Thomas McBath Biography


	This biography appears on pages 733-734 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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				THOMAS McBATH. 

	Thomas McBath, proprietor of a grain elevator and thus actively 
connected with the business interests of Watertown, was born in St. 
Lawrence county, New York, December 27, 1857, a son of Samuel and Jane 
McBath. The mother died in the east but the father afterward came with 
his son Thomas to South Dakota, arriving in this state in 1880, and 
still makes his home at Watertown. The son was educated in the public 
schools of New York and spent his youthful days upon his father's farm 
in that state, assisting in its cultivation and improvement as the 
years went on. When he had reached the age of twenty-three, however, he 
came with his father to the northwest, with Dakota territory as his 
destination. Arriving in Codington county, he secured a homestead in 
Rauville township and also a tree claim near Henry. He made 
improvements thereon and farmed the place for a while, but after three 
or four years sold both the homestead and tree claim. He then engaged 
in buying grain at Groton for one year and for the Northwestern 
Elevator Company at Willow Lake for three years, and in 1894 
established an elevator business in Watertown under his own name. He is 
also proprietor of an elevator at Thomas and at Yahota and Adelaide but 
maintains general offices in Watertown. His four elevator interests 
have made him closely connected with the grain trade of his section of 
the state, his business having assumed extensive and gratifying 
proportions. He is also the owner of a quarter section of land in 
Codington county, within the city limits of Watertown. 

	Mr. McBath was united in marriage to Miss Effie M. Chase, a 
daughter of A. D. and Tirzah J. Chase, the former a minister of the 
Methodist denomination and the first pastor of the Methodist church in 
Watertown. He came to South Dakota in 1878 and established the first 
Methodist congregation in the state. He has since been actively 
identified the further work of the church and his labors have been 
attended with splendid results, contributing largely to the moral 
advancement of South Dakota. Rev. A. D. Chase is still living at the 
age of eighty-three years but his wife is deceased. It was in 
September, 1890, that their daughter Effie became the wife of Thomas 
McBath. The children of this marriage are as follows: Earl, Grace, 
Harry, Roy, and Wilbur, all at home. All are natives of this state. The 
parents are members of the Methodist church and guide their lives 
according to its teachings. 

	Mr. McBath also belongs to the Masonic lodge, the Benevolent 
Protective Order of Elks and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In 
politics he is a progressive republican, believing in advancement along 
political lines just as much as in other connections. For five years he 
has served as a member of the city council and for six years has been a 
member of the school board. His work in behalf of Watertown, both in 
office and out of it, has been effective for the upbuilding of the city 
and the promotion of its best interests. He is a self-made man and one 
whose business career has been founded upon the substantial principles 
of industry, integrity and progress.