George H. Henry Biography


	This biography appears on pages 515-516 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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				GEORGE H. HENRY.  

	George H. Henry, of Platte, deputy state fire marshal, is one of 
the prominent citizens of his city and is a leader in movements seeking 
the public welfare. He was born in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, on the 8th 
of July, 1870, a son of George and Nettie (McHugh) Henry, the former a 
native of that place, and the latter of New York state. At the age of 
eight years Mr. Henry of this review was brought to South Dakota by his 
parents, the family home being established at Oakwood Lakes, Brookings 
county, in 1878. The father subsequently started a bank at Volga, 
Brookings county, which is still conducted by two of his sons and is 
known as the First State Bank. He was actively identified with the 
early development of Brookings county and left his impress upon its 
history and his demise,  which occurred in 1889, was sincerely mourned.  

	George H. Henry was educated in the country schools of Brookings 
county and in 1887, when a youth of seventeen, was apprenticed to the 
Volga Tribune at Volga and there learned the printer's trade. He was 
later employed upon the Argus Leader of Sioux Falls, the Brookings 
Press and the Dell Rapids Tribune. In 1900 he purchased the Parker 
Leader and conducted it for two years, after which he removed to Platte 
and bought what is now the Platte Tribune. He successfully published 
that journal until 1915, when he sold it to a Mr. Pruner, and 
maintained its high standing as one of the best weeklies of the state, 
its news columns giving clearly written and reliable accounts of 
happenings both of local and general interest and its wide circulation 
among the representative people of Charles Mix county making it an 
excellent advertising medium. On the 15th of December, 1913, Mr. Henry 
was appointed deputy state fire marshal and is at present serving ably 
in that capacity.  

	In 1902 Mr. Henry was married to Miss May Tolles, a native of 
Minnesota, and they have three children: May Bell, Lois and Howard. Mr. 
Henry is a republican and has always been a leader in local political 
affairs. He has held a number of positions of trust and honor and in 
the years 1910 and 1911 was mayor of Platte, giving the city a 
businesslike and progressive administration. His interest in 
educational matters was recognized when he was chosen as a member of 
the board of education, in which capacity he served for two years, 
while for six years he was clerk of the board, resigning that office in 
July, 1914. For a number of years he was secretary of the Charles Mix 
County Fair Association and the success of the fairs was due in no 
small measure to his unremitting efforts. Fraternally he belongs to 
Doric Lodge, No. 93, A. F. & A. M.; Yankton Consistory, No. 1, A. & A. 
S. R.; El Riad Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Sioux Falls; the 
subordinate lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Platte; 
and the Blue Goose, an insurance association. Under his management the 
Platte Tribune was recognized not only as an excellent means for the 
dissemination of news but also as a powerful factor in the formation of 
an intelligent public opinion that has demanded and secured a number of 
improvements and reforms in various phases of the community life Even 
those who differ from him as to matters of policy respect his sincerity 
and honor his integrity.