Morris J. Chaney Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1381-1382 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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	MORRIS J. CHANEY, who, since 1893, has. been engaged in banking at 
Wakonda, South Dakota, was born in Ogle county, Illinois, October 1, 
1858, the son of Osborn and Amanda (Rice) Chaney, the father for many 
years a successful lumber merchant of the county noted. The subject 
spent his youthful years under the parental roof and after obtaining his 
preliminary education in the public schools of his native place entered 
the East high school in the city of Rockford, from which institution he 
was graduated with the class of 1878. Following his graduation, Mr. 
Chaney devoted two years to teaching and at the expiration of that time 
went to Iowa, locating in 1880 at Newell, Beuna Vista, where for a 
period of thirteen years he was engaged in farming and stock raising, 
making a specialty of fine cattle. He met with most encouraging success 
as an agriculturist and stock man, and during the time mentioned 
succeeded by close attention and good management in accumulating a 
handsome capital, with which, in 1893, he established a bank in Wakonda, 
South Dakota, where he has since lived and prospered. 

	Mr. Chaney is essentially a self-made man, and his career since 
beginning life upon his own responsibility has been creditable in every 
respect. The bank of which he is now proprietor and executive head is 
one of the popular and successful financial institutions, not only of 
Clay county, but in the southeastern part of the state, being liberally 
patronized by the leading business men of Wakonda, and proving a great 
stimulus to the industrial and commercial interests of a large section 
of the surrounding country. Since locating at Wakonda he has manifested 
a lively interest in the growth and prosperity of the place, giving his 
encouragement and material aid to enterprises making for the common good 
and using his influence to further all laudable measures tending to the 
moral, as well as the material welfare of his fellow men. His fraternal 
relations are represented by the Modern Woodmen of America and the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and for the past twenty years he has 
been a regular attendant of the Congregational church, though originally 
a Baptist in belief. By reason of there being no church of the latter 
denomination where he has spent the last twenty-three years of his life, 
he has given a generous support to other religious bodies, being a 
devout believer in Christianity and always endeavoring to exemplify its 
beauty and great value in his daily walk and conversation. 

	On the 18th day of November, 1886, at Portageville, New York, was 
solemnized the marriage of Mr. Chaney with Miss Helen McFarline, of that 
place, the union being blessed with three children, namely: Florence C., 
Dorothy L. and Morris A. Mr. and Mrs. Chaney, with their children, 
constitute a happy household and the family is one of the most highly 
respected in Wakonda. Politically Mr. Chaney votes the Republican ticket 
and while deeply interested in the welfare and success of his party and 
widely informed relative to the leading questions and issues of the day, 
he is too much immersed in business to become a politician or to seek 
the honors and emoluments of office.