Thomas Dignan Biography


	This biography appears on pages 752-754 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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	THOMAS DIGNAN. - The fair old Emerald Isle figures as the place 
of Mr. Dignan's nativity, since he was born in County Cavan. Ireland, 
on the 12th of June, 1846, being a son of Michael and Ann Dignan, both 
scions of staunch old Irish stock. In 1849, when our subject was a 
child of about three years, they immigrated to America and located in 
Richland county, Ohio, whence, three years later, they started for 
Iowa, arriving in Winneshiek county, that state, in August, 1853, where 
the father took up government land and became one of the pioneer 
farmers of the Hawkeye commonwealth. He was prospered in his efforts as 
the years passed, and continued his residence there until 1885, when he 
disposed of his farm and came to South Dakota, locating in Faulk 
county, where he was identified with farming and stock growing until 
his death, which occurred in March, 1893, while his wife died in 
September of the same year. . Michael Dignan had been engaged in 
dealing in live stock in Ireland prior to his emigration to America, 
and was an excellent judge in the line, while he was a man of energy 
and sterling integrity of character. He was a Democrat in politics and 
both he and his wife were communicants of the Catholic church. Of their 
eleven children six are living, and of the number two are residents of 
South Dakota.  

	Thomas Dignan, whose name introduces this sketch was the second 
child, and was reared to maturity on the home farm in Iowa, while his 
educational advantages were those afforded by the public schools. In 
1874, at the age of eighteen years, he left the home farm and initiated 
his independent career, engaging in farming and stock raising on his 
own account, in Winneshiek county, Iowa, where he remained until 1884, 
when he closed out his interests there and came as a pioneer to Faulk 
county, South Dakota, where he now has a finely improved ranch of four 
hundred acres of most arable land, all of which is under cultivation 
and devoted mainly to the propagation of wheat, barley, pulse, corn and 
millet, in each of which lines he secures large returns for the time 
and labor expended, being known as one of the progressive and 
thoroughly scientific farmers of this section. In addition to the 
agricultural farm he also has a magnificent range of six thousand acres 
under fence, which is utilized for the grazing of his large herds of 
stock. He raises high grade Hereford cattle, breeding from registered 
stock, and running an average of from five hundred to one thousand 
head. He also raises large numbers of hogs, and is convinced that no 
section of the Union offers better advantages for successful enterprise 
in this line, as the swine attain large and vigorous growth, while he 
has never known of any disease prevailing in any herd in this section. 
On his fine ranch are also found the finest specimens of Percheron 
horses, of which he usually has a large herd, while he also has raised 
some very superior driving and coach horses. In the spring of 1903 he 
sold a magnificent Percheron stallion for thirteen hundred and fifty 
dollars, the animal weighing two thousand and forty pounds. Mr. Dignan 
has attained a high degree of success in South Dakota and is an 
enthusiastic admirer of the state and a firm believer in the still more 
magnificent future in store for the same, while he is a representative 
citizen of Faulk county, public-spirited and enterprising, and held in 
the highest esteem by all who know him. On his beautiful ranch he has 
erected a substantial and commodious residence and other buildings 
ample for the proper care of live stock, farm produce, machinery, etc. 
In politics he accords a staunch allegiance to the Republican party, 
and at the time of this writing he is serving as a member of the board 
of township trustees.  

	On the 4th of July, 1874, were spoken the words which united the 
life destinies of Mr. Dignan and Miss Catherine Hand, who was born and 
reared in Allamakee county, Iowa, being a daughter of Michael Hand, of 
whom individual mention is made on another page of this work, so that a 
repetition of the genealogical data is not demanded in this connection. 
Of this union have been born five children, concerning the fate of the 
eldest of whom, George, a most pitiful uncertainty exists, a source of 
unremitting grief to his parents. George was a young man of sterling 
character and correct habits, and in the fall of 1901 went to Chicago 
for the purpose of selling a shipment of stock from the home ranch. 
That he had started on the return trip is assured, since on the 1st of 
October he sent his father a telegram from Sioux City, Iowa, and from 
that time forward all trace of him has been lost, it being supposed 
that he met with a violent or accidental death. The disappearance 
causes a feeling of unqualified grief and sympathy in the community in 
which he was so well known and well liked. The other children remain at 
the parental home, their names, in order of birth, being as follows: 
Edward M., Loretta, Alice and Cleophas.