Elmer R. Judy Biography


	This biography appears on pages 993-994 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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				ELMER R. JUDY. 

	Among those who are active in controlling and directing financial 
interests in South Dakota is E. R. Judy, president of the Forestburg 
State Bank. In the town where he now resides he is widely known, for it 
was there that he was born on the 8th of August, 1885, representing one 
of its old families. His father, Morris K. Judy, was a native of Ohio, 
born near Washington Court House, that state. He became one of the 
pioneers of Sanborn county, South Dakota, where he settled on a 
homestead claim in 1881, eight years before the admission of the state 
into the Union. He became one of the county's most highly respected and 
prosperous citizens Coming to the state with scarcely a dollar and 
walking from Yankton to what is now Forestburg, he advanced steadily in 
a financial way until he was recognized as one of South Dakota's 
foremost farmers and stockmen, owning a splendidly improved tract of 
land of fourteen hundred acres, equipped with all modern accessories 
and conveniences. His death occurred September 22, 1909, when he was 
fifty years of age, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Isabel 
M. McGillvray, and is a native of Vermont, still resides in Forestburg. 

	Elmer R. Judy supplemented his public-school training by study in 
the Dakota Wesleyan University and such was his early experience and 
such the standing that he gained, that he was appointed assistant 
superintendent of the South Dakota Agricultural Exhibits at the 
Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis in 1904. He was with his 
father upon the home farm until 1907, when he became one of the 
organizers of the State Bank of Forestburg and in 1913 was elected to 
the presidency. He has contributed much to the successful conduct of 
this institution, making it one of the important and indispensable 
business features of the town. Aside from this he is still largely 
interested in farming lands and in the breeding of registered cattle 
and his broad experience and progressive methods enable him to speak 
with authority concerning the best methods of developing land and 
caring for live stock. He also served as treasurer of the first 
Farnsworth Cooperative Telephone Company. 

	On the 2d of June, 1909, Mr. Judy was joined in wedlock to Miss 
Clarinda A. Jeffery, of Miller, South Dakota, a daughter of William H. 
and Mary (Richards) Jeffery. Mr. Judy greatly enjoys touring with his 
motor car and also takes delight in travel by train. He is fond of 
outdoor sports and is an advocate of good roads. Fraternally he is a 
chapter Mason and an Odd Fellow and he has long been a recognized 
leader in republican circles in his part of the state, serving as a 
member of the state central committee in 1914. He believes in 
advancement and is actuated by the spirit of progress and enterprise 
along all those lines which affect the general interests of society. He 
is recognized as a young man of unusual promise and his record is 
already adding new luster to the honored name of his father. He is 
exceedingly active in the live-stock business and has done much to 
promote an interest in live-stock exhibits at the state fairs. He is 
also secretary of the Sanborn County Fair Association, of which he was 
one of the chief promoters.