George H. Grace Biography


	This biography appears on pages 659-660 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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	GEORGE H. GRACE, who is incumbent of the position of 
superintendent of schools of Hand county, is a native of Green county, 
Wisconsin, where he was born on the 8th of August, 1871, being a son of 
John and Harriet (Thorpe) Grace, who are now residing in Mitchell, 
South Dakota, the father being a retired farmer. John Grace was a 
valiant soldier in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion, in 
which he served four years. He enlisted as a member of the Third 
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, with which he participated in many of the 
notable battles of the great internecine conflict, including those of 
Gettysburg and Chancellorsville, in the latter of which he received a 
severe wound.  

	The subject of this review secured his early educational training 
in the public schools of his native state, and was about fourteen years 
of age at the time of his parents' removal to what is now South Dakota, 
the family locating at that time in Lincoln county, where his father 
engaged in farming and stock raising. After completing the curriculum 
prescribed in the public schools Mr. Grace continued his studies in the 
Wessington Springs Academy, this state, while in 1899 he took a special 
course in Drake University, at Des Moines, Iowa. For the first two 
years of his residence in the state his home was in Lincoln county, and 
thereafter he resided in Buffalo county, where, in 1894, he was elected 
clerk of the courts, while a few months later he was appointed county 
superintendent of schools. To this office he was later returned by 
general election, receiving the endorsement of both political parties, 
upon whose tickets his name appeared, there being no opposing 
candidate. This action was a gratifying testimonial to the ability 
which he had displayed as an educator and executive officer. In 1897 
Mr. Grace resigned this office to accept the position of principal of 
the high school at Mitchell, and he served in this capacity for three 
years, at the expiration of which he came to the town of Miller, to 
accept the principalship of the public schools here. This incumbency he 
retained two years, and in November, 1902, he was elected county 
superintendent of schools of this county, for a term of two years, 
being the candidate on the Republican ticket. He has made an enviable 
record in vitalizing and systematizing the work of the schools in his 
jurisdiction, and has gained the earnest co-operation of the people of 
the county and of the teachers employed. Mr. Grace is a staunch 
advocate of the principles of the Republican party.  

	On the 6th of July, 1894, Mr. Grace was united in marriage to 
Miss Minnie Waterbury, of East Pierre, South Dakota, whose death 
occurred fifteen months later, and on the 26th of June, 1900, was 
consummated his marriage to Miss Belle C. Leffingwell, who was born and 
reared in Iowa, being a daughter of A. J. Leffingwell, who is now a 
resident of Exira, Iowa. Mrs. Grace is a woman of gracious presence and 
high intellectual attainments, and was appointed principal of the 
Miller schools to succeed her husband at the time of his election to 
the office of county superintendent. They have no children.