D. G. Stokes Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1593-1594 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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	D. G. STOKES, one of the leading farmers and stock growers of 
Marshall county, was born in Wright county, Minnesota, on the 8th of 
January, 1859, and is a son of Frederick and Mary (Hogue) Stokes, both 
of whom were born and reared in England. The father of the subject came 
to America in the early 'fifties and remained for some time in the state 
of New York, whence he came to the west and settled thirty miles north 
of the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, where both he and his wife still 
reside. They became the parents of twelve children, of whom the subject 
was the sixth in order of birth. 

	D. G. Stokes secured his early educational training in the public 
schools of Minnesota, duly availing himself of the advantages thus 
afforded and thus laying the foundation for a successful career in 
connection with the active duties and responsibilities of life. He was 
identified with the saw milling business in Minnesota until 1888, when 
he came to the present state of South Dakota, which was admitted to the 
Union about two years later, and he joined his brother, H. L., at Burch, 
Marshall county, the latter having located here in 1886. They continued 
to be associated in the carrying on of a general merchandise business in 
Burch until 1896, when they removed their stock of goods to Britton, 
where the enterprise has since been continued and where the firm have 
built up a large and representative business, having a well-appointed 
store and carrying a select and comprehensive stock. They are also the 
owners of sixteen hundred acres of fine farming and grazing land in the 
county. the homestead ranch being located four miles northwest of 
Britton. The subject resides on the farm and has direct supervision of 
its operation, while his brother has charge of the mercantile business 
and is also president of the Marshall County Bank, in Britton. The ranch 
is chiefly devoted to the raising of high-grade live stock upon an 
extensive scale, and on the same is to be found one of the finest herds 
of registered Galloway cattle in this section of the state. The subject 
also buys and ships grain upon a large scale, having his headquarters at 
Burch and controlling an important business in the line. The ranch is 
supplied with an abundance of pure water, a fine artesian well of six-
inch piping having been sunk to a depth of nine hundred and thirty-five 
feet, and having a flow which affords a twenty-five horse power, said 
power being utilized in the grinding of feed and also for other 
purposes. 

	In his political proclivities Mr. Stokes is an uncompromising 
advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and he has taken a 
lively interest in the promotion of its cause, while he has held various 
county and township offices, and in 1902 was elected to represent his 
county in the state legislature, where he made an excellent record as a 
zealous working member of the lower house. He is identified with the 
Masonic fraternity and also with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
in which latter he has served as noble grand of his lodge. 

	On the 28th of November, 1882, Mr. Stokes was united in marriage 
to Miss Rosamond Eastor, who was born and reared in Minnesota, and they 
have two sons, Guy L. and Max G.