Horace W. Leblond Biography

	This biography appears on pages 1038-1039 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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	HORACE W. LEBLOND, a pioneer druggist of Chamberlain, South 
Dakota, and in point of continuous residence one of the town's oldest 
business men as well as one of the leading citizens of Brule county, was 
born June 28, 1854, in Celina, Ohio, and when a child of three years was 
taken by his parents on their removal to Minnesota, in which state he 
spent his childhood and youth and in the public schools of which he 
received his elementary education. The discipline thus acquired was 
later supplemented by a three years course in the University of 
Minnesota, after which he took up the study of pharmacy and pursued the 
same until becoming proficient in every detail of the profession.  

	In 1881 Mr. LeBlond came to South Dakota on a prospecting tour for 
a location, and being pleased with the new town of Chamberlain and the 
advantages it afforded to young men of spirit and enterprise, he decided 
to make it his permanent place of abode. In due time he secured a 
business room and, stocking the same with a full  line of drugs and a 
complete assortment of such other articles and sundries as are usually 
found in first-class establishments of the kind, opened his doors and 
announced himself in readiness to wait upon his customers. Being the 
only business house of the kind in the place, he soon commanded a large 
and lucrative patronage and his career from that time to the present 
day, covering a period of over twenty-two years, presents a series of 
continued advancements, which now place him in the front ranks of the 
enterprising and successful men of affairs in this part of the state. 
Mr. LeBlond has added largely to his stock in order to keep abreast of 
the steadily growing demands of the trade, and being, as already 
indicated, a master of his profession and at the same time a most 
courteous and obliging business man whose relations with the public have 
always been of a pleasant and agreeable character, it is not at all 
surprising that he has won a warm and permanent place in the confidence 
and esteem of the people.  

	Since locating in Chamberlain, Mr. LeBlond has been an influential 
factor in the growth and development of the place and a conspicuous 
figure in its political and public affairs. Although a strong adherent 
of the Democratic party, he was elected in the early days of the town to 
the office of city clerk, making the race on the Peoples' ticket and 
defeating a well-known and popular competitor by a very decisive 
majority. After serving one term with credit to himself and to the 
satisfaction of the public, he was re-elected his own successor on the 
citizens' ticket, his successful management of the office being his 
greatest recommendation to the suffrage of the people regardless of 
party or political affiliation, his second term fully justifying the 
support given him and adding to his reputation as an able and judicious 
and popular public servant.  

	Mr. LeBlond has a beautiful and attractive home in Chamberlain 
which is presided over with dignity and grace by a lady of intelligence 
and varied culture who, since 1893, has worthily and honorably borne his 
name, shared his fortunes and successes, co-operated with him in his 
endeavors and sympathized and assisted him in all of his aspirations. 
Mrs. LeBlond before her marriage was Miss Lizzie Bridgeman and she was 
born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and moved to South Dakota in 1880. In his 
business and social relations Mr. LeBlond has been actuated by the 
highest motives of honor and his record is that of a man of wide 
intelligence and broad generous sympathies, whose integrity has never 
been questioned and whose character has always been above reproach. He 
is a Mason of the Royal Arch degree, an influential member of the blue 
lodge in Chamberlain and at various times has been honored with high 
official stations in the different branches of the order with which he 
is identified.