Eli B. Wixson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1720-1721 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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	ELI B. WIXSON.—Among those sterling citizens of South Dakota who 
have lived up to the full tension of the strenuous life on the frontier 
and who have likewise contributed in a significant degree to the 
development and upbuilding of the great and prosperous commonwealth, 
stands the subject of this memoir, than whom there are few to be found 
who have been longer resident of what is now the state of South Dakota, 
since he took up his abode here forty-five years ago. Mr. Wixson may be 
said with all consistency to be the founder of the town of Elk Point, 
the official center of Union county. He still resides in Elk Point and 
no citizen of the county is held in higher estimation than is this 
sturdy pioneer of pioneers. 

	Eli B. Wixson was born in Wayne, Steuben county, New York, on the 
6th of May, 1833, a son of Daniel and Deborah (Conklin) Wixson, the 
former of whom was of English lineage and the latter of German, both 
families having been early established in America. The subject was 
reared to manhood on the homestead farm, securing his early educational 
training in the common schools of the locality and remaining on the 
parental home until he had attained his legal majority. He thereafter 
attended for a time the academy at Dundee, New York, and shortly after 
leaving this institution he started for what was then considered the far 
west, this action being born of a spirit of adventure and a desire to 
discover what fortune had in store for him. He arrived in Sioux City, 
Iowa, in the month of May, 1856, the place being at that time a mere 
village of straggling order, and in 1859 he came into Dakota territory 
and pre-empted land in Union county, the southern portion of the town of 
Elk Point being located on this tract. He built the first house in the 
town, laying the foundation on the 22d of July, 1859. The domicile was 
of most primitive description, being constructed of logs and equipped 
with a dirt roof. Mr. Wixson located on his claim and devoted his 
attention to farming for several years, being one of the very first 
settlers in what is now a well-populated and prosperous section of the 
state. He was proprietor of the first hotel in Elk Point, conducting the 
same for a number of years, while he later erected and conducted what is 
now known as the Tremont House. 

	In 1861 Mr. Wixson enlisted in Company B, First Dakota Cavalry, 
being mustered in at Sioux City, Iowa, and he was in active service on 
the frontier in various Indian campaigns, having been for some time 
under command of General Sully and continuing in the service until 1865, 
when his company was mustered out, at Sioux City. He held the office of 
commissary sergeant during the entire period of his service and was a 
participant in many exciting and hazardous engagements with the hostile 
savages. 

	In politics the subject gives an unqualified support to the 
Democratic party, and he has been prominently concerned in public 
affairs of a local nature. He served for one term as mayor of Elk Point 
and was for many years a member of the town council and the school 
board. In 1871-72 he was elected register of deeds of Union county, 
being the fourth incumbent of this office, and he also held the position 
of county commissioner for several years, ever manifesting a lively 
interest in the welfare and development of his home town, county and 
state and evincing this interest in a practical and tangible way. In 
1866 he was elected to and served with honor in the territorial 
legislature as a member from Union county. He is the owner of valuable 
realty in Elk Point, being one of its most substantial and prosperous 
citizens. At the time when preparation was being made for the erection 
of the new court house Mr. Wixson gave to the county the land on which 
the present fine building is located, the same having been erected in 
1898, and the condition on which he donated the land was that the county 
seat remain perpetually in Elk Point and that the land in question 
should be utilized for the purpose designated. To these grounds he has 
since given a warranty deed to the county. He also donated the land on 
which the Elk Point high-school building was erected, the latter being a 
fine structure, containing eight rooms and basement. Mr. Wixson was a 
charter member of the first Masonic lodge organized in Sioux City, Iowa, 
and is now affiliated with Elk Point Lodge, No. 3, Free and Accepted 
Masons, in Elk Point. He is without doubt the oldest Mason in the county 
at the present time. He also holds membership in Stephen A. Hurbert 
Post, No. 9, Grand Army of the Republic, in his home town. He was one of 
the organizers of the Old Settlers' Association of Union county and has 
been its president from the beginning. 

	In Elk Point, on the 30th of November, 1865, was solemnized the 
marriage of Mr. Wixson to Mrs. Clara E. Christy (nee Cook), who was born 
in Onondago county, New York, on August 7, 1840. They have three sons 
and three daughters, concerning whom we incorporate a brief record, as 
follows: William M. is now engaged in a flouring mill at Hawarden, Iowa; 
Mary D. is the wife of George Walker, of Avon, South Dakota: Franklin B. 
is engaged in the elevator business in Elk Point; Eli B., Jr., is 
engaged in the barber business in Avon, this state; Alice May is the 
wife of Ren Wheeler, of Aberdeen, South Dakota; and Clara, who was the 
wife of William Davis, died in 1894, at the age of twenty-four years. By 
her former marriage Mrs. Wixson had a daughter, Lottie, who is now the 
wife of J. W. Steckman, of Avon, this state.