Edward L. Abel Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1319-1320 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	EDWARD L. ABEL, president of the First National Bank of 
Bridgewater, was born in Springfield, the capital city of Illinois, on 
the 19th of November, 1860, being the only child of Oramel H. and Mary 
(Moore) Abel, the former of whom was born near Buffalo, New York, June 
19, 1833, while the latter was born in Springfield, Illinois, on the 
17th of May, 1838. The father is now a resident of Murphysboro, 
Illinois, the mother having died at Springfield, Illinois. As a boy 
Oramel H. Abel accompanied his parents on their removal to Springfield, 
Illinois, and he was there reared and educated, becoming a successful 
railroad contractor. At the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion he 
enlisted as a private in an Illinois regiment, being made lieutenant of 
his company. Later he was appointed mustering officer and was stationed 
for some time at Camp Butler. He was then sent to the front, being first 
lieutenant in his company, which formed a part of the One Hundred and 
Forty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, of which he was eventually 
made adjutant general, serving until the close of the war. He then 
returned to Springfield, and for a number of years served as city clerk. 
In 1874 he removed to Carbondale, that state, where he engaged in the 
banking business and where he also held the position of city clerk for 
several terms, besides being called to other offices of local trust. 
About 1887 he removed to Murphysboro, Illinois, where he has since lived 
retired. He is a staunch Republican in politics and was a personal 
friend of Abraham Lincoln, their intimacy continuing from their boyhood 
days until the death of the martyred President, at whose personal 
request the subject of this sketch received his second name, Lincoln. 
The father of our subject is a member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic, having been commander of his 
post in the latter organization. 

	Edward L. Abel received his early education in the public schools 
of his native city and supplemented this by a course of study in the 
Southern Illinois Normal University, at Carbondale, while he was engaged 
in teaching school for two winters after leaving college. In 1879 he 
began reading law under the preceptorship of Judge Andrew D. Duff, of 
Carbondale, one of the most eminent members of the Illinois bar, and 
while prosecuting his legal studies he worked at various occupations, 
being dependent upon his own resources. In February, 1884, Mr. Abel was 
admitted to the bar of his native state, and the same spring was elected 
city attorney of Carbondale, being chosen as his own successor, without 
opposition, in the spring of 1885. During these years he was associated 
with the banking business in Carbondale, accepting a clerkship in 1878 
and shortly- afterward being made cashier of the bank. In 1887 Mr. Abel 
came to Bridgewater, South Dakota, being admitted to the bar of the 
territory in the following year, though he has never devoted much 
attention to the work of his profession here. Upon his arrival in his 
new home he purchased stock in the State Bank of Bridgewater, of which 
institution he was made cashier. In I897 he was elected to the 
presidency of the same, and upon the reorganization of the institution 
as the First National Bank, in August, 1903, he was elected to the 
presidency of the same. In 1889 he was appointed, by Governor Mellette, 
a member of the board of trustees of the state penitentiary, at Sioux 
Falls; he has served with signal acceptability as mayor of Bridgewater, 
retaining this office three terms, and he is now serving his third term 
as a member of the board of education, of which he was president in 
1902. He is a member at large and chairman of the Republican committee 
of the second circuit. In 1902 he was elected to represent his district 
in the state senate, in which he served with characteristic ability, 
proving a valuable member of the body. For two terms he was secretary of 
the South Dakota Bankers' Association, and in July, 1903, he was honored 
by his associates in that body by being chosen its president. He has 
been an active and efficient worker in the Republican party, having 
delivered many campaign addresses and being regarded as one of the 
party's most able and forceful speakers in the state. Mr. Abel is a 
member of Eureka Lodge, No. 72, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Salem 
Chapter, No. 34, Royal Arch Masons; Constantine Commandery, No. 17, 
Knights Templar, of Salem; El Riad Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the 
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Sioux Falls; Sioux Falls Lodge, No. 262, 
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Bridgewater Lodge, No. 72, 
Ancient Order of United Workmen; and Bridgewater Lodge, No. 3790, Modern 
Woodmen of America. 

	On the 25th of December, 1883, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. 
Abel to Miss Ella C. Smith, of DuQuoin, Illinois, and they have two 
children, Roy W. and Gertrude M.