E. E. Hemingway Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1622-1623 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.


	E. E. HEMINGWAY.—Some wise man has well said that "A country is 
largely measured by the kind of men it turns out"; another has said that 
"Some men are born great, some achieve greatness, and that some have 
greatness thrust upon them". The subject of this sketch, Hon. E. E. 
Hemingway, has come to his present eminence by worthy achievement and 
the nobility of hard and persistent labor. He was born in the township 
of Marathon, in Lapeer county, Michigan, on the 16th day of December, 
1861. His father was Hon. H. L. Hemingway, who was a son of Needham 
Hemingway, a native of Canandaigua, New York. The Hemingway family came 
to this county originally from Wales. The grandfather, Needham 
Hemingway, was a contractor of mills, and at the same time was also 
engaged to a considerable extent in farming. He came to the state of 
Michigan in an early day, braving the rigors of a new country, and there 
spent the remainder of his sturdy life in the above occupation. 

	Hon. H. L. Hemingway first saw the light of day on a farm where he 
was afterward reared, having received by nature and hard manual labor a 
strong constitution. He early in life became engaged in the lumber 
business and the fruitful occupation of farming. While thus gaining an 
honorable livelihood, he was chosen by the people of Lapeer county, 
Michigan, to fill many important offices in the township and county. 

	He was united in marriage to Lydia E. Tower, whose family came 
from the state of New York, from the same vicinity that the Hemingway 
family had previously emigrated. Mrs. Lydia Hemingway departed this life 
March 3I, 1876. In the course of time H. L. Hemingway was again united 
in marriage, this time to Susan C. Tower. He was the father of nine 
children, four of whom still survive him. Sarah (deceased) was the wife 
of William Larkin, of Otter Lake, Michigan. Ernest is a resident of 
Otter Lake, Michigan. Laura (deceased) was the wife of James A. 
Tompkins, of Oxford, Michigan. Ella J. is the wife of W. S. Cook, of 
Pontiac, Michigan. Eugene died in young manhood. Ida, the sixth child of 
the family, died in infancy. E. E., the subject, was the seventh child 
of this excellent family. The eighth child, Ada, died at the tender age 
of thirteen years. The ninth child, Bruce W., now resides at Otter Lake, 
Michigan, on the old Hemingway homestead. Hon. H. L. Hemingway passed 
away upon the 11th day of April, 1903. 

	While the subject of this interesting sketch applied himself 
industriously in the mill and on the farm, he managed to receive his 
primary schooling in Marathon township, Lapeer county, Michigan, until 
he was fifteen years of age, at which time he entered college at Oxford, 
Michigan, and there spent three years, from which institution he 
graduated. He afterward took a commercial course in the Pontiac 
International Business College, which is situated in the same state. 
Thus amply fitted, he was called to take a position in the bank of 
William Peter, of Columbiaville, Michigan, which position he ably filled 
for five years. Upon August 17, 1887, he removed to Watertown, South 
Dakota, where he at once engaged with the Dakota Loan and Trust Company, 
and at the same time he assisted the Watertown National Bank, filled the 
office of city clerk of Watertown for three years and for two years was 
the manager of the electric light plant. Mr. Hemingway continued 
actively in business in Watertown for five years. During the last half 
of 1892 he was employed by the W. H. Stokes Milling Company, of 
Watertown, as collector and salesman, making extensive trips into South 
Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. In October, 1892, he 
removed to Brookings, South Dakota, and engaged in the retail boot and 
shoe trade, and continued successfully in this business until December, 
1894. In 1895 he was appointed public examiner of South Dakota, by 
Governor Sheldon, in which position he ably and efficiently served his 
term of two years, which expired March 6, 1897, He then engaged with the 
Minneapolis Journal until May, 1898. After the expiration of this work 
he engaged with the George D. Barnard Company, of St. Louis, Missouri. 
as traveling salesman for the space of two years. On May 1, 1900, he 
engaged with the C. Ross Coal Company, of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and 
traveled for them in North and South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. Upon 
December 15, 1902, he was again appointed public examiner for the state 
of South Dakota, to fill an unexpired term, and was again reappointed in 
January, 1903, to hold until March, 1905. 

	Believing that it was not good for man to be alone, Mr. Hemingway 
was married on the 29th day of June, 1892, to Miss Jennie E. Wing, of 
Brookings, who was a daughter of O. C. and Elizabeth Wing, who came to 
Brookings in 1882. Her father still resides there, the mother having 
passed away on May 14, 1900. These sturdy people were of English 
descent. Mr. Hemingway's family consists of four children, three sons 
and one daughter: Charles, ten years of age; Robert, aged eight years; 
Grace, aged five, and Frank, but five months old. 

	Mr. Hemingway has always been to an eminent degree a public-
spirited man, actively engaged in the promotion of any and all worthy 
causes. He is a member of the Masonic order, and has attained the degree 
of the Royal Arch and Temple. He also belongs to the Eastern Star, of 
Brookings, and El Riad Temple, of the Mystic Shrine, at Sioux Falls. He 
is a charter member of the Woodmen at Brookings, and was the first 
worthy advisor. The Watertown Knights of Pythias lodge still claims him 
as a member in good and regular standing, as also does the lodge of 
Royal Neighbors, to which Mrs. Hemingway belongs. In politics he is a 
staunch Republican and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church.