George W. Case Biography


	This biography appears on pages 853-854 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	GEORGE W. CASE merits representation in this history as one of 
the prominent and successful members of the bar of the state and as one 
of the popular and influential citizens of Watertown. He is a native of 
the old Keystone state, having been born on a farm in Luzerne county, 
Pennsylvania, on the 3d of March, 1861, and being a son of Lorenzo D. 
and Susan M. (Scofield) Case. In 1868 his parents removed to Mason 
City, Illinois, where his father became a prominent contractor. Both 
are now deceased, having both died at Watertown.  

	George W. Case was reared in Mason City, and after completing a 
course in the high school was variously employed until he had attained 
the age of twenty, when he began reading law. In 1883 he came to South 
Dakota and took up a preemption claim in Sully county, and instituted 
its development, so that in due time he perfected his title. He 
remained on his ranch for five years, during which time he assiduously 
continued the study of the law, being admitted to the bar of the 
territory before Judge Andrews, at Watertown, in 1891. The following 
year he was admitted to practice before the supreme court. He became 
identified with the active work of his profession by entering the 
employ of the law firm of Mellette & Mellette, of Watertown and Pierre, 
the senior member of the firm having been governor of the state. In 
this relation he gained valuable experience, and so clearly proved his 
mettle that at the expiration of ten months Governor Mellette came to 
Watertown and offered him a membership in the firm, and he thereafter 
continued to be associated with the two gentlemen until the Messrs. 
Mellette retired from practice in the state, in 1896, when he succeeded 
to the entire business of the firm. From the start Governor Mellette 
had pushed him forward into the active business, and he assumed much of 
the court practice, thus gaining prestige as an able trial as well as 
consulting attorney. He has built up a large and representative general 
practice and his standing in the profession is second to that of none 
of the members of the bar of this section of the state. Mr. Case is one 
of the leaders of the Republican party in the state and is prominent in 
its councils. He served as a member of the state senate in 1896-7, and 
was chairman of the joint house and senate committee which selected 
Hon. James H. Kyle for United States senator for a second term. In 1898 
he received, at the hands of President McKinley, the appointment as 
receiver of the United States land office in Watertown, of which office 
he remained incumbent four years. He is at present chairman of the 
Republican judicial committee of the third judicial district. He was 
one of the incorporators and stockholders of the Watertown State Bank, 
while he is the owner of several city properties, including his own 
residence, which he erected and which is one of the handsomest of the 
many modern homes which embellish Watertown. He and his wife are valued 
and zealous members of the First Baptist church, and fraternally he is 
identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of 
Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Modern 
Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.  

	At Jacksonville, Illinois, in 1882, Mr. Case was united in 
marriage to Miss Capitola Pierce, a daughter of Christopher Pierce, a 
prominent and influential citizen of Menard county, that state. Mr. and 
Mrs. Case have six children, namely: Howard B., Claude E., Stella 
Bernice, Ruth L., Lerue R. and Lillian E. The elder son is at the time 
of this writing a student in the State University of South Dakota.