Herman V. Sears Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1459-1460 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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	HERMAN V. SEARS, of Plankinton, Aurora county, was born in Rock 
county, Wisconsin, on the 23d of October, 1848, being a son of Thomas W. 
and Elizabeth K. (Stone) Sears, of whose four children three are living: 
Herman V., subject of this sketch; Edgar P., engaged in the real-estate 
business in Salt Lake City; and Minnie, wife of J. F. Anderson, a lumber 
merchant of Mitchell, South Dakota. Thomas W. Sears was born in 
Southampton, England, and was ten years of age at the time of his 
parents' emigration to America, the family settling on a farm in New 
York state, where he was reared and educated. He came west about 1845 
and settled in Rock county, Wisconsin, as a pioneer farmer, purchasing 
government land and there continuing to follow agricultural pursuits 
until 1867, when he removed to West Union, Iowa, where he engaged in 
mercantile business and was also interested in farming. In 1882 he came 
to Chamberlain, South Dakota, and here made wise investments in 
connection with various enterprises, having likewise been in advance of 
the tide of immigration in this state, as had he been in Wisconsin and 
Iowa. He here lived practically retired until his death, in 1887. He was 
a Republican in politics and both he and his wife were active members of 
the Congregational church, her death occurring in 1888. 

	Herman V. Sears secured his rudimentary education in the public 
schools and thereafter attended the Allen's Hill Seminary, at Allen's 
Hill, Wisconsin. He continued to be identified with farming until 1873, 
when he engaged in the livery and live-stock business in West Union,. 
Iowa. In 1881 he came as a pioneer to Chamberlain, South Dakota, and 
here, on the 1st of January of that year, was associated with George 
Wright in opening to the public the popular hotel then known as the 
Wright House and now as the Mussman House. One year later he sold his 
interest to his partner and engaged in the livery and live-stock 
business, disposing of his livery a few years later and then becoming 
extensively engaged in the ranching business in Jackson county. being 
associated in this enterprise with his eldest son. In 1900 Mr. Sears, in 
company with J. W. Sanford and W. L. Montgomery, organized the 
Commercial Bank at Plankinton, and he was chosen cashier of the same, in 
which capacity he has since served, the bank having gained a high 
reputation for stability and capable management. In the spring of 1903 
the subject purchased the interest of Mr. Sanford and the institution is 
now owned by him and Mr. Montgomery. Mr. Sears is a progressive and 
public-spirited citizen, is a stalwart Republican in politics and served 
as a member of the council and the school board while a resident of 
Chamberlain. He is a member of West Union Lodge, Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows, in West Union, Iowa, and also of the Iowa Legion of Honor, 
while he is identified with the various bodies of the Masonic fraternity 
in Chamberlain and with the consistory of the Scottish Rite in Yankton, 
having attained to the thirty-second degree in the same. 

	On the 5th of March, 1869, Mr. Sears was united in marriage to 
Miss Libbie Wade, of Sumner, Iowa, who died June 14, 1882, and of their 
four children three are living, namely: Fred H., who has charge of the 
ranching business in which he is associated with his father; Nellie W., 
who has charge of the books in the lumber yards of J. F. Anderson at the 
headquarters in Mitchell, this state; and Charles W., who is in the 
marine service at Yokohama, Japan, having participated in the Chinese 
campaign and also in the military maneuvers in the Philippines. On 
August 8, 1884, Mr. Sears was married to Miss Belle Drury, of Mason, 
Illinois, and they have one child, Lulu M. Sears, born September 20, 
1889.