Darwin M. Inman Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1693-1694 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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	DARWIN M. INMAN, president of the First National Bank of 
Vermillion, Clay county, is a native of the old Empire state and a scion 
of old colonial stock in New England. He was born in Clarendon, Orleans 
county, New York, and is a son of Philip and Anna (Thompson) Inman, the 
former of whom was born in Connecticut and the latter in Vermont, both 
being of English lineage.  

	Mr. Inman was reared in his native county, and after duly availing 
himself of the advantages of the public schools he continued his studies 
in Holley and Albion Academies, locating in that county, and there 
preparing for college. He was matriculated in Rochester University, 
where he completed the classical course and was graduated, receiving his 
degree. Mr. Inman is to be noted as one of the pioneer bankers of South 
Dakota, where he has maintained his home since the territorial era, when 
the present state was OZI the very frontier. In the spring of 1875 he 
engaged in the banking business in Vermillion being associated in the 
enterprise with his brothers-in-law, Messrs. Myron D. Thompson and 
Martin J. Lewis. They also became prominently concerned in the grain 
business, owning and operating a large elevator in Vermillion, and also 
conducting an extensive business in the handling of agricultural 
implements, machinery and lumber, while they are associated in the live-
stock business in the county. Mr. Inman was successfully engaged in 
teaching in the public schools of New York state for several terms prior 
to coming as a pioneer to the great territory of Dakota, and he has ever 
retained a deep interest in educational affairs. He was president of the 
board of trustees of the village of Vermillion in 1876, and in 1876-7 
was a prominent member of the territorial legislature, in which he later 
served two more terms, while he was a member of the first general 
assembly after the state was admitted to the Union. He served for 
several terms as a trustee and director of the State University, in 
Vermillion, being one of its trustees at the time when the first 
building was erected. 

	In politics Mr. Inman is a stalwart advocate of the principles of 
the Democratic party, and he has been a prominent figure in its ranks in 
South Dakota, serving as chairman of the Democratic state central 
committee for six years, both during the territorial and state regimes. 
He served two terms as supervisor of the town of Clarendon, New York, 
prior to coming to the west, while mention has already been made of the 
official positions he has retained in South Dakota. Fraternally he has 
attained the chivalric degrees in the Masonic order, being identified 
with Vermillion Commandery, No. 16, Knights Templar, in Vermillion, and 
with El Riad Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic 
Shrine, at Sioux Falls. 

	On the 28th of December, 1874, Mr. Inman was united in marriage to 
Miss Adele Lewis, of Columbus, Columbia county, Wisconsin, who was born 
in Clarendon, Orleans county, New York, being a daughter of William L. 
and Eliza Ann Lewis. No children have been born of this union. Mrs. 
Inman takes a deep interest in the Baptist church to which Mr. Inman 
gives a liberal support.