James Philip Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1824 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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	JAMES PHILIP is one of those sturdy characters to whom success 
has come through individual effort in connection with the industrial 
development of the great northwest, where he has resided from the early 
pioneer days working his way upward to a position of definite 
independence and prosperity and being now one of the influential 
citizens of the city of Fort Pierre and one of the extensive stock 
growers of the state, while his is also the distinction of being the 
owner of the largest head of the American, bison, or buffalo, in the 
Union. Mr. Philip is a Scotsman and is endowed with the sterling 
characteristics of the race from which he is sprung. He was born in 
Morayshire, Scotland, on the 30th of April, 1858, and there passed the 
early years of his life, his educational advantages being such as were 
afforded in the national schools of the land of hills and heather and 
being somewhat limited, as he early began to depend on his own 
resources. In 1874, at the age of sixteen years, he came to America, 
determined to identify himself with the free and unconstrained life of 
the great west and coming to Cheyenne, Wyoming, in which state he was 
employed as a cattle herder until the following year, when he came to 
the Black Hills, where he passed one winter among the pioneer 
prospectors and miners. He then returned to Wyoming and made his 
headquarters at Fort Laramie, where he secured employment as a teamster 
in the government service, remaining thus engaged until 1877, when he 
went to Fort Robinson, Nebraska, and there secured employment as cowboy 
with the first cattle outfit that utilized the range on the Running 
Water, remaining there until the winter of 1878-9, when he entered the 
service of the quartermaster of Fort Robinson, in the capacity of 
dispatch carrier and guide, being thus employed until January, 1879, 
after which he devoted his attention to freighting and cattle herding 
in Nebraska and South Dakota until 1881, when he took up his permanent 
abode in Stanley county, this state, where he began trading in cattle 
on his own responsibility, his success becoming greater with the 
passing of the years, as he showed marked capacity in a business way. 
In 1896 Mr. Philip effected the organization of the Minnesota and 
Dakota Cattle Company, with headquarters at Fort Pierre, being made 
general manager of the same and continuing to be identified with the 
company until 1890, when he disposed of his interests. He is still 
prominently engaged in the raising and handling of cattle and is the 
owner of an excellent ranch of ten thousand acres in Stanley county, 
while, as before stated, he owns the largest herd of buffaloes in the 
Union, taking much pride in the same and having shown much appreciative 
judgment in thus preserving the few remaining specimens of this noble 
animal, whose vast numbers were ruthlessly swept away with the advance 
of civilization across the great western plains. He has over one 
hundred head of the buffaloes. Mr. Philip is also interested in the 
mercantile and real-estate business in Fort Pierre and is a member of 
the directorate of the Stockgrowers' National Bank, of this place. In 
politics he is a staunch advocate of the principles of the Democratic 
party, and in 1898 was elected to represent his district in the state 
senate, where he made an excellent record, while he also served one 
term as a member of the board of county commissioners. He is a Knight 
Templar Mason and has also attained to the thirty-second degree in the 
Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite division of this time-honored 
fraternity.

	Mr. Philip was married in the spring of 1879 and has six 
children, the three eldest having been educated in All Saints' School, 
in the city of Sioux Falls. The names of the children are here entered 
in order of birth: Emma, Olive, Hazel, Clara, Stanley and Roderick. Mr. 
Philip is a loyal and progressive citizen and is held in high esteem by 
all who know him and have recognition of his sterling attributes of 
character.