Hiram Ellsworth Brisbine Biography


	This biography appears on pages 738-739 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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				HIRAM ELLSWORTH BRISBINE. 

	Hiram Ellsworth Brisbine, a merchant of Yankton and also 
identified as a stockholder or officer with other important business 
concerns, has throughout his entire life closely studied the 
possibilities of any situation and using his opportunities to good 
advantage, has made steady advancement. His course has never been 
actuated by the spirit of vaulting ambition but he has followed the 
path that favoring opportunity has pointed out and the simple weight of 
his character and ability has carried him into important relations. 

A native of Wisconsin, Mr. Brisbine was born in Fremont, November 11, 
1860, his parents being Thornton Whiteker and Mary Ann (Unkefer) 
Brisbine. The family comes of English origin and was established on 
American soil in the early part of the eighteenth century. Thornton W. 
Brisbine was born at New Lisbon, Ohio, on the 27th of November, 1821, 
and died on the 21st of June, 1911. Had he lived a few more months he 
would have reached the age of ninety years. At the time of the Civil 
war he joined the army as a member of a Wisconsin cavalry regiment and 
served throughout the period of hostilities, participating in a number 
of hotly contested engagements. After the war he returned home but 
decided to again go to the south, thinking to make a location there. On 
the way, however, he met members of the pioneer families of Dakota of 
Judge G. C. Moody and Dr. Burleigh and they persuaded him to locate in 
Yankton. He listened to their counsel and arrived in that city on the 
4th of August, 1866. From that time forward he remained a valued and 
honored resident of the northwest and his ability led to his early 
selection for public office. He served as judge of the probate court 
and also filled other county offices. Like most of the early settlers 
of the state he also took a claim, opening up the first farm which was 
developed west of Yankton. During his long residence there he enjoyed 
the esteem of the old settlers of Yankton county in a marked degree, 
for his life justly commanded the goodwill and confidence of all with 
whom he was brought in contact. His death was the occasion of deep and 
widespread regret, when on the 21st of June, 1911, he passed away. His 
wife, who was born at New Franklin, Ohio, in 1827, had departed this 
life long before, being called to the home beyond in 1889. 

Mr. and Mrs. Thornton W. Brisbine were the parents of eight children, 
six sons and two daughters: Harvey, a veteran of the Civil war, who 
came to Yankton in 1866 and there died in 1874; J. Milton, who is in 
the treasury department at Washington, D. C.; William Albert, who died 
in the Black Hills of South Dakota in 1902; Sarah A., the wife of Ben 
C. Ash, of Minneapolis; Thomas Moore, who is living retired at 
Artesian, South Dakota; Frank R., a resident of Minneapolis; Hiram 
Ellsworth; and Ada. B., the wife of George W. Greene, proprietor of the 
Landour Hotel of Minneapolis. 

	Hiram E. Brisbine was a little lad of six years when in 1866 the 
family came to the northwest. At that time Dennison was the terminus of 
the western railroads and from that point the family proceeded to 
Yankton with ox teams. That district today bears little resemblance to 
the region in which they settled almost a half century ago. All around 
was the wild, unbroken prairie and Yankton was the very outpost upon 
the western frontier. There were many hardships and privations to be 
borne and many difficulties to be encountered before the seeds of 
civilization had taken root and the settlers were able to secure the 
conveniences and advantages which they had enjoyed in the older east. 
They were of a class of men, however, who accomplish results because of 
determination and enterprise. Hiram E. Brisbine became a pupil in the 
public schools of Yankton and was graduated from the high school in 
June, 1878. He then became a dry-goods clerk at a salary of twelve 
dollars per month. Twelve years later he was being paid a salary of two 
thousand dollars per year. He speaks five languages, which he has 
acquired in thirty-six years spent behind the counters of Yankton's 
dry-goods stores. He entered the firm of Cox, Brisbine &; Stone in 1890 
but sold his interests in that firm in 1892 and a month later opened a 
new store in partnership with Ward L. Stone. This relationship 
continued for five years, but Mr. Brisbine bought out his partner in 
1897 and has since conducted the business independently, remaining at 
his present location, where he carries a large and well selected line 
of dry goods. His patronage is liberal and is well merited because he 
conforms his interests to a high standard of commercial ethics. 

	In 1884 Mr. Brisbine was married at Michigan City, Indiana, to 
Margaret Cowdin and they had two sons: Dawes E., an attorney practicing 
at Isabel, South Dakota; and Hiram C., at home. The wife and mother 
died in 1897 and on the 21st of June, 1899, at Mitchell, South Dakota, 
Mr. Brisbine was married to Miss Mina C. Van Tassel, a daughter of 
Clarence H. Van Tassel, who for many years was United States internal 
revenue collector for Dakota territory. To Mr. and Mrs. Brisbine have 
been born three daughters, Margaret M., Evelyn and Catherine, all in 
Yankton with their parents. 

	The family attend the Congregational church and Mr. Brisbine 
belongs to the Yankton Commercial Club. He is also affiliated with the 
Elks and is a Mason of high degree, having been elected knight 
commander of the Court of Honor and thirty-third degree honorary by the 
supreme council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite at 
Washington, D. C. His political allegiance is given to the republican 
party and in 1886-7 he was alderman of Yankton from the third ward, but 
he has no political ambitions and prefers to concentrate his energies 
upon his business affairs rather than seek public office. He is loyal 
to the best interests of city and state, however, and he makes a ready 
response when he is called upon to aid in any project for the public 
good.