T. H. Peever Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1140-1141 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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	T. H. PEEVER is a native of Canada, and the son of David and Eliza 
(Huffman) Peever, who came from Ireland about 1860 and settled in Canada 
where the father purchased land and engaged in agricultural pursuits. Of 
a family of nine children, six sons and three daughters, T. H. is the 
eldest in order of birth. He was born August 4, 1862, receiving a good 
practical education in the public schools of Canada, and in 1881 came to 
the United States, locating for one year in Michigan, where he engaged 
in the lumber business. At the expiration of the time noted he went to 
Wisconsin, where he dealt in lumber during the ensuing nine years, and 
then sold out and came to Roberts county, South Dakota, arriving at 
Wilmot on the 25th of March, 1892, before the opening of the 
reservation. After running a locating office at the above place for a 
short time, Mr. Peever settled on the present site of Sisseton, where he 
took up a homestead and later when the town was laid out he assisted in 
the enterprise, took an active interest in disposing of the lots and was 
largely instrumental in attracting a thrifty class of people to the 
place. Shortly after locating at Sisseton, he began dealing in farm 
machinery, in connection with which he also opened a real estate office, 
and in due time built up a large and lucrative patronage in both lines 
of business, continuing the same with encouraging success for a period 
of six years. 

	Mr. Peever was the second postmaster of Sisseton, having been 
appointed to the position by President Cleveland, during whose 
administration he managed the office in a manner highly satisfactory to 
the public. He was the first chairman of Sisseton and Sisseton township 
before incorporation and did much to advance the interests of the 
community and promote its material growth and development. Mr. Peever 
has always been an ardent Democrat and since old enough to exercise the 
rights of citizenship-has taken active interest in party politics. In 
1899 he was nominated for the senate, but by reason of the county's 
being overwhelmingly Republican he failed of election, although he made 
a gallant fight and greatly reduced the normal majority of the 
opposition. In February, 1900, Mr. Peever organized the Peever-Gorham 
Mercantile Company of Sisseton, which was incorporated with a capital of 
fifty thousand dollars for the purpose of establishing and carrying on a 
general mercantile business, and of which he has since been president 
and business manager. The company carries full lines of merchandise, 
demanded by the general trade, owns large and commodious store rooms and 
does a much more extensive business than any establishment of the kind 
in the city or county. In addition to this enterprise the subject is 
president of the First State Bank of Peever, is interested in the Peever 
Loan Company, and owns a large and valuable farm adjoining Sisseton, 
which is operated under his direction. Mr. Peever is one of the wide-
awake, energetic men of Roberts county, and his ability to carry on 
successfully large and important enterprises is attested by the 
financial prosperity that has crowned. all of his undertakings. Mr. 
Peever is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Ancient 
Order United Workmen and Masonic fraternities, and in the last named 
organization he holds the office of treasurer at the present time. His 
domestic life dates from January 22, 1895, at which time he was united 
in marriage with Miss Agnes P. Rice, who died in 1897, leaving one 
child, a son by the name of David B. Subsequently, May 18, 1901, Mr. 
Peever was united in the bonds of wedlock with Miss Emma E. Schindler, a 
native of Minnesota, and a sister of the Schindler brothers, of 
Sisseton.