William H. Chase Biography


	This biography appears on page 1304 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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	WILLIAM H. CHASE is a New Englander, having been born in Kingston, 
New Hampshire, on the 9th of June, 1828. Reared in his native state, he 
early acquired the industrious habits characteristic of the youth of 
that section of the Union, and after attending the schools of Kingston 
until old enough to plan for his future, learned carriage making, which 
trade he followed in New Hampshire until reaching the age of twenty-six 
years. In 1844 he went to Iowa and located a tract of government land, 
but after holding it for a brief period, sold his right and, returning 
home, remained about one year with his parents, when he again turned his 
face westward. After spending a short time in Iowa, he went to 
Minnesota, where he remained one year, but at the expiration of that 
time returned to the former state and took up land in Jackson county, on 
which he engaged in farming and the raising of live stock. 

	Mr. Chase prospered in his undertakings and continued the same 
with increasing success until the year 1863, when he laid aside the 
implements of husbandry in response to the call for volunteers to assist 
in putting down the great rebellion. Enlisting that year in the Second 
Iowa Infantry, he served until the close of the war, after which he 
returned to Jackson county, where his family were living. From that part 
of the state he moved to Iowa county, where he lived and prospered until 
1881, in the spring of which year he sold his land and migrated to the 
Black Hills, South Dakota, settling on a ranch near Bear Butte creek, 
which his son Charles had taken up some time previously. Purchasing the 
ranch, Mr. Chase at once addressed himself to its improvement and in the 
course of a few years reduced a considerable area to cultivation, also 
erected a comfortable dwelling and made many other improvements besides 
getting a substantial start in the way of live stock. From that time to 
the present his progress has been steady and substantial, and he is now 
one of the successful agriculturists and stock raisers in his part of 
the county, owning eight hundred acres of fine land, one hundred of 
which are under irrigation, and in a high state of tillage, the rest 
being devoted to cattle raising, which industry he makes a specialty. In 
the course of time the original dwelling was replaced with the handsome 
modern residence which the family now occupies. A general system of 
improvements was inaugurated and carried to completion as rapidly as 
possible, and at this writing Mr. Chase is no longer under the necessity 
of laboring for a living, enjoying the fruits of his many years of toil 
and thrift, with an ample competency laid by for old age. 

	Mr. Chase has been a loyal supporter of the Republican party ever 
since its organization and is one of its firm adherents in Meade county. 
Until quite recently he took a very active interest in public affairs, 
attended the various conventions of his party, local, district and 
state, but repeatedly refused to stand for office, although well 
qualified to fill positions of honor and trust. He is a member of the 
Grand Army of the Republic and takes pleasure in meeting his comrades 
who shared with him the vicissitudes of war during the dark days of the 
rebellion, being one of the leading spirits in the local post to which 
he belongs. 

	Mr. Chase was married in Jackson county, Iowa, to Miss Sarah 
Simeral, of Indiana, whose parents moved to the former state when she 
was only ten years old. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Chase, namely: William S., Charles H., Addie May and Sarah B.