Walton S. Given Biography


	This biography appears on page 1115 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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				WALTON S. GIVEN. 

	Walton S. Given, cashier of the First National Bank of Britton, 
was born in Woodstock, Illinois, February 4, 1879, and is descended 
from early American ancestry represented in the Revolutionary war among 
the Virginian troops with Pitkin and Sumter. His parents, C. A. and 
Elizabeth (Ryder) Given, were both natives of Woodstock, Illinois, 
although their parents were Virginians. C. A. Given made farming his 
life work and thus provided a comfortable living for his family. He was 
a well read and broad-minded man and the salient traits of his 
character were such as commended him to the confidence and high regard 
of all. His early political support was given to the democratic party 
but later he joined the ranks of the republican party. Fraternally he 
was connected with the Masons and religiously with the Presbyterian 
church, while his wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. 

	Walton S. Given completed a high-school course in Elgin, 
Illinois, by graduation with the class of 1897, being then a youth of 
eighteen years. Soon afterward he made his way to Watertown, South 
Dakota, and for two years engaged in teaching in the country schools 
near that place. He afterward attended the State Normal School at 
Madison, from which he was graduated in 1900, and then accepted the 
position of principal of the schools of South Shore, South Dakota. A 
year later he removed to Britton, where he was city superintendent of 
schools from 1901 until 1910, and from 1905 until 1910 he spent his 
summers in teachers, institute work all over Dakota. He was 
particularly able in that field, as well as in the regular work of the 
schoolroom, where his ability to impart clearly and readily to others 
the knowledge that he had acquired made him a most valued educator. His 
efforts have been an important force in the development of the school 
system of his part of the state, for he was largely instrumental in 
advancing the standards of the schools. He promoted his own knowledge 
through attendance for several seasons at the University of Chicago, 
and broad reading,-study and investigation have continually augmented 
his intellectual force. In 1910 he was elected assistant cashier of the 
First National Bank of Britton, of which he was made cashier in 
January, 1911, and has since been identified with this institution, to 
which he gives his undivided attention. 

	In 1906 Mr. Given was united in marriage to Miss Annie Sheridan, 
a native of Madison, South Dakota, and a daughter of Elmer Sheridan, 
who is engaged in the abstract and insurance business. They have one 
child, Elmer S. Mrs. Given belongs to the Presbyterian church, while 
Mr. Given is a member of the Masonic fraternity. In politics he is a 
republican but has never sought nor desired office, preferring to 
concentrate his energies upon his business duties. He is now making 
good in the position of cashier of the First National Bank of Britton 
and is accorded the high regard and confidence of his colleagues and 
contemporaries.