Henry H. Platts Biography


	This biography appears on pages 745-746 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	HENRY H. PLATTS is a native of the old Granite state, having been 
born in Cheshire county, New Hampshire, on Christmas day of the year 
1829. He is a son of Harvey and Harriett, (Davis) Platts, and both 
families were founded in New England in the colonial epoch of our 
national history, while several representatives of the Platts family 
fought in the cause of independence during the war of the Revolution, 
and others were actively participants in the war of 1812. The subject 
received a common-school education in New England and there continued 
to reside until 1852, when he came west in company with his brother Asa 
(who also resides in Moody county at the present time, being postmaster 
at Trent), locating in Jones county, Iowa, where he took up a claim of 
wild land, while later he removed to Worth county, that state, where he 
became a pioneer farmer, being a resident there at the time of the 
outbreak of the Civil war. His farm was isolated in the early days, and 
he was compelled one winter to haul flour a distance of twenty-five 
miles on a hand-sled in order to provide for the family needs. In 
October, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company C, Fourteenth Iowa 
Volunteer Infantry, the captain of his company being George H. Wolfe. 
His command was in service to a large extent in the states of Dakota 
and western Iowa, the most notable engagement in which the subject took 
part being that at Falling Water, west of Bismarck. In the spring of 
1864 Mr. Platts was transferred to Company M, Seventh Iowa Cavalry, 
with which he served on the western frontier, as had he also while a 
member of the infantry. In 1861 his command was at Sioux City and 
Yankton during the fall, and in December of that year was stationed at 
Fort Randall, remaining there until October 15, 1863, and having 
numerous sorties and battles with the rebellious Indians. The command 
was next sent to Fort Sully, this state, and there, in the spring of 
1864, having been granted a furlough, the subject and other members of 
his company constructed flatboats on which they made their way down the 
Missouri river to Sioux City, where they remained about six months. 
After the expiration of his original term, Mr. Platts reenlisted, as a 
member of the same regiment, and thereafter continued in service until 
June 26, 1866, when he was mustered out, at Sioux City, where he 
received his honorable discharge. He was with General Sully in nearly 
all of that officer's expeditions against the Indians, and saw much 
hard and hazardous service, while his record is that of a valiant and 
faithful soldier.  

	After the close of the war Mr. Platts returned to his farm, near 
Bristol, Worth county, Iowa, and thereafter improved his land and 
brought it under effective cultivation. In 1876 he disposed of the 
property and came to South Dakota, making the trip overland with team 
and wagon. He located in Moody county, where he entered claim to three 
hundred and twenty acres of-government land, in Egan township, and here 
he improved one of the best ranches now to be found in the county, 
having erected substantial and commodious farm buildings and having 
placed the greater portion of the land under cultivation. The farm is 
one which would do credit to any of the older settled states of the 
Union, and bears slight resemblance to the barren tract which was here 
represented at the time when the subject assumed possession, nearly 
thirty years ago. Success attended his efforts, and though he 
encountered the various vicissitudes and hardships ever incidental to 
opening up the march of civilization and development in a new country, 
the results have amply compensated for the trial and for the strenuous 
labors performed. Mr. Platts continued to reside on the homestead until 
1893, in October of which year he removed to the village of Egan, where 
he engaged in the mercantile business, having a general store and 
securing a good trade. This enterprise received the major portion of 
his time and attention, up to the time of his death, which occurred on 
the 23d of February, 1904.  

	Mr. Platts gave a staunch allegiance to the Republican party from 
the time of its organization, and ever showed a loyal interest in the 
promotion of its cause, while he was influential in local affairs of a 
public nature. For a quarter of a century he served almost 
consecutively as justice of the peace, and his wise counsel had much to 
do in bringing about amicable adjustments of the minor difficulties 
among his neighbors, while he was signally fair and impartial in all 
his decisions. He also served in the various other township offices, 
and ever commanded the unqualified esteem of the people of the 
community in which he so long lived and labored. He and his wife were 
zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and fraternally he 
was identified with C. C. Washburn Post No. 15, Grand Army of the 
Republic, at Egan, and with Lodge No. 71, Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, in the same place.  

	Mr. Platts was first married, February 7,1854, to Miss Emma 
Sawtell, and to them were born eight children, Harvey E. (married Miss 
Laura Neff), Charles F., Emma A. (married to E. R. Hopkins and now 
living in Canada), Ella E. (the wife of E. F. Peck, of Austin, 
Minnesota), Hattie R. (wife of G. H. LaVanway, of Egan South Dakota), 
Albert W. (married Bertha Wilson), Abel H. and Jennie L., of whom 
Charles and Jennie are deceased. Mrs. Emily Platts died in Iowa, May 
13, 1876, and on March 27, 1877, in Dakota, Mr. Platts married Mrs. 
Nancy M. LaVanway (nee Wilkins). She was born March 30, 1831, at 
Stockholm, St. Lawrence county, New York, and on July 10, 1849, was 
married to Solomon LaVanway, who died November 3, 1869. She became the 
mother of ten children, all of whom are living. Her death occurred at 
Egan, South Dakota, on the 8th of January, 1901.