Ralph W. Parliman Biography


	This biography appears on page 1882 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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	RALPH W. PARLIMAN, one of the prominent and leading attorneys of 
Sioux Falls, is a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born at 
Newton Falls, Ohio. January 25, 1861, the son of Edwin and Jerusha I. 
(North) Parliman. He obtained a good common-school education, which was 
supplemented by attending the high school in Hastings, Minnesota. In 
1885 he commenced the study of law with his father, Judge Edwin 
Parliman, and was admitted to practice June 24, 1887. He first came to 
South Dakota May 10, 1878, and located at Sioux Falls and commenced the 
active practice of his profession at Britton, South Dakota, in 1887. In 
1891 he moved to Webster, this state, where he continued his business 
association with James Wells, under the firm name of Wells & Parliman, 
taking personal charge of the office. March 1, 1899, he located at 
Sioux Falls, where he formed a partnership with his father under the 
firm name of Parliman & Parliman, which enjoyed marked success and was 
continued up to the time of Judge Parliman's death, June 5, 1899. He 
then remained alone in the practice until, in December, 1903, he became 
associated with C. P. Bates, as Bates & Parliman, and they have since 
remained associated, commanding one of the largest law practices at the 
Minnehaha bar. As a lawyer Mr. Parliman evinces a familiarity with 
legal principles and a ready perception of facts, together with ability 
to apply the one to the other, which has won him a reputation as a 
sound and safe practitioner. Years of conscientious work have brought 
with them an equal increase of practice and reputation and also growth 
in legal knowledge and wide and careful judgment. In discussion of the 
principles of law he is noted for clearness of statement and candor. 
His zeal for a client never leads him to urge an argument which in his 
judgment is not in harmony with the law, and in all the important 
litigation with which he has been connected no one has ever charged him 
with anything calculated to bring discredit upon himself or cast a 
reflection upon his profession. By a straightforward, honorable course 
he has built up a large and lucrative legal business and financially 
has been successful far beyond the average of his calling, as he stands 
today among the first at the bar of his county. In politics, Mr. 
Parliman was reared a Democrat and remained faithful to the traditions 
of his party until the campaign of 1896 when, feeling that he could not 
conscientiously endorse his party's course, he affiliated with the 
Republicans. In 1888 he was elected state's attorney of Marshall 
county, and on May 10, 1894, President Cleveland appointed him 
postmaster of Webster, which position he held until June 5, 1898. While 
a resident of that place he was a member of the school board for nine 
years. May 14, 1898, he was commissioned first lieutenant and 
quartermaster of the Third Regiment United States Volunteer Cavalry and 
on June 21, 1898, he was appointed quartermaster of the First Cavalry 
Brigade, being detached from his own company. May 20, 1899, he was 
appointed referee in bankruptcy and retained this position for two 
years. Fraternally he is affiliated with Minnehaha Lodge, No. 5, 
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Sioux Falls Lodge, No. 62, Benevolent 
and Protective Order of Elks, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows 
at Webster.

	On March 16, 1888, Mr. Parliman was united in marriage to Miss 
Mattie A. Chamberlain and they have five children: Ralph W., Marie, 
James C., John E. and Beatrice I.