Charles C. Crary Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1724-1725 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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	CHARLES C. CRARY, liveryman, Custer City, was born in Lake county, 
Ohio, on the 6th day of August, 1845. He was reared and educated in his 
native state and remained at home until 1863, when he joined Battery C, 
First Ohio Light Artillery, with which he served until the close of the 
rebellion, experiencing many of the vicissitudes and fortunes of war 
during his period of enlistment. He was honorably discharged in June, 
1865, and, returning to Ohio immediately thereafter, remained with his 
parents until 1867, when he went to Marshall county, Iowa, and engaged 
in farming. After spending the ensuing ten years in that state as a 
fairly prosperous tiller of the soil, Mr. Crary, in the spring of 1877, 
started for South Dakota, his objective point being the Black Hills, 
which region he reached the following June, stopping for a time at 
Deadwood, where he earned his livelihood by hauling logs. Later he 
worked for a while in the mines near that town, and then, with a party 
of prospectors, started for Lost Cabin, narrowly escaping from the 
hostile Indians on the way. After traversing a considerable part of the 
country and meeting with but indifferent success in his search for gold, 
Mr. Crary finally arrived at Bozeman, where he purchased a couple of 
ponies and a little later returned to the Black Hills. Reaching Cattle 
creek, he again began prospecting, but after spending a year and a half 
in that locality, part of which time was devoted to locating mining 
claims at Grand Junction, he went to Custer City, which place he has 
since made his home. 

	In 1884 Mr. Crary engaged in the livery business at Custer City, 
to which line of activity he has devoted his attention from that time to 
the present, meeting with flattering success in the undertaking, his 
barn being the largest and most complete establishment of the kind in 
the place. Meanwhile he was identified with another enterprise of no 
little moment, having, in 1890, with a friend by the name of James 
Clark, taken up mining claims on the present site of Sylvan Lake, and 
the year following a movement was set on foot by them and another party 
to dam a stream so as to fill a natural depression with water, thus 
creating one of the most beautiful little lakes to be found in any part 
of Dakota. This lake, which embraces an area of fifty-five acres, lies 
about six thousand one hundred feet above the level of the sea, and the 
situation is noted far and wide for beauty and romantic scenery, as well 
as for its pure air, equitable temperature and the remarkable 
healthfulness of the climate. The creating of this artificial body of 
water and establishing a health and pleasure resort was undertaken by 
Messrs. Crary, Clark and Spencer and shortly after locating their 
respective claims these gentlemen set about to carry their intention 
into effect. In due time the work of damming the water was successfully 
accomplished, after which the advantages of the place were extensively 
advertised with the result that within a comparatively brief period 
people from all over the country were attracted to the spot and it soon 
gained the reputation it has since sustained, as one of the most 
attractive resorts in the state. Mr. Crary erected a small cottage in 
1890, which he continued to occupy of summer seasons for several years 
thereafter, and in 1896 he and Mr. Spencer became sole owners of the 
place. Two years later, however, he disposed of his interest to his 
partner, who is now owner and proprietor, and the resort has continued 
to grow in public favor until the large hotel and other places of 
entertainment are now taxed to their utmost capacity to accommodate the 
visitors that annually flock there to spend the summer seasons. Mr. 
Crary has made a success of all of his undertakings, has done much to 
promote the material welfare of Custer City, and takes an active part in 
municipal affairs and enjoys worthy prestige as a wide-awake business 
man and public-spirited citizen. He owns considerable city property, 
besides having valuable mining interests in the vicinity and in other 
parts of the Black Hills. In politics he is unswerving in his allegiance 
to the Republican party, being one of its standard bearers in Custer 
county, and he has also served the people in public capacity, having for 
several years held the responsible office of county commissioner. 

	Mr. Crary, in 1886, contracted a matrimonial alliance with Mrs. 
Alice (Weisner) Crary, a native of Ohio, the ceremony being solemnized 
in Custer City.