Cyrus Walts Biography


	This biography appears on page 1231 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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	CYRUS WALTS is of sturdy German lineage, the name having 
originally been spelled Walz, and is a native of the state of New York, 
having been born in Watertown, Jefferson county, on the 24th of March, 
1844, being a son of William and Louise Walts, both of whom were 
likewise born and reared in the Empire state, the respective families 
having there located in an early day. The subject was reared on a farm 
and early became familiar with the strenuous toil of tilling the soil, 
while his educational training in his youth was secured in the common 
schools of northern New York. This has been most effectively 
supplemented by personal application and judicious study in later years, 
as well as by the valuable lessons gained in the great school of 
experience. He remained identified with farm work until he had attained 
the age of twenty-two years, when he set forth to seek his fortunes in 
the west, having arrived in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1869, and 
having here followed for a number of years his profession of surveyor 
and civil engineer, for which he had fitted himself while still a 
resident of New York. In 1872 he was chosen clerk of the United States 
district court, retaining this position for the long period of fifteen 
years, and being a valued and trusted official. For fourteen years he 
was a member of the board of education of Sioux Falls, having been its 
president for one year and having taken a deep interest in forwarding 
educational interests here, while for two years he served as county 
superintendent of schools. He was admitted to the bar of the territory 
in 1887, having given much time to the technical reading of the law and 
having thus fitted himself for the active work of the profession, though 
he has not practiced directly to any considerable extent. In 1898 he was 
elected city justice of the peace, and reelected in 1902, of which 
office he has since been incumbent, and in this capacity he has gained a 
high reputation for fair and impartial rulings. In politics Mr. Walts 
gives his allegiance to the Republican party. Fraternally he is 
affiliated with Minnehaha Lodge, No. 5, Ancient Free and Accepted 
Masons; of Sioux Falls Chapter, No. 2, Royal Arch Masons; Cyrene 
Commandery, No. 2, Knights Templar, and El Riad Temple of the Ancient 
Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. 

	On the 15th of May, 1873, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Walts 
to Miss Mary A. Benton, who was born in the city of Columbus, Ohio, on 
the 13th of September, 1853, being a daughter of Porter W. and Harriet 
(Phelps) Benton. She has the distinction of having been the first 
teacher in the first public school in Sioux-Falls, having been thus 
employed here during a portion of the years 1870-71. Mr. and Mrs. Walts 
have three children, Charles C., who is now engaged with R. G. Dull & 
Company Mercantile Agency as assistant manager at Buenos Ayres, South 
America; Harriet L., wife of George W. Stearns, managing editor of the 
St. Louis Globe-Democrat, and Hope V., wife of M. J. Gochey, of Duluth, 
Minnesota.