I. A. Keith Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1601-1602 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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	I. A. KEITH, the leading druggist of Lake Preston and a man of 
state reputation by reason of his connection with important public 
enterprises, was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, on September 20, 1847. 
His parents, Alonzo A. and Julia M. (McFarland) Keith, were natives of 
New York, and there lived until about the year 1845, when they moved to 
Rock county, Wisconsin, where the father entered land, developed a farm 
and became successful in agricultural pursuits. In 1882 he disposed of 
his interests in that state and came to South Dakota, locating at Lake 
Preston, near which place he took up a homestead and retired from active 
life. He died at his home in Lake Preston in the year 1895, leaving a 
widow and three children, the former still living at the advanced age of 
eighty-one. Alonzo Keith was a man of strict integrity and high repute, 
popular with all who knew him, and for many years lived an earnest, 
consistent Christian life, as a member of the Congregational church, to 
which denomination his good wife also belongs. Of the four children born 
to this excellent couple, three are living, Irwin A., the subject of 
this sketch, Edgar P., a prominent real-estate dealer and large 
landowner of Algonia, Iowa, and Charles W., who is connected with a 
Chicago business enterprise; Herbert, the third in order of birth, died 
at the age of £ourteen years. 

	The subject of this review was reared in Rock county, Wisconsin, 
grew to manhood on his father's farm and attended the public schools 
until fifteen years old, the training thus received being supplemented 
by a course of study in an-academy at Allen's Grove and a commercial 
college at Janesville, Wisconsin. At the age of twenty he entered a drug 
store in Janesville, and after remaining four years in that city and 
becoming a proficient pharmacist, came west, stopping one year in Iowa, 
and in 1882 settled with his family at Lake Preston, South Dakota. In 
March of the latter year he purchased a small pioneer stock of drugs, 
representing a value of two hundred and sixty-five dollars, and soon 
built up a lucrative business. Meanwhile, in 1882, Mr. Keith took up a 
tree claim, and later located a homestead, on both of which he proved 
up, and from which he has since received no small part of his income. He 
owns one tract of real estate, amounting to one hundred and sixty acres, 
adjoining Lake Preston, its proximity to the town adding greatly to its 
value, and he now has a beautiful and in every respect desirable home on 
this property. 

	Mr. Keith devoted his attention very closely to the drug trade 
until recently, since which time his son Herbert, a professional 
pharmacist and a graduate from the pharmaceutical department of State 
Agricultural College of South Dakota, has managed the business. Mr. 
Keith has been officially identified with the South Dakota 
Pharmaceutical Association since its organization, in 1886, and for ten 
years served as secretary of that organization and the state board of 
pharmacy, and for six years he has been a member of the state board of 
pharmacy, being at this time its president. In 1895 he assisted in 
organizing the Druggists' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of South Dakota, 
and has served as secretary of the same since that date, the success of 
the enterprise being largely attributable to his interest and able 
management. This company was organized by the leading druggists of the 
state and has its headquarters at Lake Preston, and carries all classes 
of commercial risks, having a large and well-distributed business in 
nearly every city and town in the state. It has saved its policy holders 
approximately seventy-five thousand dollars in premiums refunded, and 
has paid fire losses amounting to thirty thousand dollars. The cost to 
its members has been about fifty per cent. of existing insurance 
schedules. 

	The domestic life of Mr Keith dates from 1872, on June 4th of which 
year he was wedded to Miss Addie C. Burke, of Rochester, New York, daughter 
of P. Y. and Miranda Burke, old and respected residents of that city. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Keith three children have been born, Minnie, Herbert, who 
has charge of his father's drug business, and Grace, all three at home. 

	Mr. Keith belongs to the Masonic fraternity and Ancient Order of 
United Workmen, and is a charter member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Lake 
Preston, which he has served in the highest official capacity within the 
gift of the organization. Religiously he is a Congregationalist, as is 
also his wife, both being members of the church at Lake Preston, besides 
being most liberal contributors. He has for many years been a member of 
the board of education and in 1897 represented the twenty-first 
senatorial district in the upper house of the state legislature, in 
which body he made an honorable record, serving as chairman of the 
senate appropriation committee and as a member of the committees on 
insurance and banking, education, cities and municipal corporations and 
public health, besides taking an active part in the general 
deliberations on the floor. In politics he is a Republican, casting his 
maiden vote for U. S. Grant in 1868. He was, however, identified with 
the Populist party for several years, being led to this action by reason 
of his views upon the financial question and other reform measures of 
that party. He is a political leader in Kingsbury county, and is not 
only a power in local politics, but his influence as an organizer and 
campaigner is felt throughout a large section of the state.