James Douglass Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1887-1888 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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	JAMES DOUGLASS, the present postmaster of Carthage, was born in 
New York, and at the country schools of his native place received the 
elementary education usually allotted to the children of that day. The 
western fever was then raging strongly in the eastern states, and James 
Douglass did not escape this universal infection and so, when twenty-
one years of age, we find him on his way to Wisconsin, where in due 
time he found a "local habitation." This first settlement, however, was 
but temporary, being disturbed by the outbreak of the great Civil war 
which interrupted the vocations of millions of men in every part of 
this vast country. James Douglass enlisted and was sent with his 
command to Missouri. He remained in the service until November, 1865, 
when he received his honorable discharge and immediately thereafter 
returned to Wisconsin. He purchased a farm near Madison, the state 
capital, and lived there six years, after which he removed to Lake 
Mills, from which point he was engaged for several years in carrying 
the mails. In 1880 Mr. Douglass decided on a still farther immigration 
into the western territories, and purchased land in Miner county, South 
Dakota, which at that time was but sparsely populated. In fact, he was 
one of the first settlers and has since been largely instrumental in 
developing and building up that part of the new state. He was elected 
county commissioner, and served one term to the entire satisfaction of 
his constituency. Further honors were soon conferred upon him in the 
shape of an election to the legislature, and the satisfaction with his 
services was so great as to lead to his re-election. In addition to the 
public offices above mentioned, Mr. Douglass served acceptably as 
chairman of the board of supervisors of Redstone township. In politics 
he has been a lifelong Republican, firmly impressed with the 
correctness and soundness of the principles of his party and always a 
strong supporter of its policies and candidates. In 1899 he was 
appointed postmaster of Carthage by President McKinley and has held 
this office continually since that time. Mr. Douglass was married to 
Miss Rachael Doolittle and they have three children.