Maurice Moriarty Biography

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	MAURICE MORIARTY, the efficient and popular clerk of courts 
for Spink county, and a pioneer attorney of that county, was born at 
Clinton, Iowa, on May 13 1859. He attended the public schools of 
Muscatine county, Iowa, and later was matriculated in the Iowa State 
University at Iowa City, where he was graduated in the class of 1881, 
receiving the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. In the meanwhile, 
however, he had been reading law. In 1882 he came to South Dakota and 
located at Northville, Spink county, and formed a partnership with 
George C. Britton for the handling of real estate in connection with the 
practice of law. In 1884 he was admitted to the bar of Dakota territory. 
The firm of Britton & Moriarty was dissolved in 1885, at which time the 
subject removed to his farm near Northville. He carried on farming 
successfully until 1901, when, having been elected clerk of the courts 
in 1900, he removed to Redfield to assume the duties of his office. His 
administration of the clerk's office proved so satisfactory to the 
people that at the expiration of his term of two years he was reelected 
for a second term, and is still incumbent of the office. In politics Mr. 
Moriarty is a member of the Republican party, and has ever been an 
earnest exponent of that party's cause. He was a member of the first 
convention called in reference to securing the admission of South Dakota 
to the Union. He has taken an active part in the different campaigns, 
and has stumped the state several times. Mr. Moriarty is identified with 
both the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. 

	On December 13, 1863, Mr. Moriarty was united in marriage to Miss 
Estella Reiter who was born in Martin county, Minnesota.