Laurence J. O'Toole Biography This biography appears on pages 1115-1116 in "History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. LAURENCE J. O'TOOLE, one of the representative farmers and stock growers of Codington county, is a native of the fair Emerald Isle, having been born on the 16th of June, 1860, and being a son of John and Mary (Dowling) O'Toole, who were born and reared in Ireland. The father was there engaged in farming until his death. The subject and other members of the family came to America in I87I, at which time he was a lad of about eleven years, his early educational discipline having been secured in his native land. He was the youngest of the three sons and two daughters in the family, and of that number three are living at the present time. His brother Patrick had previously come to the United States, and was a member of Corrigan's Brigade of New York, during the Civil War, in which he sacrificed his life, being killed in battle. Upon coming to the new world the subject and the other members of the family located in New York, where he was reared to manhood, in the meanwhile continuing his educational work in the public schools, while in 1877 he came west and took up his abode in the home of an aunt in Winona county, Minnesota, where he also attended school, remaining with his aunt until 1880, when he came to South Dakota. Laurence was twenty years of age at the time of casting his lot with what is now the state of South Dakota. In 1881 he took up one hundred and sixty acres of government land in Codington county, the same constituting a portion of his present farm. He set himself vigorously to the work of improving his land and placing it under cultivation, and through energy and good management he has attained a position of independence, being one of the well-to-do farmers of this section, while he has ever maintained a strong hold on popular confidence and esteem in the community. He gives his earnest attention to diversified agriculture and to the raising of high-grade live stock. In politics his support is given to the Republican party, and he has taken an active part in public affairs of a local nature, while he has been called upon to serve in various positions of trust and responsibility, including the office of township clerk and that of member of the board of supervisors, while for the past eighteen years he has been postmaster of Esterly. He is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He has improved his ranch with a commodious and comfortable residence and other excellent buildings, while the entire place gives unmistakable evidence of thrift and prosperity. On the 16th of February, 1885, Mr. O'Toole was united in marriage to Miss Della S. Grammond who was born and reared in Illinois, being a daughter of Oliver and Sarah (Barslo) Grammond, both of whom were of French ancestry, but born in Canada. Mr. and Mrs. O'Toole have eight children, namely: Marie Nellie, John L., Edward J., Laurence H., Earl L., Clarence C. Samuel C. and Della M.