James H. McQuillen Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1271-1272 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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	JAMES McQUILLEN, of Lead, was born on August 15, 1843, at Jackson, 
Michigan, where his parents, Nicholas and Elizabeth (Riley) McQuillen, 
settled on their arrival in this country from Ireland, where they were 
born and reared. They came to America in 1826, and believing there was 
greater opportunity for enterprise and thrift in the unsettled West than 
in the East, proceeded at once to the territory of Michigan and, 
accepting the hard conditions of life in the wilderness, began to build 
a home and win an estate by hard work and stern endurance of every 
privation. The father was a mechanic and found his skill in great demand 
in the new country. The son was reared to the age of eighteen in his 
native place and was educated in its schools. In 1861, fired with the 
same spirit of adventure and self-reliance that had impelled his 
parents, he made a trip to California by way of New York and Cape Horn, 
and on arriving at his destination after a tedious and perilous voyage 
he engaged in prospecting and mining. He was at Sacramento when the 
presidential election of 1864 took place, and there he cast his vote for 
Mr. Lincoln's electors. He remained in California and Nevada until 1872, 
all the while connected with the mining industry, then returned to 
Michigan and secured employment in the copper mines around Lake 
Superior. Six years were passed in that region and occupation, and in 
the early part of 1878 he left for the Black Hills, where he was 
destined to find his future home, arriving in April. In July following 
he began an engagement with the Homestake Mining Company, which has 
continued until now, and he is now one of the oldest of that company's 
employees in continuous service. When he began to work for this 
corporation it had no mills, but one was erected during the same month 
that his work there began. He was assigned to the amalgamating 
department of the work, and with this he has been connected ever since. 
For ten years he has been night foreman of the stamp mills of the 
Homestake Company and by his fidelity and conscientious and intelligent 
performance of his important duties he has won a high place in the 
regard of his employers and the men in the mill. He has been careful of 
his earnings, investing them judiciously in mining property and other 
real estate, and he now has valuable possessions in each. His mining 
interests are very promising, and can hardly fail to be of great value 
in time. He stands well in the community, and takes an active and 
serviceable interest in every phase of its advancement. He belongs to 
the United Workmen, and he and his family are members of the Catholic 
church. 

	On July 18, 1880, at Houghton, Michigan, Mr. McQuillen was married 
to Miss Katie Halloran, a native of that state. They have one daughter, 
Katie, who was born at Lead and is now the wife of Herbert Richardson.