Robert T. Sedam Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1256-1257 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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	ROBERT T. SEDAM was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, on the 15th 
of February, 1839. being a son of Robert and Eve Sedam, representatives 
of early settled families in that section of our national domain. He 
received most meager educational advantages in his youth, his actual 
schooling being confined to six months, but his alert mentality and 
determination have enabled him to overcome this preliminary handicap, 
and through self-application, observation and active association with 
men and affairs he has gained a broad fund of practical knowledge and is 
recognized as a man of strong intellectuality. In May, 1839, at the age 
of six weeks, Mr. Sedam accompanied his parents on their removal to 
Freeport, Stephenson county, Illinois, where he was reared to manhood, 
the family having located on a farm in Stephenson county, as pioneers of 
that section. 

	Mr. Sedam continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits in 
Illinois until there came the call to higher duty, as the integrity of 
the nation was imperiled through armed rebellion.. On the 19th of April, 
1861, he tendered his services in defense of the Union, enlisting as a 
private in Company C, Fifteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which 
he proceeded to the front, his regiment being assigned to the Army of 
the Tennessee. He continued in active service for four years, six months 
and twelve days, receiving his honorable discharge, at Springfield, in 
July, 1865, after having made a record as a valiant and faithful soldier 
and having participated in many of the most notable battles of the great 
conflict. In October, 1864, at Acworth, Georgia, Mr. Sedam was captured 
by the Confederate forces under General Hood, and was held a prisoner in 
Andersonville for seven months and twelve days, enduring to the full the 
horrors and privations of that ill-famed prison pen. After the close of 
the war Mr. Sedam returned to Ogle county, Illinois, where he continued 
to be identified with agricultural pursuits until 1881, in October of 
which year he came to what is now the state of South Dakota, and took up 
the first claim in the present township of St. Lawrence, Hand county, 
filing a homestead entry. He continued to be actively engaged in farming 
and stock growing until October, 1895, when he took up his residence in 
the village of St. Lawrence where he is now in the employ of F. A. 
Altenow, who is here engaged in the general merchandise business. 

	In politics Mr. Sedam has ever given a staunch support to the 
Republican party, and in 1893 he was elected to represent his district 
in the state legislature, serving one term, during the third general 
assembly. He is now chairman of the board of education of his home town 
and chairman of the Hand county Republican committee. He is a prominent 
and honored member of the Masonic fraternity, being identified with 
Lodge No. 39, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; and St. Lawrence 
Chapter, No. 24, Royal Arch Masons, in each of which he has passed the 
official chairs. He is high priest of his chapter at the time of this 
writing, and in 1894 he had the distinction of serving as grand high 
priest of the grand chapter of the state. He also holds membership in 
St. Lawrence Lodge, No. 29, Ancient Order of United Workmen, in which he 
has held the office of master three years, while in 1895 he was grand 
foreman of the grand lodge of the order in the state. He manifests his 
deep interest in his old comrades in arms by affiliating with Colonel 
Ellis Post, No. 53, Grand Army of the Republic. His wife is a zealous 
and active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. 

	On the 1st of October, 1865, in Beloit, Wisconsin, Mr. Sedam was 
united in marriage to Miss Emeret M. Buckley, who was born in Genesee 
county, New York, and who was reared and educated in Illinois, being a 
daughter of Ebenezer and Emily Buckley. Mr. and Mrs. Sedam have eleven 
children, whose names, in order of birth, are as follows: Robert, John, 
Edward, Howard, Fred, Almeda, Jennie, Fannie, Ralph, James and Eva.