Chalkey W. Derr Biography

1786-1787

	CHALKLEY W. DERR, a representative business man of Turton, Spink 
county, is a son of Judge Chalkley H. Derr, one of the distinguished and 
honored citizens of Faulkton, Faulk county, of whom specific mention is 
made on other pages of this compilation. The subject of this sketch was 
born in Jones county, Iowa, on the 27th of August, 1868, and he was 
there reared to the age of fourteen years, having received his 
educational discipline in the public schools of Olin, that county, He 
accompanied his parents on their removal to Faulkton, this state, where, 
in 1887, he engaged in the buying and shipping of wheat, with which 
important line of enterprise he has ever since been identified. In 1888, 
he removed from Faulkton to Turton, with whose business interests he 
became closely identified. In 1890 he established a lumber business 
here, and in 1900 opened a hardware store and warehouse for the sale and 
storage of agricultural implements and machinery, and he has since 
continued to successfully conduct the three enterprises, showing marked 
executive ability and facility in the management of his affairs, which 
are of wide scope and importance, while he is recognized as one of the 
most progressive and public-spirited men of the county, contributing to 
the general prosperity through the individual business activities with 
which he is identified. He has a well-equipped hardware store, and his 
business in all lines is constantly increasing, while he commands the 
uniform confidence and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact, his 
genial nature and unvarying courtesy doing much to conserve his personal 
popularity, while both he and his wife are leaders in the social life of 
the community. In politics Mr. Derr is a stanch advocate of the 
principles of the Republican party, but has never sought official 
preferment, and fraternally he is identified with the following named 
organizations: Lodge No. 134, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at 
Conde, South Dakota; the chapter, Royal Arch Masons, at Clark, South 
Dakota; Damascus Commandery, No. 10, Knights Templar; Aberdeen 
Consistory, No. 4, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, at Aberdeen, and El 
Riad Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at 
Sioux Falls, while he is also affiliated with Turton Lodge, No. 96, 
Ancient Order of United Workmen, and Turton Camp, No. 6067, Modern 
Woodmen of America, in his home town. Religiously he is affiliated with 
the Congregational church.