William J. Lilly Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1410 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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	WILLIAM J. LILLY, formerly assistant master mechanic for the 
Homestake Mining Company, at Lead, and now engaged with an English 
mining company at El Oro, Mexico, is a native of England, and may almost 
be said to have been born to his business. His life began on December 
26, 1859, and he is the son of Richard and Ann (Clark) Lilly, also 
English by nativity. His mother died when he was yet a child, and when 
he was ten years old his father emigrated to the United States, leaving 
him in the care of relatives in his native land. There he received the 
greater part of his education remaining until 1874, when he joined his 
father in the Lake Superior mining regions, where the parent was master 
mechanic for a large mining company. He went to work in the mechanical 
department of the mines under the direction of his father, with whom he 
remained three years. In 1878 he came to the Black Hills, arriving in 
May. Here he prospected and worked at placer mining on his own account 
three years, then for a number of years was employed by various mining 
companies putting up machinery and running shops. In 1888 he took a 
course of training at Bryant & Stratton's Business College, Chicago, and 
at its conclusion returned to the Hills and again went to work in the 
mining industry. Since then he has taken a course in mechanics with the 
Scranton Correspondence Schools. In 1890 he made a prospecting trip 
through Oregon and Washington, and in 1891, being back in the Hills, 
engaged in mechanical work for different companies for nearly a year. In 
June, 1892, he again entered service in the Homestake Company, working 
in the machine shops and putting up machinery. In December, 1901, he was 
promoted assistant master mechanic, a position which he filled most 
acceptably in every respect, until recently, when he resigned his 
position with the Homestake Company, and accepted a position as master 
mechanic for the El Oro Mining and Railway Company, a large English 
firm, operating extensively in the republic of Mexico. He is well 
educated, an excellent penman, a skillful draughtsman, and in other 
respects is well qualified for his work, having acquired facility in it 
by technical study and active practice. Throughout the communities where 
he has resided he is well esteemed for his business capacity, his active 
and helpful interest in public affairs and his genial and companionable 
social qualities. 

	On August 30, 1892, at Spearfish, this state, Mr. Lilly was 
married to Miss Bina Faartoft, a native of Denmark. They have two 
children, Arthur R. and Edna M. Mr. Lilly is a member of the Modern 
Woodmen of America, belonging to the camp of the order at Lead.