Dudley William Lattimer Biography


	This biography appears on pages 480-481 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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				DUDLEY WILLIAM LATTIMER. 

	Only a comparatively few years ago, save perhaps in the 
southeastern part, South Dakota was a great prairie district, awaiting 
the awakening touch of man, its lands being then unclaimed and 
uncultivated. The American public, however, was aroused to an 
understanding of the feet that within the borders of what was then 
known as Dakota territory there were great opportunities and here and 
there towns and villages sprang up, each the center of growing business 
activities, ready to meet the demands of the farming population that, 
too, was growing rapidly in its numerical strength. In the town of 
Thomas, Hamlin county, D. W. Lattimer is now conducting a general 
mercantile establishment as the senior partner of the firm of Lattimer 
& Meadows and is winning success in this undertaking. He was born in 
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, on the 4th of December, 1872, and is a son of 
Isaac J. and Jennie (Hopkins) Lattimer. The father devoted his life to 
bridge building, and now resides at Delton, Wisconsin. The mother, 
however, is deceased. 

	In the public schools of his native state D. W. Lattimer pursued 
his education and when his text-books were put aside turned his 
attention to the occupation of farming, which he followed in that state 
until he reached his twenty-fourth year. Like others, he heard of the 
opportunities of the growing west and in 1896 came to South Dakota. He 
settled first in Hamlin county, where he purchased a quarter section of 
land on section 2, Hayti township. He had very little capital, but he 
made arrangements for the payments and with characteristic energy began 
to develop the place, which he continued to farm for twelve years, 
adding many improvements thereto. At the end of that time he sold the 
farm for double the original purchase price, or rather exchanged it for 
that value for his present business. He was successful as an 
agriculturist and is making equally creditable progress as a merchant. 
The store is well appointed, a good line of goods is carried and the 
business methods are thoroughly reliable. 

	On the 5th of November, 1898, Mr. Lattimer was united in marriage 
to Mrs. Cinderella Meadows, widow of Joseph F. Meadows, and they have a 
son, George, now four years of age. Mr. Lattimer exercises his right of 
franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party 
and at the present writing is serving as assessor of his township. On 
one occasion he was his party's candidate for the office of sheriff, 
but was defeated. In lodge circles he is well known. He belongs to 
Sioux Valley Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Castlewood: to Watertown Camp, 
No. 145, I. O. O. F., of which he is a past grand master; and to the 
United Workmen lodge, of which he is a past master. He is a believer in 
the teachings of the Methodist church and his faith is a guiding factor 
in his life, making him a man honorable in every relation and at all 
times trustworthy and reliable. He has never been afraid to venture 
where favoring opportunity has led the way, and in his business affairs 
he has readily discriminated between the essential and the 
nonessential. He has made rapid advancement since coming to South 
Dakota and may well be termed one of the builders of this empire of the 
northwest.