John S. Headley Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1218-1219 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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	JOHN S. HEADLEY was born in Granville, Mahaska county, Iowa, on 
the 2d of December. 1858, a son of William and Ann (Bowman) Headley, and 
he is the only one of their four children now living. His father was 
born in the city of Hull, England, about 1824, his father having been a 
clergyman of the Baptist church. He was reared on a farm, in the home of 
relatives, as both of his parents fell victim to the dread scourge of 
cholera and died while he was a mere infant. Upon attaining his legal 
majority William Headley bade adieu to his native land and set forth to 
seek his fortunes in America. He located in the state of Vermont, where 
his marriage was solemnized, and later he emigrated to Mahaska county, 
Iowa, where he purchased land and devoted himself to farming until his 
death, which occurred on the 6th of March, 1873. He was a Republican in 
politics but not an office-seeker, and was a sincere and consistent 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as is also his widow, who now 
makes her home with the subject, being accorded that filial solicitude 
which is so justly her due. 

	John S. Headley was reared on the homestead farm and after 
availing himself of the advantages of the public schools he continued 
his educational discipline in Penn College, at Oskaloosa, Iowa. At the 
age of twenty-one years he put his scholastic acquirements to practical 
test by engaging as a teacher in the district schools, continuing to 
teach during the winter terms for several years and working on the farm 
during the intervening summer seasons. In 1883 he came to South Dakota 
and took up a pre-emption claim of one hundred and sixty acres in 
Hutchinson county, together with a timber claim of equal area. His 
mother and younger brother had preceded him here by one year and both 
had filed on claims in this same county. The subject here gave his 
attention to teaching during the winter months, and the balance of his 
time was devoted to the improvement and cultivation of his farm. In 1889 
he was chosen principal of the schools at Parkston, holding this 
position two years and then residing on his farm until 1894, when he 
came to Menno, where he was principal of the public schools for the 
ensuing five years. gaining a high reputation in the educational field 
here. In the fall of 1898 a fitting recognition of his ability was given 
in his election to the office of county superintendent of schools, and 
he served two terms of two years each, making a most excellent record 
and doing much to advance the cause of popular education in his 
jurisdiction. During his last term he also contributed the editorial 
leaders to the Hutchinson Herald, and on the 15th of December, 1900, he 
purchased and assumed control of the publication, which is one of the 
leading Republican papers of this. section of the state and one which is 
a true representative of local interests in all lines. In 1903 he was a 
delegate to the convention of the National Editorial Association at Hot 
Springs, Arkansas, and in the same year also attended the meeting of the 
National Educational Association, being held in the city of Minneapolis. 
He is an uncompromising advocate of the principles of the Republican 
party, and while not ambitious for official preferment he has served in 
various minor offices of trust. He and his wife are prominent members of 
the Methodist Episcopal church, and in the same he served for several 
years as superintendent of the Sunday school. 

	On the 12th of August, 1883, Mr. Headley was united in marriage to 
Miss Emma E. Watson, who was born in Mahaska county, Iowa, and of their 
eight children six are living, all remaining at the parental home save 
the eldest, Lillian O., who is a student in the normal school at 
Madison. The others are as follows: Lulu A., Georgiana, Muriel, John W. 
and Frank.