Robert H. Driscoll

	This biography appears on pages 985-986 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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	ROBERT H. DRISCOLL, who occupies the responsible position of 
cashier of  the First National Bank of Lead, Lawrence county, was born in the 
city  of Lowell, Massachusetts, on the 1st of July, 1857, and is a son of 
Cornelius and Catherine (Costello) Driscoll, the former of whom was born 
in Ireland and the latter in the city of Boston, Massachusetts. The 
father of the subject was a child at the time of his parents' 
immigration to the United States, the family settling in Massachusetts, 
where he was reared and educated. He was for a number of years engaged 
in hat manufacturing in the city of Lowell, and he and his wife now 
maintain their home in the historic old town of Salem, that state. Of 
their seven children four are living.  

	Robert H. Driscoll was about five years of age at the time of his 
parents' removal from Lowell to Salem, and in the latter city he secured 
his preliminary educational discipline in the pubic schools, being 
graduated m the high school as a member of the class of 1877. In the 
autumn of the same year (1877) he was matriculated in Harvard 
University, where he completed the classical course, being graduated in 
1881, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then accepted the position 
of instructor in Latin and Greek in a private academy at Pittsfield, 
Massachusetts, retaining this incumbency one year, at the expiration of 
which he located in Spencer, Iowa, where he taught in the public schools 
for one year. He then, in August, 1883, came to Lead, South Dakota, and 
here passed the ensuing three years as principal of the public schools, 
in which connection he made an excellent record by greatly advancing the 
interests of the cause of education in his field of labor, systematizing 
the work and inaugurating methods which have continued in use ever 
since. In 1887 he was appointed the first auditor of Lawrence county, 
under Republican administration, and in the following year was duly 
elected to the office by popular vote. In 1889 he was appointed clerk of 
the county and circuit courts, these appointments throughout the 
territory having been made by the President of the United States, who 
selected all court officials during the territorial regime. The subject 
was incumbent of the office at the time South Dakota was admitted to the 
Union, and with other presidential court appointees, claimed the right 
to hold the position until the next general election, the clerks 
appointed by the county officials taking issue. Mr. Driscoll made a 
determined stand, and was the first to get his decision before the 
supreme court, said decision being favorable to him and thus settling 
similar contentions throughout the state. In 1890, the first regular 
election, he was chosen to fill the office, and in 1892 was re-elected, 
and that without opposition. In 1894 he resigned his office and accepted 
that of cashier of the First National Bank, of which he has since 
continued incumbent, having practically the executive charge of the 
affairs of the bank and having proved himself an able and discriminating 
financier. He is a member of the directorate of the Black Hills Mining 
Men's Association and also, of that of the Lead Commercial Club, while 
he is also a member of the American Mining Congress and a life member of 
the Harvard Union, an organization of the alumni of his alma mater. Mr. 
Driscoll is intrinsically progressive and public-spirited and takes an 
active interest in all that makes for the advancement of the state of 
his adoption, being a loyal citizen and one who places true valuations 
on men and things. He is a stockholder and official in several mining 
companies. In politics he gives a stanch allegiance to the Republican 
party.  

	On the 16th of September, 1886, was solemnized the marriage 
of Mr. Driscoll to Miss Catherine Barry, who was born in Houghton, 
Michigan, being a daughter of Thomas and Ellen Barry. Mr. and Mrs. 
Driscoll have two children, Robert E. and James Lowell.