William S. Elder Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1363-1364 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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	WILLIAM S. ELDER, of Deadwood, is a native of Warsaw, Coshocton 
county, Ohio, where his birth occurred on the 15th of October, 1858, 
being the son of John G. and Jane Elder, of Ohio and Pennsylvania 
respectively. The father, who was also born in the county of Coshocton, 
still lives there and is a farmer by occupation; the mother, who before 
her marriage bore the name of Jane Moffatt, was born in Washington 
county, Pennsylvania, being descended on the father's side from a 
Revolutionary soldier who in an early day settled in Orange county, New 
York. 

	William S. Elder was reared in his native state, and after 
attending for some years the public schools entered an academy at 
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, where he was prepared for college. With this 
training he became, in 1882, a student of Princeton College, New Jersey, 
and in due time was graduated from that institution, finishing the 
classical course and receiving his degree in the year 1886, immediately 
after which he accepted the position of reporter of the New York 
Commercial Advertiser. After one year in this capacity he resigned his 
position and in 1887 started for Dakota, arriving at the Black Hills on 
April 21st of that year, when he at once engaged in journalism, as 
editor of the Black Hills Weekly Herald, which paper he published from 
August to the following December. In 1888 Mr. Elder began reading law at 
Deadwood in the office of Moody & Washabaugh, the leading legal firm of 
the city, and one year later was admitted to the bar and began the 
practice of his profession. He soon obtained his share of patronage, 
built up a lucrative business, achieved the reputation of an able 
lawyer, and in addition to his legal work, took an active interest in 
the growth and development of the city, by encouraging all laudable 
enterprises calculated to promote these ends. He was elected in 1902 on 
the citizens' ticket to represent the second ward in the city council, 
and as a member of that body labored earnestly for the municipality. Mr. 
Elder was one of the organizers and promoters of the Black Hills Mining 
Men's Association, and, with such associates and co-workers as S. W. 
Russell, George S. Jackson, W. J. Thornby, Harris Franklin and R. H. 
Driscoll, who compose the personnel of the enterprise, pushed the 
undertaking to successful issue, being made a director and later 
secretary and treasurer which offices he fills at the present time. He 
was also a leading spirit in organizing and building up the Imperial 
Gold Mining and Milling Company, which now has the largest dry crushing 
cyanide plant in the Hills, being president of the company, also its 
legal counsel. To Mr. Elder's energy and business-like methods the above 
enterprises owe much of the success which has characterized their 
history. Wide-awake, enterprising, full of enthusiasm and optimistic in 
all the term implies, he has demonstrated qualities of leadership and 
shown himself able to cope with and overcome adverse circumstances and 
to carry out successfully and worthily any undertaking to which he 
addresses himself. 

	Mr. Elder is positive in opinion, energetic in action, a man of 
honesty, independence of spirit and great executive ability to manage 
extensive enterprises. He is a Democrat and since coming west he has 
been influential in the councils of his party, locally and throughout 
the state. He was secretary of the county central committee in 1892, and 
one year later was chosen state committeeman from Lawrence county, in 
both of which capacities he rendered valuable service. 

	Mr. Elder is a married man, his wife, who was formerly Miss Maude 
Eccles, of Chicago, having borne him one child, a son by the name of 
Duncan Elder. Mr. and Mrs. Elder are members of the Congregational 
church of Deadwood and move in the best social circles of the city.