John G. Hoard Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1714 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 G. HOARD, an honored representative of one of the early 
pioneer families of Union county, is a native of the state of New York, 
having been born in St. Lawrence county, on the 31st of December, 1855, 
and being a son of Alonzo and Keym (Small) Hoard, the former of whom was 
born in Vermont and the latter in New York state. The paternal 
grandfather of the subject came to America from England, settling in 
Vermont. The original orthography of the name was Hoar, and he changed 
the same to its present form. In 1856 when the subject of this review 
was an infant of six months, his parents removed to the west and located 
in Richland county, Wisconsin, his father becoming one of the pioneer 
farmers of that locality. Mr. Hoard early became inured to hard work, 
being reared on the pioneer farm, and his early educational advantages 
were limited, owing to the exigencies of time and place He conned his 
studies in a log schoolhouse of the primitive type, and finished his 
specific schooling in an old sod house in Union county, South Dakota, 
stating to the writer that this rude "temple of learning" bore the name 
of Antioch. In 1874, at the age of nineteen years, he accompanied his 
parents to the present state of South Dakota, the family locating in 
Union county, where his father became one of the pioneer farmers, as had 
he previously in Wisconsin. He died here in 1890, and his wife is yet 
living, while of their eight children seven are living. When the subject 
arrived in this country his cash capital was represented in the sum of 
twenty dollars, which he soon gave to his father, to aid in the support 
of the family, while his first two years' labor after coming here was 
similarly applied, so that he started out in life empty-handed upon 
attaining his legal majority. In 1874 he had entered claim to a 
homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, in Prairie township. By 
industry, energy and good management he made every effort count, and 
soon the star of prosperity shone upon him, and he has now a fine landed 
estate of five hundred and sixty acres, and a conservative estimate of 
the value of his various holdings would approximate forty-five thousand 
dollars. In 1886 he left the farm and took up his residence in the 
village of Alcester, where he engaged in the buying and shipping of live 
stock and grain, while for four years he also conducted a general store 
in the village. Mr. Hoard is a staunch advocate of the principles and 
policies of the Republican party, but has never sought the honors or 
emoluments of public office. He and his wife are valued members of the 
Congregational church in their home town. 

	On the 10th day of March, 1879, was solemnized the marriage of 
John G. Hoard to Miss Adaline Disbrow, who was born in Rosendale, Fond 
du Lac county, Wisconsin, on the 19th of January, 1862 being a daughter 
of M. L. and Hannah (Scofield) Disbrow, who were numbered among the 
pioneers of Union county, South Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Hoard have six 
children, all of whom remain at the parental home except the eldest, 
Marjory E., who is now the wife of T. T. Sullivan, of Chicago, Illinois. 
The others are John S., Edna L., Ethel A., Gladys A. and Ralph D.