Peter Duhamel Biography


	This biography appears on pages 141-142 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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				PETER DUHAMEL.  

	In the period when Dakota was emerging from the wilderness and 
taking on evidences of territorial organization and of pioneer 
development Peter Duhamel became a resident of the state. He is now 
living in Rapid City and has passed the seventy-sixth milestone on 
life's journey.. He was born near Montreal, Canada, December 22, 1838, 
a son of Baptiste and Julia (La Motte) Duhamel, both of whom were 
native Canadians, of French ancestry.  

	Peter Duhamel's education was limited to brief attendance at the 
public schools in his home district. The father died when the son was 
but nine years of age and it was necessary that he assist his brothers 
in the development and operation of the home farm. In 1857, at the age 
of nineteen years, he left Canada and made his way to Sioux City, Iowa, 
which was then a frontier trading post. There he worked at anything 
that offered and afterward entered the employ of a hay contractor at 
Fort Randall, in Dakota territory, remaining at that point until 
September, 1857, when he returned to Sioux City. Finding times there 
especially hard and no work to be had, he journeyed to Fort Pierre, 
where he secured employment with a fur-trading company and spent the 
winter in that country. In the spring of 1859 he started on horseback 
for Pike's Peak, Colorado, and soon after arrived at his destination. 
He engaged in the cattle business there, continuing on the ranges of 
Colorado and Wyoming with good success until 1879, when he removed to 
Rapid City and again engaged in cattle ranching, his brand, "TO," 
becoming one of the best known in Dakota territory, his herds of cattle 
numbering at times in excess of ten thousand head, together with which 
he owned hundreds of horses. In 1899 his cattle, horses and large 
tracts of land which he had acquired were sold and he retired 
permanently from ranching. Mr. Duhamel's experiences during his 
ranching days in the early '60s on the frontier, hundreds of miles from 
civilization with the hostile Indians as a constant menace, would alone 
furnish excellent material for a book. He remained on the frontier when 
very few white men had the courage to do so. He managed to win and keep 
the friendship of the Indians and at the same time so controlled and 
directed his business affairs that he met with unqualified success in 
all of his ventures.  

	In 1907 the Duhamel Company, of which he is the president, was 
organized and the business has been developed into one of the largest 
hardware, house furnishing, saddlery and harness enterprises in the 
state. He likewise has banking and financial interests and at the 
present time is vice president of the Penning ton County Bank of Rapid 
City; president of the Bank of Wasta, Wasta, South Dakota; president of 
the Bank of New Underwood at New Underwood, South Dakota; and president 
of the Bank of Hermosa in the town of the same name. He is also the 
holder of a large amount of stock in various other banks and likewise 
has other stock and securities. His investments have been most 
judiciously made and have brought to him a gratifying success.  

	In 1870, at Denver, Colorado, Mr. Duhamel married Katrina Lappus, 
a native of Germany, who died in 1909, at the age of sixty-one years. 
In their family were eight children: Matilda, who is residing in 
Oregon; Alexander, who is secretary and treasurer of the Duhamel 
Company; Mary Louisa, the wife of Dr. P. J. Waldron, of Rapid City; 
Josephine, who married C. J. Horgan, of Rapid City; Adeline, the wife 
of C. M. Fallon, also residing in Rapid City; Joseph J., who is 
connected with the Pennington County Bank of Rapid City; and Annie and 
Agnes.  

	The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church. 
Mr. Duhamel is an Elk and in politics is an independent republican. Few 
men have been a witness of the state's development for so long a 
period, for he arrived here when the country was almost wholly occupied 
by the Indians and evidences of modern civilization were practically 
unknown. His success was due to inherent honesty, hard work and economy 
of his resources, qualities which enabled him to take advantage of the 
opportunities offered by a new and rapidly developing country. As the 
years passed he steadily advanced toward the goal of prosperity and is 
today one of the substantial residents of Rapid City, being connected 
with many important business enterprises which return to him a handsome 
income.