Ira C. Kingsbery Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1671-1672 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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	IRA C. KINGSBERY, cashier of the Bank of Hartford, Minnehaha county, is 
a native of the state of Indiana, having been born in Monticello, White 
county, on the 14th of September, 1851, a son of Albert and Maria 
(Adams) Kingsbery, the former of whom died in 1864, while the mother 
still lives at Monticello, Indiana. The subject secured his educational 
discipline in the public schools of his native county, having also 
attended the high school at Crawfordsville, Indiana, for one year. In 
1869 he initiated his independent business career by establishing 
himself in the grocery trade in Monticello, continuing this enterprise 
for three years and being successful in his efforts. In 1873 he 
purchased an interest in the Monticello woolen mills, which had been 
operated by his father up to the time of his death, in 1864. With this 
industrial undertaking the subject continued to be identified until 
1876, when he disposed of his interest in the same and removed to 
Remington, Indiana, where he was engaged in the general-merchandise 
business for the ensuing six years, at the expiration of which, in 1882, 
he came to South Dakota, and located in St. Lawrence, Hand county, where 
he became the pioneer merchant of the town, there continuing operations 
for the ensuing three years and then removing to Highmore, Hyde county, 
where he became associated with his brothers in the hardware and 
implement business, in which he there continued until 1888, when he came 
to Hartford and established the Bank of Hartford, forthwith assuming the 
office of cashier of the institution, of which the president, William H. 
Wells, owns the remaining half interest, he having never taken up his 
abode in South Dakota, so that the entire executive charge of the 
business has been in the hands of the subject from the time of 
establishing the bank. In addition to his banking interests Mr. 
Kingsbery is the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres adjoining the 
village, while he owns other lands in the county to an aggregate area of 
thirteen hundred and eighty acres, being prominently identified with the 
raising of the highest grade of Aberdeen Angus cattle. Fraternally he is 
affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while both he and 
his wife are prominent and valued members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. 

	On the 3d of June, 1874, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. 
Kingsbery to Miss Lu A. Curtis, of Monticello, Indiana, and they are the 
parents of three children, namely: Lois K., who is the wife of Frank L. 
Mays, editor and proprietor of the Daily Journal at Pensacola, Florida; 
Albert C., who is a graduate of the University of Colorado, at Boulder, 
Colorado; Howard L., who is a member of the class of 1903 in the 
University of South Dakota, at Mitchell.