Capt. Charles S. Fassett Biography


	This biography appears on page 1899 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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	CAPT. CHARLES S. FASSETT, of Beadle county, an honored veteran of 
the Civil war, is a native of the Wolverine state, having been born on 
a farm in Sandstone township, Jackson county, Michigan. He was reared 
on the homestead farm, early beginning to assist in its work and 
securing his early educational training in the district schools. He 
continued on the farm until he was about sixteen years of age, and 
thereafter alternated his time between attending college and teaching. 
He was a student in Albion College, Michigan, when the firing of rebel 
guns on Fort Sumter announced the beginning of the long fratricidal 
conflict, and in that term he completed the course of preparatory work 
which entitled him to admission to the University of Michigan, at Ann 
Arbor. A few days before the close of the term, he was elected second 
lieutenant of a volunteer company, was mustered into the service as 
such and was sent to Fort Wayne. Soon afterward he was mustered into 
the United States service, as a member of the Sixth Michigan Volunteer 
Infantry, of which he was commissioned second lieutenant. He bore an 
honorable and gallant part in the long struggle, rising by meritorious 
service to the rank of captain, and was mustered out in August, 1865, 
with a record of which any man might well be proud. After the war 
Captain Fassett returned to Michigan, where he resumed his educational 
work. He was matriculated in Hillsdale College, that state, where he 
completed the classical course and was graduated as a member of the 
class of 1868, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He devoted the next 
several years to teaching in the public schools of his native state, 
while for a period of four years he rendered effective service as 
county superintendent of schools in Ottawa county, that state. In 1875 
he removed to Carson City, Nevada, and later to Virginia City, that 
state, devoting his attention during these years principally to the 
furniture and upholstering business. In 1881 he returned to Michigan, 
where he remained about ten months, at the expiration of which he came 
to what is now the state of South Dakota. In 1882 he filed entry to a 
claim in Spink county, eight miles north of Frankfort, while at the 
same time he secured a soldier's declaratory claim, north of Hitchcock, 
of which village he became a resident soon after its founding, while he 
has ever since maintained his home here. He established the Hitchcock 
News, of which he was editor and publisher for several years, while in 
the meanwhile he continued the improvement of his ranch property and 
was otherwise prominently identified with business and industrial 
interests. He was state engineer of irrigation, and in the connection 
made a special investigation and study in connection with the artesian-
well system of the state. At the time of President Harrison's 
administration he was appointed postmaster at Hitchcock, continuing 
incumbent of this office until the election of President Cleveland, 
while he was re-appointed to the office by President McKinley and has 
ever since served in the same. He again became the publisher and editor 
of the Hitchcock News, which he owns at the present time. In politics 
he is a staunch Republican and has been an active worker in its cause 
since coming to South Dakota, while he also served as a member of the 
board of commissioners of Beadle county. He is one of the charter 
members of T. O. Howe Post, No. 33, Grand Army of the Republic, while 
he is also identified with the local lodge of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows.

	Captain Fassett was married to Miss Louise M. Bickford, who was 
born in the state of New York, and they became the parents of two sons.