Newton S. Tubbs Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1741-1742 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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	NEWTON S. TUBBS, of Custer City, is a native of Oneida county, New 
York, and dates his birth from November 22, 1853, having first seen the 
light of day in the town of Weston, near which the parental homestead is 
situated. His youthful years were spent on his father's farm, where he 
early learned the lessons of industry, thrift and self-reliance, which 
have so materially influenced his subsequent life, and in the public 
schools he received a modest educational training. When a mere lad he 
began working for himself and so assiduously did he apply himself that 
at the age of sixteen he found himself the possessor of several hundred 
dollars, which he judiciously invested in land, thus early in life 
becoming a tiller of the soil upon his own responsibility. A hard worker 
and good manager, he took advantage of every opportunity to improve his 
condition, and it was not long until he was regarded one of the most 
energetic and successful agriculturists of the community in which he 
resided. He continued to cultivate his farm and prosper until 1879, when 
he disposed of his interests in York state and started west, arriving at 
Cheyenne, Wyoming, on March 24th of that year. Shortly after reaching 
his destination Mr. Tubbs engaged in dairying near Cheyenne, in 
connection with which he also bought cattle, meeting with encouraging 
success in troth lines of business. Later he discontinued his operations 
in Wyoming and in the fall of 1879 drove through with an ox-team to the 
Black Hills and took up land adjoining Custer City which place, at that 
time, was an insignificant hamlet, consisting of a few log shacks and 
occupied by a transient population, attracted thither by the prospect of 
gold. Having faith in the future growth and ultimate prosperity of the 
town, Mr. Tubbs decided to make it his permanent place of abode; 
accordingly he began improving his land, and in a short time started a 
dairy, which he operated for several years with profitable results, also 
established a cheese factory, which in like manner proved the source of 
a handsome income. While prosecuting these enterprises he turned his 
attention to stock raising, beginning on a small scale, but gradually 
enlarging the business until within a comparatively short time he had it 
established upon a firm basis with every prospect of continued success. 
In the fall of 1882 he went to Cheyenne and bought one thousand head of 
sheep, which he drove through to the Hills and herded on a large tract 
of fine grazing land near Red Canon, about ten miles from the Cheyenne 
river. This was the first attempt at sheep raising in the Black Hills 
country and to Mr. Tubbs belongs the honor of being the father of the 
industry in southwestern Dakota. From that time to the present his 
business has steadily grown in magnitude and importance until he is now 
the largest and most successful sheep raiser in the state, owning 
extensive tracts of land in various parts of the country and running 
from sixteen to twenty-five thousand head every year. 

	In addition to his large live-stock interests Mr. Tubbs is 
identified with various other enterprises, notable among which is the 
Edgemont Irrigation and Improvement Company, an undertaking inaugurated 
in 1895 to carry water from the Cheyenne river to a large area of 
surrounding country for the purpose of reclaiming and reducing to 
cultivation lands which up to that time were little better than dry, 
sterile wastes. This laudable object, however, failed of accomplishment 
by reason of the financial embarrassment of the company, after which Mr. 
Tubbs secured the entire canal and lands to the amount of ten thousand 
acres, taking possession of the property in January, 1903. He is now 
rapidly pushing the enterprise to completion and when finished it will 
doubtless make him one of the wealthiest men in the west, as the canal 
is the largest artificial waterway in the state, and the land when 
properly irrigated will be among the richest and most productive in 
Dakota. 

	Mr. Tubbs has manifested commendable zeal in all of his undertakings 
and possesses the ability, judgment and fertility of resource essential to 
the prosecution of large and important enterprises. He is not only a 
broad-minded, public-spirited man of affairs but tactful, shrewd and a 
natural leader who in business knows no such word as fail and who labors 
for the public good while advancing his own interests. His home, 
adjoining the corporate limits of Custer City, is perhaps the finest and 
most costly private residence in this part of the state, and he has been 
exceedingly liberal in surrounding himself and those dependent upon him 
with the conveniences and comforts of life and all the luxuries which 
large wealth and refined taste suggest. He was married in Custer City, 
August 3, 1883, to Miss Jennie Page, of Illinois, the union being 
terminated by the death of the loving and faithful companion, after a 
happy wedded experience of nearly nine years' duration. Mrs. Tubbs 
departed this life on the 22d day of March, 1902, leaving besides a 
husband three children to mourn her untimely loss, namely: George, Page 
and Alice. Mr. Tubbs holds membership with several secret fraternal 
organizations, belonging to the Masonic lodge at Custer City, also to 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen of America, Knights 
of the Maccabees and Ancient Order of United Workmen, at the same place, 
being an active worker in the different orders.