Birtrum F. Herington Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1139-1140 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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				BIRTRUM F.HERINGTON. 

	Birtrum F. Herington, engaged in the banking business at Waubay, 
was born in Jackson, Michigan, December 7, 1859, a son of Pulaski N. 
and Elizabeth (Brewer) Herington. The paternal grandfather, Irwin 
Herington, was a native of New York, devoted his entire life to farming 
and passed away in Michigan. The maternal grandfather, Samuel Brewer, 
was born in England, came to the United States in 1847 and settled in 
Jackson county, Michigan, where he carried on general agricultural 
pursuits, living on the old homestead to the time of his death, which 
occurred when he had reached the venerable age of ninety-two years. The 
father was born in the state of New York in 1834 and his life record 
covered the intervening years to 1904. His wife, who was born in 
England in 1839, passed away in the year 1902. They were married in 
Jackson, Michigan, where Mr. Herington had located when twenty years of 
age, accompanying his parents to that place. He had acquired a district 
school education and he turned his attention to farming, purchasing 
land which he occupied and cultivated until 1858. He then purchased 
other land, on which his remaining days were spent. He was a self-made 
man, enterprise and industry constituting his salient characteristics. 
In politics he was active as a supporter of the democratic party but 
never held nor desired office. He belonged to the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows and to the Methodist Episcopal church. In the family of Mr. 
and Mrs. P. N. Herington were six children, of whom four are living, 
namely: D. P., a hardware merchant residing in Waubay, this state; S. 
O., a retired agriculturist who makes his home in Moscow, Idaho; 
Birtrum F.; of this review; and William, a farmer residing in Jackson, 
Michigan. 

	In the public schools of his native city B. F. Herington acquired 
his preliminary education and afterward pursued a business course. He 
started out in life as a salesman for a grain company in South Dakota, 
to which state he came in 1883, and subsequently engaged in the grain 
business on his own account at Waubay, where he located in 1889. For 
fifteen years he was active in the grain trade, meeting with 
substantial success, after which he turned his attention to banking, 
purchasing the controlling interest in the First National Bank of 
Waubay in 1904, in which year he became president. It is capitalized 
for twenty five thousand dollars, has surplus and undivided profits of 
fifteen thousand and average deposits of two hundred and twenty-five 
thousand. The bank has enjoyed a healthful growth and is in excellent 
condition, a general banking business being conducted, while a liberal 
patronage is accorded the institution. Mr. Herington's high standing in 
banking circles is indicated by the fact that in 1914 he was elected 
president of group five of the National Bankers of the State of South 
Dakota. In addition to his activities as a banker he handles real 
estate and farm loans and is himself the owner of one thousand acres of 
fine land. The proud American title of a self-made man is his by right 
of his industry, determination and perseverance, for those qualities 
have advanced him from a humble financial position to a place of 
prominence in the business circles of his adopted county. 

	Mr. Herington has been married twice. In 1892 he wedded Miss Mary 
Fitzpatrick, by whom he had three children, as follows: Guy, who is 
employed in his father's bank; Hazel, who has completed her education; 
and Harold, who is attending school. The wife and mother died in 1902, 
passing away in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which 
she was a devoted member. In 1905 Mr. Herington was again married, his 
second union being with Miss Dina Arntz, a native of Cochrane, 
Wisconsin, by whom he has two children, Alberta and Donald. 

	Mr. and Mrs. Herington attend the Methodist Episcopal church and 
he is a prominent Mason, belonging to the lodge, chapter, consistory 
and Mystic Shrine. He also has membership with the Odd Fellows, the 
Woodmen and the Workmen and believes in the principle of fraternity 
which underlies these organizations. In politics he is a democrat and 
has the distinction of being the only democrat ever elected from his 
county to the state legislature, to which he was sent as a 
representative in 1897. He has served on the town board and for eight 
years filled the office of mayor, carefully directing municipal affairs 
with the same thoroughness and capability that have marked his business 
career. That he is interested in the cause of education has been shown 
by his effective work as a member of the school board. Progress has 
ever been his watchword and he seeks for the public good with the same 
eagerness and enthusiasm that he displays in advancing his individual 
interests.