John Quigley Biography


	This biography appears on pages 644-645 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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	JOHN QUIGLEY. - The subject of this review was born in County 
Tipperary, Ireland, September 15, 1847, the son of Malachi and Mary 
(Hays) Quigley, both natives of the Emerald Isle, the father a farmer 
by occupation. In 1850 these parents disposed of their interests in the 
country of their birth and came to America, settling in McHenry county, 
Illinois, where Mr. Quigley bought land and engaged in agriculture, 
which pursuit he followed with good success until his death, in 1899, 
his wife dying two years previous to that date. Malachi Quigley was a 
thrifty man, an excellent citizen and a devout member of the Catholic 
church, in which faith his wife and children were also reared. Of the 
large family of ten children that formerly gathered around his 
hearthstone, but three are living at the present time, John, whose name 
introduces this sketch; Michael, who farms the old place in Illinois, 
and Ed D., a baggage man on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad.

	John Quigley was only three years old when his parents brought 
him to the United States, consequently he retains only a very dim 
recollection of the romantic land in which he first saw the light of 
day. Growing up in a new and sparsely settled country, his educational 
advantages were quite limited, but he early became familiar with hard 
work and the varied duties of the farm, which gave him a practical 
training, such as is needed by a boy thrown upon his own resources at 
an early age. After assisting his father until about his eighteenth 
year, he left home and in 1865 went to Jones county, Iowa, where he 
farmed during the ensuing three years, returning at the end of that 
time to Illinois. Two years later he went to Sioux City, Iowa, where he 
remained until August, 1872, when he came to Lincoln county, South 
Dakota, and took up a quarter section of land in Lynn township, upon 
which he at once began a general system of improvements. After working 
for some time on his place and reducing the greater part of it to 
cultivation, he entered the employ of a railroad company, running a 
line between Sioux City and Yankton, the first railroad in South 
Dakota, spending something like two years at this kind of work and 
making his headquarters the meantime at the former place.  

	Severing his connection with the railroad construction, Mr. 
Quigley returned to his farm and until the year 1890 gave his attention 
closely to its cultivation and improvement, also devoted a number of 
years to stock raising in connection therewith, meeting with 
encouraging success in both enterprises. In the above year he turned 
his farm over to other hands and, changing his residence to the village 
of Worthing, engaged in the livery business, which he conducted with 
profitable results for a period of ten years. In 1900 he erected the 
large building in Worthing which he now occupies and since that date 
has been doing an extensive and flourishing business as a dealer in 
agricultural implements, handling all kinds of machinery, tools, etc., 
his trade being among the largest of the kind in Lincoln county.  

	Mr. Quigley served four terms as supervisor, being one of the 
influential public men of his township and county, and a leader in a 
number of important enterprises. He affiliated with the Republican 
party up to the time of the holding of the national convention of that 
party in St. Louis in 1896, when, being an ardent supporter of the 
free-silver movement, he joined the reform party and did much effective 
work in insuring a large majority in his township for the latter party. 
As already indicated, he was born in the Catholic church, and has 
always remained loyal to its teachings; he lives his religion and his 
influence has always been for good, as is attested by the people, with 
whom he has so long mingled. Mr. Quigley was married in 1877 to Miss 
Mary Horty, of Cork, Ireland, a happy union though without issue. Mrs. 
Quigley died two years after the marriage. The subject is much 
respected in the social circles in which he moves and is also alive to 
all enterprises having for their object the benefit of the poor and 
unfortunate, or the general good of the community.