Frank D. Bangs Biography


	This biography appears on pages 224-225 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JUDGE FRANK D. BANGS.  

	Frank D. Bangs, judge of the county court and a well known 
attorney of Rapid City, successfully practicing with a large and 
distinctively representative clientage, was born in Le Sueur, Minnesota 
June 19, 1878. His father, Judge Alfred W. Bangs, a native of 
Pennsylvania, went to Minnesota in pioneer days and was there residing 
upon the frontier at the time of the New Ulm Indian massacre. In 1882 
he removed to North Dakota, and in February, 1889, arrived in Rapid 
City. He has figured prominently in connection with the public life and 
interests of the state. He served as a member of the first state senate 
representing Pennington county and he was one of the prominent lawyers 
of the state. In Minnesota he sat upon the bench of the county court 
and for two terms he was county judge of Pennington county. He likewise 
filled the office of states attorney for two terms and was widely 
recognized as an able, conscientious and distinguished lawyer and 
jurist. Therefore, in his death, which occurred in March 1904, the 
state lost one of its representative and valued citizens.  

	Judge Alfred W. Bangs married Miss Sarah Plowman, who was a 
native of Canada and was of Irish parentage. They had a family of five 
sons and one daughter, all of whom are yet living. Tracy R., now a 
resident of Grand Forks, North Dakota, was for two years grand supreme 
chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, the highest office in the gift of 
the order. He is also an able lawyer and for two terms has served as 
states attorney. George A., likewise an able member of the bar, has 
filled the office of states attorney for two terms and for one term was 
city attorney of Grand Forks, North Dakota. Helen is the wife of Joseph 
P. Buck, now of Filer, Idaho. Stein, of Beebe, Montana, is the owner of 
a cattle ranch and is also a civil engineer who for two terms has 
served as county surveyor. He was likewise professor of physics and 
civil engineering in the State School of Mines for several years. 
Eugene L. is engaged in the automobile business and was formerly 
sheriff of Pennington county.  

	Frank D. Bangs, who completes the family, was educated in the 
public schools of Rapid City, mastering the branches in successive 
grades until he became a high-school pupil. He afterward studied law in 
his father's office and after a thorough course of preliminary reading 
was admitted to the bar in October, 1902. He at once joined his father 
in practice and so continued until the latter's death in 1904. He has 
since practiced alone and has enjoyed a good clientage, for the public 
recognizes his ability to successfully conduct intricate and involved 
cases. His devotion to his clients, interests is proverbial, yet he 
never forgets that he owes a still higher allegiance to the majesty of 
the law. He is now acceptably serving as county judge.  

	On the 24th of December, 1902, Judge Bangs was married to Miss 
Della Garlick, a daughter of William and Helen M. (Hardy) Garlick, of 
Rapid City. They have three children, Maud Lura, Claude Eugene and 
Clarence. In politics Judge Bangs is a democrat. Fraternally he is an 
Elk. He has by sheer merit established himself as one of the leading 
lawyers of the South Dakota bar and has participated in most of the 
important litigation heard in the western section of the state in 
recent years.