Chester C. Torrence Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1071-1072 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.



CHESTER C. TORRENCE is a native of the state of Iowa, having been 
born in Jones county,  on the 13th of April, 1873, the fourth in order 
of birth of the six children of Adam C. and  Almira J. (Rooney) 
Torrence. Of the children we enter brief record as follows: George A. is 
a  resident of Bon Homme county and is associated with our subject in 
the management of the old  homestead farm and in the cattle business; 
Cora B. is the wife of Frank Cole, of York county,  Virginia; Nellie M. 
is deceased; Chester C. is the immediate subject of this sketch; David 
M. is  assistant to the subject in the postoffice; and Charles is 
deceased. Adam C. Torrence was  born in Fairfield county, Ohio, On the 
27th of August, 1840, and in 1849 he accompanied his parents on their 
removal to  Tama county, Iowa, where he was reared to manhood, receiving 
a good common-school  education. In 1861 he tendered his services in 
defense of the Union, enlisting as a private in  Company B, Ninth Iowa 
Volunteer Infantry, with which he proceeded to the front, remaining in  
the service three and one-half years, or until the close of the war, his 
regiment having served  under both Sherman and Grant, while the history 
of the Ninth Iowa is the record of his gallant  military career as a 
true and loyal son of the republic. After the close of the war he 
returned to  Iowa, and after his marriage located on a farm in Jones 
county, where he continued to reside  until 1883, when he came to South 
Dakota and purchased a farm three miles east of the town  of Bon Homme, 
in the county of the same name. In 1898 he removed to Montana and later 
to  Idaho which is now his home, while he is devoting his attention to 
fruit culture. He is a  Republican in politics and both he and his wife 
are exemplary members of the Methodist  Episcopal church, while 
fraternally he is a valued member of the Grand Army of the Republic.  He 
is a man of influence in his community but has never sought the honors 
of public office of  any order. Elmira J. (Rooney) Torrence was born 
in Warren county, Indiana, on the 27th of  September, 1843, and she 
accompanied her parents on their removal to Jones county, Iowa, in  
1850. being there reared and educated, and thus both the Torrence and 
Rooney families are to  be noted as having been pioneers of the favored 
state of Iowa.  

	Chester C. Torrence, whose name initiates this article, received 
his early educational training in  the public schools of his native 
county in Iowa and was about ten years of age at the time of the  family 
removal to South Dakota. As early as his fourteenth year he began to 
depend upon his  own resources, being a boy of marked energy and 
ambition, while his self-reliance prompted  him to prove his mettle, and 
he worked on farms or at such other occupations as he could  secure. For 
nearly six years he devoted his attention to the drilling of artesian 
wells in varios portions of South Dakota, being successful in his 
efforts and being careful to conserve his financial resources.  In 1900 
he located in Tabor and engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock 
and grain, in which connection he has shown much business tact and 
acumen and has met with unqualified success. In June 1901, he was 
appointed postmaster of the town, and in 1902 he here established the 
local telephone exchange, which he still owns and operates, the same 
being of great benefit to the town through the facilities which it 
offers.  For the past two years he has also served as deputy sheriff of 
the county, while in politics he is a staunch advocate of the principles 
and policies of the Republican party, and fraternally is identified with 
Tabor Camp, No. 9087, Modern Woodmen of America, and Canton Lodge of 
Home Guardians. He is held in high esteem in the community and is known 
as one of the energetic and progressive young business men of the 
county.

	On the 1st of February 1903, Mr. Torrence was united in marriage 
to Miss H. Emma Cooley, daughter of Hon. J. P. Cooley, of Bon Homme 
county.