Isaac J. Todd Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1323-1324 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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	ISAAC J. TODD, a member of the firm of Todd Brothers, of Salem, 
Hanson county, was born in the city of Elgin, Illinois, which was then a 
small village, on the 25th of September, 1854, being a son of James and 
Eliza (Boyce) Todd, to whom were born five sons and five daughters, all 
of whom are yet living. James Todd was born in the county of Armagh, 
Ireland, where he was reared and educated and where he learned the trade 
of weaver. At the age of twenty-six years he emigrated from the fair 
Emerald Isle to America, locating in Ohio, where his marriage was 
solemnized, shortly after which event he removed to Elgin, Illinois, 
where he learned the moulder's trade, to which he there continued to 
devote his attention until about 1856, when he removed with his family 
to Winneshiek county, Iowa, where he took up government land and turned 
his attention to agricultural pursuits, eventually becoming the owner of 
a valuable landed estate of four hundred acres and being one of the 
honored and influential citizens of the county. He was the architect of 
his own fortunes, having come to America without financial reinforcement 
or influential friends and having won prosperity by hard work and good 
management. He was a man of inflexible integrity and most generous and 
kindly impulses, and after coming to the United States he aided in 
bringing his brothers here. In politics he was a Republican, and while 
in his native land was a communicant of the church of England, but 
became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church after coming to 
America. His devoted and cherished wife passed to her reward in 1900, 
and his death occurred in 1887. 

	The subject of this sketch was a child of but two years at the 
time when his parents removed to the pioneer farm in Iowa, and there he 
was reared under sturdy and invigorating discipline, his educational 
advantages being such as were afforded in the common schools of the 
locality and period. He continued to be associated in the management of 
the home farm until he had attained the age of twenty-five years, when, 
in 1879, he came to South Dakota and located in McCook county, entering 
claim to a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, near Montrose. 
There he developed a valuable farm, and for five years he was also 
engaged in the buying and shipping of grain, in which line of enterprise 
he was very successful. In 1886 Mr. Todd was elected register of deeds 
of McCook county, serving one term, and in 1888, upon -retiring from 
office, he engaged in the real-estate business, in which he has been 
particularly successful, being associated with his brother since 1894. 
The firm handle principally their own properties, being at the present 
time the owners of more than three thousand acres of valuable farming 
land in McCook and adjoining counties. Mr. Todd is a staunch adherent of 
the Republican party, and for a number of years was a member of its 
state central committee. He is affiliated with Montrose Lodge, No. 48, 
Free and Accepted Masons; Chapter No. 73, Royal Arch Masons; Commandery 
No. 17, Knights Templar; the Scottish Rite consistory at Yankton, and 
the Ancient Order of United Workmen. 

	Mr. Todd was married September 29, 1885, to Miss Ida McCooke, of 
Montrose, South Dakota, and there have been born to this union six 
children, two boys, now dead, and four girls living, viz: Adah M., 
Geneva E., Elva and Nauva.