B. C. Ash Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1849-1850 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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	B. C. ASH, one of the prominent and successful stock growers of 
Hughes county and also incumbent of the office of sheriff of the 
county, is a native of the Hoosier state, having been born in White 
county, Indiana. When he was about five years of age, his parents 
removed from Indiana to Sioux City, Iowa. The subject received his 
preliminary educational training in the schools of Sioux City, and 
after the removal of the family to Yankton continued his studies in the 
common schools of that place as opportunity presented, while he early 
initiated his independent career. Mr. Ash was appointed deputy United 
States marshal, and continued to serve in this capacity for varying 
intervals during a number of years. Subsequently he left Yankton and 
removed to the site of the present thriving and attractive city of 
Bismarck, and his is the distinction of having erected the first house 
in the town. He held the position of wagonmaster for General Custer, 
who was then making his first trip through this section of the 
northwest, where his life was later sacrificed. Later Mr. Ash located 
in Pierre, where he engaged in the livery business and also conducted a 
general store, becoming one of the leading and influential business men 
of the capital city. He identified himself with the stock business, to 
which he has since given much attention, raising cattle and horses upon 
an extensive scale and having a large and well-improved ranch, which is 
located one hundred and twenty-five miles northwest of Fort Pierre, in 
Stanley county. In politics he is a stanch advocate of the Democratic 
party and has been one of the active workers in the party ranks. In 
1900 he was elected sheriff of Hughes county, giving a most able 
administration and being chosen to this office again in the spring of 
1904, for a second term of four years. In 1896 he received from 
President Cleveland the appointment as Indian agent at the Lower Brule 
agency, retaining this incumbency four years and proving a most capable 
official. He is identified with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, 
the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the 
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

	Mr. Ash was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Bristine, and 
they have three children.