Emory C. Lashley Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1268-1269 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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	EMORY C. LASHLEY is a native of Cumberland, Maryland, where he was 
born on October 12, 1855, and the son of David H. and Sarah (Ash) 
Lashley, natives of Virginia. In 1856 the family moved to Washington, 
Iowa, where they remained until 1868, then settled at Lincoln, Nebraska. 
Here they were veritable pioneers, there being but three houses in the 
town when they located there. The father engaged in the lumber business 
and made that town his home until 1879,-when he moved to Furnas county 
in the same state, and built a grist mill which he conducted until his 
death. The son had but limited opportunities for securing an education, 
as the school facilities at Lincoln in his day were meager and 
primitive, and he was taken there at the age of thirteen. He at once 
went to work with his father in lumbering, and a few months later began 
clerking in a clothing and furnishing store, in which he was employed 
until he reached the age of seventeen. For two years from 1873 he worked 
on the range in western Kansas, then, after a short visit to his home, 
went to Colorado and during the next two years prospected and mined in 
different parts of that state. In 1877 he came to the Black Hills, 
arriving at Deadwood on April 3d and going to work immediately for H. B. 
Young on his mining property, which was afterward sold to the Homestake 
Company, remaining with Mr. Young until July. He then found employment 
with Moses and Fred Manuel, who at that time owned the principal claims 
that later formed the Homestake group. When they sold their properties 
to the Homestake Company he went into the employ of that organization, 
beginning work for it the same morning when it acquired this property. 
He was shift boss of miners and laborers for this company until 1894, 
except during one year when he was prospecting in Montana, and while 
working for the company acquired mining claims of his own which are of 
great value. In 1894 he resigned from the service of this company and in 
partnership with J. B. Tortat leased the Golden Crown mine, near Lead. 
for six months. Four months were consumed in boring a tunnel in search 
of good veins of ore which had disappeared and then they were again 
discovered and found to be rich and profitable. Two months later the 
owner sold the property and Mr. Lashley leased other mines and 
prospected in various places throughout the Hills, working also at 
different times for the Homestake Company. In 1901 he took a position 
with this company, intending to remain in its employ, but in the fall of 
the next year he was elected register of deeds on the Republican ticket, 
and on January 1, 1903, resigned his position with the company and took 
charge of his office. He has not, however, abandoned his interest in 
mining and still owns a number of very promising claims. On February 16, 
1882, he was married to Miss Katie Kostamo, a native of Finland, the 
marriage taking place at Lead. They have two children, Florence B. and 
Charles H. Mr. Lashley's fraternal affiliations are with Lodge No. 747, 
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, at Lead, the United Workmen and 
the Miners' Union of Lead.