Elmer E. Rodabaugh Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1439-1440 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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	ELMER E. RODABAUGH, junior member of the well-known law firm of 
Orr & Rodabaugh, of Sioux Falls, who likewise maintains an office in 
Garretson, comes of staunch old Pennsylvania German stock, and the name 
which he bears has been for several generations identified with the 
annals of the old Keystone state of the Union. He was born on a farm in 
Lycoming county, that state, on the 18th of September, 1862, and is a 
son of Benjamin F. and Martha W. Rodabaugh, both of whom were likewise 
born and reared in that county, where the father is engaged in 
agricultural pursuits, being one of the representative citizens of this 
section. Our subject received his more rudimentary educational 
discipline in the public schools of his native county, and thereafter 
continued his studies in the Central State Normal School, at Lockhaven, 
while in 1883 he was matriculated in the University of Pennsylvania, 
where he followed the scientific course, being a student in that well-
known institution for a period of three years. In 1882 he began teaching 
in the schools of Pennsylvania, and thereafter continued to follow the 
pedagogic profession at intervals during a period of eighteen years, 
meeting with marked success in the educational field. In 1890 he came to 
South Dakota and took up his residence in Sioux Falls, and here engaged 
in reading law under the preceptorship of Alpha F. Orr, making rapid 
advancement in his studies, and being admitted to the bar of the state 
in 1895, since which time he has been successfully established in 
practice in Sioux Falls, having been associated with Mr. Orr, under the 
firm name of Orr & Rodabaugh, since 1895, while the firm controls a 
large and representative business, both as advocates and counselors, 
maintaining also an office in Garretson, this county, as previously 
noted. Mr. Rodabaugh is an uncompromising Republican in his political 
proclivities, and takes an active part in party work in a local sense. 
Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, in which he is 
affiliated with Unity Lodge, No. 130, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, 
while he also holds membership in Garretson Lodge, No. 74, Ancient Order 
of United Workmen. Though not a member of any religious body he has a 
deep reverence for the spiritual verities and his views are perhaps most 
nearly in harmony with the tenets of the faith of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. It should be noted in passing that the subject 
tendered his services to the government at the time of the Spanish-
American war, but was rejected by reason of overweight. 

	On the 12th of November, 1898, at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was 
solemnized the marriage of Mr. Rodabaugh to Miss Lydia Bailey, who was 
born in Lancaster, New York, on the 28th of October, 1862, being a 
daughter of Samuel and Julia Bailey, who are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. 
Rodabaugh have no children.