Ira Sidney Myron Biography


	This biography appears on pages 171-172 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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				IRA SIDNEY MYRON.  

	Ira Sidney Myron is conducting a growing and profitable business 
as a dealer in farm implements and automobiles at Volin. Not only as a 
business man, however, does he deserve representation in this volume, 
but also as a member of one of the honored old pioneer families, his 
children being of the fourth generation of the family in South Dakota. 
He was born four miles south of Mechling, November 19, 1877. His 
grandparents all came to Dakota in 1859. His paternal grandfather was 
Sivert Myron, whose son, Helge Myron, was born in Drammen, Norway, 
November 1, 1850. During the latter's infancy his parents left the land 
of the midnight sun and came to the new world, settling in Wisconsin in 
1851. In 1858 Sivert Myron went with his family to Nebraska and thence 
crossed into Dakota territory as soon as the land was thrown open for 
entry in 1859. He took up a claim four miles south of Mechling and 
increased his property by additional purchase from time to time until 
at his death he was the owner of five hundred acres. He built the first 
log house occupied by a permanent settler in Dakota and a part of that 
house is now in the state museum at Pierre. His son, Helge Myron, was a 
little lad at the time of the arrival of the family in South Dakota and 
in the work of developing the farm he bore a helpful part, his 
responsibilities increasing with his increasing age and strength. He 
married Britta Bottolfson, who was born near Decorah, Iowa, a daughter 
of Ole Bottolfson, who was born near Bergen, Norway, January 11, 1828, 
and came to America in 1847, settling in Wisconsin, where he lived 
until his marriage. Three days afterward he started with his bride for 
Decorah, Iowa, traveling across the country with an ox team. He took up 
government land ten miles from that place and there Mrs. Myron, his 
eldest child, was born in 1856. In 1858 the parents removed to North 
Bend, Cedar county, Nebraska, and in 1859 crossed the line into Dakota, 
filing on a homestead four miles west of Vermilion. Mr. Bottolfson 
filled the office of probate judge in Clay county for seven or eight 
years, being one of the first incumbents in that position, living on 
his farm while acting as judge. After her husband's death Mrs. 
Bottolfson became the wife of Ole I. Hanson and is now living nine 
miles north of Vermilion at an advanced age.  

	When the Myron family came to the west Helge Myron and his 
brother walked all the way from Wisconsin to Nebraska, driving cattle 
and following the wagons drawn by oxen which conveyed the household 
effects. They were six weeks upon the way, while it required eight 
weeks for the Bottolfson family to make their way from Decorah, Iowa, 
to Nebraska. They made the journey in the spring, at which time the 
roads were in very bad condition, and it was necessary for the cattle 
to swim the streams. Mr. and Mrs. Helge Myron became the parents of six 
children. Olin, a graduate of the Springfield Normal School and also 
from the normal school at Madison, engaged in teaching for a number of 
years and afterward attended law college at Minneapolis, Minnesota. He 
is now engaged in the practice of his profession in Milaca, Minnesota. 
Ira Sidney, whose name introduces this review, was the second in order 
of birth. Emily died in 1910. Amy is a teacher in Fairfax, Gregory 
county. Anna is also engaged in teaching. Florence attended Springfield 
Normal and fitted herself for teaching. All of the others attended 
college at Vermilion and all have been teachers, thus contributing in 
substantial measure to the educational development of the state, while 
in other ways the family has done much for South Dakota's advancement 
and progress. The father passed away April 10, 1905, but the mother is 
still living and makes her home at Volin.  

	Ira S. Myron, born upon the old home farm, has, with the 
exception of a year which the family spent at Chadron, Nebraska, always 
made his home near the boundary line between Clay and Yankton counties. 
About 1900 he began farming on his own account six miles east of Volin 
and in 1913 took up his abode in the town and purchased an interest in 
the implement and automobile business of C. A. Melgaard. In the spring 
of 1915 he bought out his partner and now conducts the business alone. 
He has a garage, deals in automobile supplies and handles the Ford and 
Overland cars, for which he has had an excellent sale. He also handles 
many of the leading kinds of farm implements and his business is 
steadily growing along substantial lines.  

	On the 28th of August, 1901, Mr. Myron was married to Miss Inez 
Marie Bervin, a native of Dakota and a daughter of Ed. O. Bervin, who 
was born in Norway. The three children of this marriage are: Edward, 
Inez and Ira Sidney.  

	Mr. Myron well remembers the flood of March and April, 1881, 
although he was then but four years of age. He distinctly recalls being 
in the boat with the waters all around in crossing to St. James, 
Nebraska, and remembers the mud on the floors of their dwelling upon 
their return a few weeks later - the deposit of the water which stood 
in their home. On the 12th of January, 1888, when the blizzard broke he 
was at school. The teacher dismissed school about half past two in the 
afternoon and on his way home Mr. Myron was met by his father, who, 
fearing that the children might be lost in the storm, had started for 
them. Mrs. Myron was at school on the same day, but the teacher of that 
school kept the children with her all night in the schoolhouse. Mr. 
Myron is a republican in his political views and keeps well informed on 
the questions and issues of the day. He holds membership in the 
Lutheran church, and fraternally he is a thirty-second degree Mason and 
also connected with the Odd Fellows lodge at Wakonda. He has a wide 
acquaintance in this part of the state, in which practically his entire 
life has been passed. The work begun by his grandparents in pioneer 
times and continued by his father is being yet carried on by him 
support of all the plans and projects for the upbuilding and benefit of 
his district.