three months.  During the fall on 1891 he purchased the machine business from the Jerry Law estate, and the following year bought out H.K. Hobart in the same kind of business, and continued therein until he was elected clerk of courts of Minnehaha county during the fall of 1896.  Upon assuming the duties of this office, he removed from dell Rapids and took up his residence in Sioux Falls.  During is official career he ahs given universal satisfaction.  He was the nominee of the Fusionists for re-election in 1898, and not even an old soldier candidate was successful against him as Mr. Crisp was re-elected.  He is an all-around good fellow, and has a host of friends.

CRAIG, Cyrenius H., was born at Greenbush, Rensselaer county, N.Y., November 20, 1856; attended school until thirteen years old, then worked in a foundry one year, and was one year on a steamboat between Greenbush and New York city.  His father was captain of the boat.  When fifteen years old went into the printing office of the Rensselaer Gazette, where he remained until twenty-one years of age.  On the 18th day of May, 1878, arrived in Sioux Falls and worked at the printer’s trade four years.  In May, 1882, went to Decorah, Iowa, and purchased the Decorah Radical, and conducted it for two years; sold out and returned to Sioux Falls, where he has since resided.  From July 1884, until 1888, worked on the Press, then purchased the Sioux Falls Journal, and published it about one year and then sold the plant to Cogan & Stebbins, and again was employed on the Press until march, 1890, since which time he has been on the Argus-Leader.  He has been its city editor for several years.  Is a newspaper man, and knows how to gather news.  Is a genial good fellow, minds his own business, but hates a “scoop” unless he can make it himself.  His good citizenship is unquestioned.