Edwin Parliman Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1881-1882 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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	JUDGE EDWIN PARLIMAN, deceased, who during his lifetime was 
considered a leader of the bar of Minnehaha county, was born in Stark 
county, Ohio, December 21, 1832 He was given the advantages of a 
common-school education, which was supplemented by attendance at 
Allegheny College, at Meadville, Pennsylvania, from which he graduated 
in 1850. Upon attaining his majority, he removed- to Decorah, Iowa, 
where he learned the watchmaker's. trade and where he later engaged in 
the jeweler's business on his own account. In 1857 he went to Austin, 
Minnesota, and shortly afterwards located in Hastings, the same state. 
He took up the study of law and in September, 1860, was admitted to the 
bar and practiced law at Hastings until his enlistment in the United 
States military service. He enlisted in the Second Minnesota Cavalry 
Regiment and the following year received a commission as first 
lieutenant of his company, being promoted to a captaincy in 1865 and at 
the time of his discharge, in December, 1865, he was brevetted major. 
Upon the completion of his military services he returned to Hastings 
and renewed his law practice, continuing so engaged until coming to 
Sioux Falls in 1867. While still a resident of Minnesota, he held the 
office of district attorney of Dakota county two terms. He was the 
first village attorney of the village of Sioux Falls and was appointed 
county attorney by the county board, holding this position three years. 
At the first election after South Dakota's admission as a state, he was 
elected county judge and held his position until 1897, seven 
consecutive years, to the great satisfaction of litigants and lawyers. 
After leaving the bench he resumed the practice of law, at first in 
partnership with Harry R. Carlten, and later continuing the practice 
alone. He was appointed referee in bankruptcy, being the first 
appointee to this position after the bankruptcy law went into effect, 
holding the position until ill health compelled him to resign, when his 
son Ralph was appointed to the position. On March 1, 1899, he formed a 
partnership with his son Ralph, under the firm name of Parliman & 
Parliman, this association continuing until his death.

	Judge Parliman was a good lawyer and a good citizen. His judicial 
integrity was beyond criticism and his death was deemed an irreparable 
loss by the members of the bar with which he had been so long 
associated.

	Judge Parliman was twice married. In 1852 he wedded Miss Jerusha 
North and to them were born four children: Emma B., wife of C. S. 
Donaldson, of Lakeville, Minnesota; Percy M., wife of Jessie Scofield, 
of Lakeville, Minnesota; Ralph, of Sioux Falls; and Maty, wife of E. G. 
Brickner, of St. Paul, Minnesota. By mutual consent Judge Parliman and 
his wife separated and were divorced in 1880. Mrs. Parliman still lives 
at St. Paul, Minnesota. On February 1, 1881, the Judge was united in 
marriage to Miss Mary Cunningham, to which union has been born one 
child, Arthur C. Mrs. Parliman survives her husband and makes her home 
in Sioux Falls.

	In Judge Parliman we find united many of the rare qualities which 
go to make up the successful lawyer and jurist. He possessed perhaps 
few of those brilliant, dazzling meteoric qualities which have 
sometimes flashed along the legal horizon, riveting the gaze and 
blinding the vision for the moment, then disappearing, leaving little 
or no trace behind, but rather had those solid and more substantial 
qualities which shone with a constant luster, shedding light in the 
dark places with steadiness and continuity.