Seymour A. Guptill Biography

	This biography appears on pages 1017-1018 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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	SEYMOUR A. GUPTILL, one of the largest land owners and successful 
farmers of Bon Homme county, is the son of John B. and Emily (Warren) 
Guptill, and was born in Winnebago county, Illinois, on the 7th day of 
January, 1859. His father, a native of Maine, came west in 1845 and 
settled in Illinois, where he purchased a farm on which he made his home 
until 1886, when  he disposed of his interests in that state and moved 
his family to Canton, South Dakota. Buying land near the latter place, 
he improved a farm and continued to cultivate the same as long as he 
lived. He was a good man and an influential citizen, took an active 
interest in public affairs and  at different times was honored with 
official positions, in all of which he discharged his duties ably and 
acceptably. Mrs. Guptill, who was born in New York, survives her husband 
and at the present time lives in the state of Illinois. The following 
are the names of the children born to this couple Charles, of Bon Homme 
county; Mrs. Lona Goldy, who lives in Illinois; Seymour A., of this 
review, and Lillie, who departed this life at the age of eleven years.  

	Seymour A. Guptill received a limited education in the public schools 
and remained with his parents until his twenty-second year, the 
meanwhile assisting with the labors of the farm. In   1882 he came to 
South Dakota and settled in Lincoln county, where he became one of the   
leading farmers. While there he accumulated considerable property, both 
real estate and   personal, but in 1901 he sold out and came to Bon 
Homme county, where he invested his means in land, purchasing a fine 
farm of five hundred and twenty acres, which he still owns and   which 
under his energetic labors and efficient management has become one of 
the finest and most productive Farms of the township in which it is 
situated. Mr. Guptill has added greatly to his realty from time to time 
until he now owns eleven hundred and sixty acres, all valuable and the 
greater part under cultivation and well improved. He farms the. home 
place and rents the rest of his land, and as an agriculturist and stock 
raiser he ranks with the leading men of his part of the state, who are 
thus engaged. A Populist in sentiment and a zealous supporter of the 
party of that name, Mr. Guptill has kept aloof from partisan politics 
and persistently refused to accept office or any kind of public 
position. He has no ambition further than to be a successful farmer   
and business man and to dignify his standing as a citizen whose 
interests are not wholly circumscribed within narrow, selfish limits, 
but tend largely to promote the welfare of his fellow men.  

	In 1880 Mr. Guptill contracted a marriage with Miss Nettie Hoyt, 
of Rock county, Wisconsin, and he is now the head of an interesting 
family of four children, viz: Clyde, Walter S., Lorna and Sidney, the 
youngest, a son by the name of Rolland, being deceased.