William F. Rabbitt Biography


	This biography appears on pages 678-679 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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	WILLIAM F. RABBITT is incumbent of the responsible position of 
clerk of the county and circuit courts for Grant county, is known as an 
able executive, while he is one of the popular young men of the county, 
where he has maintained his home since 1897.  

	Mr. Rabbitt is a native of the fair Emerald Isle, having been 
born in County Galway, Ireland, on the 25th of March, 1872, and being a 
son of James and Nora (Dillon) Rabbitt, who were born and reared in the 
same county and who are now both deceased. The subject received his 
early educational discipline in his native land, and came to America in 
1884, being a lad of twelve years at the time. He thereafter resided in 
the city of Chicago until 1895, attending school and being employed in 
various commercial houses, and he then went to the city of 
Philadelphia, where he was employed as a traveling salesman by the 
Dogley Tea Company until 1897, in which year he came to South Dakota 
and took up his residence near Twin Brooks, Grant county, where he 
became the owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he 
has added four hundred and eighty acres, making one of the most 
valuable and well improved farms of this county. He there continued to 
be actively engaged in farming and stock raising until his election to 
his present office, in November, 1900, having been chosen as his own 
successor in the election of 1902, which fact offers- patent evidence 
of the acceptable work he has done as clerk of the courts. He is a 
staunch advocate of the principles of the Republican party and was 
elected on its ticket.  

	He has taken a deep interest in the development of the 
agricultural resources of this section, while he is recognized as an 
able business man and essentially public-spirited citizen. He is the 
owner of a nice home in Milbank, and the same is a favorite resort of 
the large circle of friends which he and his wife have drawn about 
them. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen, and the Improved Order of Red Men.  

	On the 29th of March, 1900, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. 
Rabbitt to Miss Augusta Runge, who was born in Wisconsin, being a 
daughter of Julius Runge, one of the honored pioneers and prominent 
farmers of Grant county. Mr. and Mrs. Rabbitt have two children. Nora 
Augusta and Elizabeth Elmira S.